Reading an Unknown Organization Leaders in New Roles Thriving in Challenging Environments with the 3-P-Model Mindset

This book focuses on "Organizational Intelligence" and its connection to the Three-Pillar Model, a framework developed by a global community of over 60 professionals from various sectors and published by Springer Nature. The model centers on three vital pillars for navigating the volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world of organizational design and leadership: Sustainable Purpose, Travelling Organization, and Connectivity.

At its core, the book features interviews with executive leaders, including those in the C-Suite, who have recently assumed new roles in new organizations or have done so in their careers. The interviews are diverse and anonymized to encourage candid responses. The book explores how these leaders quickly gain a comprehensive understanding of their organizations, with a focus on coping with change, transformation, sustainability, and UN SDG coverage.

Offering real case study-based guidance, the book does not seek to provide a one-size-fits-all methodology but instead encourages readers to tailor its insights to their unique circumstances. It is a valuable resource for mentoring and coaching purposes.

Part I: Introduction and Framing.- 1. The Framing of the Book and Why Experience Can Be Both, a Success and a Failure Factor.- 2. A Recap of the Three-Pillar Model and Its Importance for the Book‘s Objective.- 3. General Concept and Proceeding.- Part II: Outcome of the Interviews.- 4. Evaluation Overview of the Interviews.- 5. The Interviews – Cluster Executives.- 6. The Interviews – Cluster Consultants.- 7. The Interviews – Cluster Academics, Diplomats, NGO.- 8. The Interviews – Cluster Others.- Part III: Key Take-Aways and Further Reflections.- 9. The Most Important Take-Aways.- 10. A ChatGPT Proposal to Read an Unknown Organization and How to Regard and Use It.- 11. Navigating the Unknown in Organizations – and How to Read the Respective Organizational Capabilities.- 12. At the Book’s End A Striking Analogy: An International Sommèliere and a Wine and Olive Oil Expert Read Unknown Organizations in Form of Wine and Olive Oil Producers and Relate the Outcomes to the Three Pillar Model.

Peter Wollmann has served as a responsible manager, initiator, mentor, and facilitator in large, predominantly global transformations and strategic developments for almost 40 years, both within large organizations and as an independent consultant since 2017. Peter Wollmann holds a degree in mathematics and physics from the University of Bonn. He is the author and publisher of several books and articles on strategy, leadership, project management, and project portfolio management.

Lukas Stricker is a lecturer at the Institute for Risk & Insurance at ZHAW (Switzerland). His research focuses on transformation management and the impact of new technologies and business models on the operations of insurance companies. Prior to joining ZHAW, Lukas managed international programs operations for Zurich Insurance globally. His current engagements include board membership in a consultancy boutique specialized in digitalization in the insurance industry, as well as advisory board membership in an EdTech start-up. Lukas Stricker holds an MSc. in Environmental Sciences from ETH Zurich.

Doris Pemler is an entrepreneur, artist, and researcher based in Zurich. She received her M.A. in Egyptology, Sudan Archaeology, and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East from Humboldt University zu Berlin and F.U. Berlin. Her research focuses on iconography, gender, and intercultural communication in Ancient Egypt and Sudan. As a photographer, she has contributed to several exhibitions in Germany and Switzerland. As the CEO of Ciudad Condal GmbH, she leads an aspiring company focused on importing and distributing high-end sustainable products in Switzerland.