Living Systems

Organizations are generally run from a mechanistic viewpoint that arranges people by rigid structures, hierarchies, and departments. This paradigm is changing quite rapidly, as organizations are being scrutinized ever closer this day. A new type of system has been prompted to the machine-like structure that currently has embedded itself in the professional world. This is a living system, or a system that thrives on unpredictability, creativity, innovation, and efficiency. This organizational model draws heavily from the fact that humans are living and not machine-like drones and thus should be stimulated to that effect in order to provoke a greater initiative and work ethic on their part. This system is organized around three important criterion: identity, information, and relationships.

1) “Organizing occurs around an identity- there is a ‘self’ that gets organized.”

The first step to creating this living system is to stem around a mutual vision. The employees must have a connection to this identity, which is why it is so imperative to give them ample ability to express their thoughts and concerns when formulating or reconsidering the vision. This connection they hold to the company will allow organizational changes to flow more smoothly and for there to be a unique trust within the vision of the company.

2) “Only when information belongs to everyone can people organize rapidly and effectively around shifts in customers, competitors, or environments.”

Information has become more of a commodity than a necessity in the workplace; whoever has the most information becomes the most powerful player. Share the wealth. Information is interpreted differently by each person who hears it. A piece of information that means nothing to you might be a revolutionary idea in someone else’s mind. Give your employees as much information as possible without jeopardizing the company, because they will often take this information and form new solutions based on their own unique thinking patterns.

3) “Relationships are the pathways to the intelligence of the system… The more access people have to one another, the more possibilities there are.”

Relationships are arguably one of the most important pieces of the living system because people can use each other’s diverse experiences to help create new solutions to issues of the past. The relationships also form distinct flexibility within the employee workforce to aid in idea creation, problem solving, and cross-departmental collaboration. The accountability on a peer level also increases through these relationships because they are formed around the identity of the organization.

The living system brings up a new type of management model centered on flexibility and creativity, which clears a path for the human potential with your business to take shape and grow. This system does not dismiss the need for guidelines and standards, rather though, it raises the question of whether these structures are helping or hindering the average worker within your organization.

Contact the professionals at ASIL to help you develop your Living System.

Source: Finding Our Way: Leadership for an Uncertain Time
by Margaret Wheatley; Article : The Irresistible Future of Organizing by Margaret Wheatley, Myron Rogers

Contributed by Joe Pazmany

---

Our Software Products

Click on the links below to view ASIL, Inc.'s MAX Partnering® self paced software demonstrations:

Strategies and Execution - This demo depicts the tools that organizations can utilize to embrace change effectively and implement it successfully.

Partner Selection and Management - This brief demo displays the tools available to define, select, and implement outsourcing and partner selection.

Scorecards and Corrective Action - This vignette provides visibility to measure and manage the performance of your organization, partners and company.

Self Assessment Sample Questionnaire - This demo will enable you to respond to a small sample of self assessment questions focused on change management and create a Heat Map of your responses to see areas that may need attention. The Driving Complex Change® methodology addresses the six areas of Direction, Ability, Incentive, Resources, Structure, and Action that can impact your effectiveness of change management.

---

This Newsletter is delivered in electronic format to reduce our carbon footprint. If you must print it, please share and recycle.