On Thu, 5 Feb 1998, Imran Khalid Arain wrote Re: Maneuverability and Efficiency
--- snip ---To me, the role of a vision is not to create a community =
>of like minded individuals. Its role is to create a community of unlike =
>minded individuals, how they coordinate and align their efforts. And if =
>you want an adaptable organization, you need to hire, work with, and =
>promote people who are unlike you and who make you uncomfortable.
Imran,
I'll meet you half-way. By "like-minded" I did not mean homogeneous. I
agree that diversity of background, knowledge, culture, goals, etc., are
necessary for adaptiveness. On the other hand, I think "a community of
unlike minded individuals" is an oxymoron. If the individuals are totally
unlike, you get anarchy, not community. I think Axelrod's little book, The
Evolution of Cooperation, Basic Books, 1984, clearly demonstrates that a
kernal of like mindedness is a necessary initializing and guiding factor.
Further, I think Lanchester's Law, although articulated for warfare, is
quite applicable. Lots of diversity will create lots of options -- that's
good -- but interferes with getting concensus and traction in any one
direction -- that's bad. So, like all systems problems, the answer lies
not in the selection of "either-or" but in an astute selection of "how much
of each at which times." Does that make sense to you?
Jack Ring
32712 N. 70th St.
Scottsdale, AZ 85262-7143
602-488-4615