Case Studies: Organizational Architecture in Practice

When the same problems keep coming back, the cause is usually the design of the work, not the effort of the people. These examples show what changes when an organization redesigns how work moves, how roles are defined and how decisions get made.

Architecting Excellence client work

Current engagements delivered through Architecting Excellence. Both organizations have given permission to be named.

Muskegon Area Intermediate School District (MAISD)

Organizational Architecture™ · Operating Architecture™ · Ongoing

What we did

Worked with a cross-functional team of 12 Finance and 4 HR employees on processes, role clarity and collaboration.
Supported implementation and adoption of the Munis financial system.
Developed and clarified 12 job descriptions to strengthen accountability and role expectations.
Facilitated team development and leadership coaching to improve communication and alignment.
Continued into CFO coaching and payroll process improvement.

Results

100% adoption of Munis for payroll processing across the targeted team.
Organizational improvement across 16 Finance and HR team members.
A continuing engagement focused on payroll processes, so employees can complete their work on time.

Berrien Springs Area Schools

Organizational Architecture™ · Operating Architecture™ · Ongoing

What we did

Conducted an organizational diagnostic of financial operations, team responsibilities and internal processes.
Evaluated organizational structure, accountability and decision-making pathways.
Introduced role clarity and responsibility frameworks, including RACI.
Supported purchasing process improvements and stronger internal financial controls.
Provided leadership coaching and improved team communication and meeting structures.

Results

6 positions restructured to improve alignment and accountability.
A purchasing process that requires purchase orders.
A recurring team meeting structure, reestablished.
Clearer responsibility for financial processes and stronger internal controls.

From Dr. Tennille Woodward's leadership career

Results Dr. Woodward achieved in earlier roles, before founding Architecting Excellence. These were not Architecting Excellence engagements and do not imply endorsement by these organizations. They show where the approach was built and tested.

Siemens Westinghouse Power Generation

Operating Architecture™ · Financial systems

What she did

Redesigned the SAP financial closing process using ABAP programming and workflow automation.
Eliminated manual processing steps and reduced dependence on employee overtime.

Results

Overtime expenses reduced by about $15,000 per month.
$180,000 in annualized cost savings (2004 dollars).
A more efficient, repeatable financial close.

Rock Hill Schools, South Carolina

Operating Architecture™ · Technology operations · 2020–2023

What she did

As Executive Director of Technology & Innovation, restructured vendor accountability and brought device inventory and tracking in-house.
Applied Lean Six Sigma principles to technology support and removed redundant processes.
Built inventory and tracking systems for more than 26,000 devices.

Results

$556,000 in reported savings over two years ($500,000 in year one, $56,000 in year two).
Better device accountability and operational visibility.

Coopersville Area Public Schools, Michigan

Feedback Architecture™ · Data-driven improvement

What she did

Strengthened districtwide systems for using NWEA MAP Growth data to guide instructional decisions.
Supported collaborative teacher practices, targeted interventions and continuous improvement.
Emphasized leadership accountability, instructional coaching and measurable student growth.

Results

A reported 60% or more of K–8 students achieved growth at or above the 60th percentile.
A district of about 2,500 students in six schools.

Published by NWEA: Michigan District Unlocks Student Growth with Data-Driven Practices Using MAP Growth

Seeing the same problem every Tuesday?

Start with the Organizational Architecture Diagnostic™: two 10-minute assessments that show where work stalls and where your organization stops learning.

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