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As disruption accelerates, traditional hierarchies—and even many agile models—are proving too rigid to keep up. The Octopus Organization framework offers a new way forward: organizations designed to adapt continuously by distributing authority, strengthening connections across teams, and responding fluidly to change.

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More On This Framework:

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Become an Octopus Organization

This article introduces the core principles behind the Octopus Organization—explaining why adaptability, distributed decision making, and dynamic structures are increasingly critical for organizations operating in uncertain environments.

Read now.

New! Becoming an Octopus Organization Newsletter

Launching this week, this new eight-week newsletter explores ideas and research related to organizational adaptability, resilience, and continuous transformation.

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Moving Beyond the Slow, Hierarchical Organization

In this HBR IdeaCast episode, the conversation explores why many organizations struggle to adapt and how leaders can rethink structure, authority, and coordination to operate more flexibly while maintaining coherence.

Listen now.

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