Rethinking Operating Models - by Kent McMillan & Amy Kates & Greg Kesler (Paperback)

About the Book

Design an operating model that will meet your business challenges today and in the future.

Book Synopsis

WINNER: NYC Big Book Award 2025 - Business: General

How can you redesign your operating model to drive growth, agility and sustainability in a changing economy?

Rethinking Operating Models, edited by Kent McMillan, Greg Kesler and Amy Kates is a practical guide for managers, department heads and organization design and development leads seeking to adapt structures, processes and capabilities to meet today's toughest business challenges.

Written by a team of experts, the book offers proven frameworks and actionable tools to align your model with strategic goals while responding to technological change, evolving markets and increasing stakeholder demands.

You'll learn how to:
- Build agile operating models that adapt to rapid data and tech shifts
- Manage complexity and cost without sacrificing innovation or service
- Integrate sustainability and responsibility into core business design
- Execute mergers, acquisitions and divestments effectively

Packed with real-world examples, this book shows senior professionals how to tailor models to their unique context, accelerate decision-making and position their organization for long-term success.

Themes include: operating model design, organizational agility, transformation strategy, sustainability integration, change execution

Review Quotes

"The book provides a practical set of frameworks and techniques to work through common challenges many executives face, brought to life with examples from many real-world projects, organizations and industries. With an eye on the future in this period of significant organizational change, it's a very helpful addition to the toolbox."-- "Ben Gaunt, SVP Group Transformation, BP"

"Rethinking Operating Models offers an up-to-date roadmap for navigating today's complex business landscape. Tackling how to organize for innovation, cost, M&A and closing the gap on environmental sustainability, this is a must-read for those aiming to thrive in a rapidly changing world of data, technology and work."-- "Jean-Marc Duvoisin, Former CEO of Nespresso, Nestle Executive Board Member and Active NGO Board Member"

"A profound read for both current and aspiring leaders, this book delves into the delicate balance between reflection and action necessary to adapt organizations in the digital age. It provides a powerful yet simple blueprint for transforming them into 'reinventor organization'. It also underscores the importance of customer focus, continuous learning and collaboration to foster innovation and agility."-- "André Santos, HR Center of Expertise Director, Vale"

"Enterprise reinvention includes a thoughtful strategy for talent and organization. This book provokes us to rethink operating models for the future, highlighting the importance of a proactive approach and multiple iterations in order to unleash extraordinary growth opportunities and achieve even higher levels of performance."-- "Suzana Kubric, CHRO of Nubank"

"For leaders tackling growth, agility and transformation, this book offers a structured approach to designing operating models fit for today's challenges. Practical and relevant across industries."-- "Stan Zurkiewicz, Chairman of the Management Board and Chief Executive Officer, DEKRA"

"In a world where organizations are constantly evolving, this book is a must-read for business leaders and HR practitioners. It outlines structures and operating models that leverage technology, enhance agility, accelerate growth and address the challenges of today's complex business environment. The authors provide practical strategies to navigate global disruptions and drive transformative growth."-- "Karen Mattimore, SVP and Chief Human Resources Officer of Honeywell"

"Never have we see the level of disruption we are facing today. This book takes a pragmatic approach to operating model design in light of the rapid advances in data, technology and ways of working. Providing frameworks for the big operating model challenges, but also inspiration on what the next generation of organization will look like. Sneak preview, it will require a new human and machine relationship."-- "Dimitra Manis, Former Chief Purpose Officer (Chief People Officer), S&P Global"

"The authors take a thoughtful and holistic approach to the perennial challenge of managing cost and complexity whilst enabling innovation-led growth. Going beyond simple top-down cost levers, they explore the balance of strategic operating model choices and operational tuning, and how data and technology are shifting the dials, combined with a continuous focus on unlocking productivity through aligned ways of working."-- "Andy Banfield, VP Organization Development & People Analytics, Unilever"

"This book is an important guide for organizations looking to effectively integrate sustainability into their core operations. With practical advice on implementation, strategies to mobilize teams and insights on the highest-value areas to focus, it empowers leaders to go beyond incremental changes."-- "Whitney Mayer, Head of Global Sustainability & ESG of Hershey"

"Written by a series of practitioners with decades of hard-won experience, this book will teach you how to leverage organization design as a pillar of strategy execution while simultaneously addressing the most typical set of challenges CEOs face today. Thought provoking, tangible and enjoyable to read for CEOs, management teams and all those involved in making organizations more effective."-- "Rupert Morrison, Founder of Orgvue and Arahi, and author of Data-Driven Organization Design and Strategic Value Creation"

About the Author

Kent McMillan is an organization designer based in London, United Kingdom. He is a consultant, innovator and educator who has held global practice leadership roles at Accenture and holds two US patents in organization analytics and design.

Greg Kesler is an organization designer based in Connecticut, United States. He was formerly the lead of Accenture's Operating Model & Organization Design practice and is the co-author of Networked, Scaled, and Agile, also published by Kogan Page.

Amy Kates is an organization designer based in New York, United States. She was formerly a senior leader in Accenture's Operating Model & Organization Design practice. She is the co-author of Networked, Scaled, and Agile, also published by Kogan Page.