I live at the junction of three states and it’s always interesting to me how crossing the state line impacts some things but not others. My driver’s license is still valid, but I can’t vote. I can buy marijuana in one place but not the other. My cans are worth 5 cents on one side of the bridge but recycled for nothing across the river. The language is the same, and many stores are the same, but gas taxes and women’s rights vary depending on location.
It parallels the differences in organizations where some policies are company-wide and others are determined by the department. While it makes sense to have both consistency and variation, the trick is to be clear about it. Everyone knows where the state lines fall — especially when there is a bridge to get there. Have equally clear distinctions about your policies and norms.
