Durval says:
> Every organization has structures. When a structure is designed, it can be
> checked, discussed, improved. Well designed structures lead to learning.
It's not so much a matter of "well designed" as of "designed for what".
Structures are well designed if they accomplish their ends effectively.
If the end is not learning - and every system is not designed for learning
- then the a good design does not include learning. If learning is a goal
or intention, then the design must be one that have learning occur.
And ..... there are kinds and qualities of learning so "design for
learning" is not a one size fits all.
> The fact that self
> organization is a recognized phenomenon doesn't excuse us from trying to
> understand and improve structures, with respect for people's ways and
> feelings.
The common understanding of "self organisation" is a problem here. The
term, as commonly used, has implications of a random process and a
rejection of structure, design and known influencers. In my view, this is
never the case. There is always preceding organisation, structure and
design and it is always inside of such a context or framework that self
organisation occurs.
If this approach is taken, then more than ever the question is, "What is
the existing organisation (or what are the design factors) which influence
the results of self organisation?" That is, we self organise always
inside of something.
I speculate that much of what we refer to as self organisation is really a
matter of being unaware of the structures and practices and organisation
that pre-exist and are strong influencers, selectors or attractors.
Self organisation, the way that I use it in management and organisation
work, is a design of attractors and spaces which allows for spontaneous
expression, interaction and emergence. What emerges has allowed a great
deal of self organisation but it occurs inside of a carefully designed
space.
I concur with Durval's concluding remarks. It is dangerous to give us
organisational design or reject structure in favour of a belief in or
attraction to slef organisation.
After all, self organisation in the sense of independent and varied
response to existing conditions is happening whether we like it or not.
--
Michael McMaster : Michael@kbdworld.com
web:http://www.vision-nest.com/BTBookCafe/TIA/TIAmap.html
"I don't give a fig for the simplicity this side of complexity
but I'd die for the simplicity on the other side of complexity."
attributed to Chief Justice Brandeis
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations
For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>