Ford GC: “Centers of Excellence” Look to the Future

It’s not exactly clear where the term “center of excellence” originated, but there’s no doubt about the concept’s popularity. Different versions of the basic idea — that smaller groups within an organization can get better results by devoting themselves to a particular activity or set of ideas — are ubiquitous inbusiness, academia , and healthcare .

Centers of excellence are increasingly popular with in-house counsel, too. According to General Counsel Brian Cadwallader , Johnson Controls has incorporated the concept into its legal department structure, organizing the various centers like practice groups — around litigation or contract management, for example .

When the Ford Motor ...