Lateral Management: A New Approach to Strategic Transformation in the Digital Era

This book highlights lateral management as the answer to the strategic opportunities and challenges posed by digital transformation. Digitalization is now changing the economy and society as dramatically as the dawn of electrification a century ago. Production methods, products, sales structures, marketing, and even markets themselves are set to change in the digital era.

In addition to introducing readers to the concept of lateral management, and detailing the structure and functioning of 'lateral companies', the authors show how leadership and cooperation norms carried over from the 20th century need to be adapted for the digital era. They demonstrate the opportunities that digitalization offers companies, employees and managers in terms of enhancing their freedom, individuality, job diversity, and creative and innovative power. The authors also provide a unique management instrument, the 'Lateral Culture Index®', which measures the hierarchies of leadership; provide new benchmarks; and identify seven essential factors for lateral companies. Readers will learn how to implement lateral management in their companies and be familiarized with the instruments that can help them do so.

About the Authors

Dr. Roland Geschwill is the co-founder of Denkwerkstatt für Manager, a Germany-based consultancy and training provider, and has been coaching and training managers since 1986. He has published numerous expert articles and books such as 'Der Rhythmus der Innovation' (The Rhythm of Innovation, Springer, 2015).

Dr. Martina Nieswandt is the managing director and co-founder of Denkwerkstatt für Manager, and regularly works on consulting projects using the lateral management framework. Her book 'Fast Cultural Change: The Role and Influence of Middle Management' was published with Palgrave Macmillan in 2015.