Coined by the architect Louis Sullivan, the axiom "form ever follows function" dictates that the shape and design of a building should be derived entirely from its intended purpose.

In corporate strategy, the organizational chart (form) must be deliberately designed to execute the business model (function).

If a company declares a strategy to be highly agile and innovative, but its corporate form is bogged down by eight layers of middle management and bureaucracy, the strategy will fail.

Want to see true agility and innovation in action? Constellation Software is a real time example: