Inaturalist, an online portal for sharing natural observations, uses a tree of life image to help people learn taxonomy.This image is a tool for helping people organize species by plant categories(botany), fungus, and animal(zoology) groupings.In a tree of life we see how species groups are separated and united. The “tree” image shows how all living things are connected. Imagine if organizations had a similar image that visualized individual teams AND the whole. Could an image like this be used as a tool for breaking down silos?
The Silo Mentality is defined as a mindset present when certain departments or sectors do not wish to share information with others in the same company. This type of mentality will reduce efficiency in the overall operation, reduce morale, and may contribute to the demise of a productive company culture.
While business jargon comes and goes, the “silo” is one term that is well documented and noticed by managers and employees. It is often referred to as interdepartmental “turf wars”. Silos result in teams competing against each other rather than working towards a common goal. [Read more…]