From: Christie Mason [mailto:
cmason@managersforum.com]
So far, the work I've seen is more complex than the theory. I'm still
working on a simpler level with
Fractals
Infinitly small or infinity large, the pattern is the same.
1. The pattern of each organizational participant's experience is
the
same as how the world experiences that organization. A small example
might
be communication. If there are limited or confusing communication
processes
internally, clients and vendors will experience the same limited
communication.
To experience the ever same pattern of fractals, try
http://storm.shodor.org/mandy/cnew_archive/102.htm l or if that's not
working, try
http://www.shodor.org/master/fractal/software/
or
http://www.arosmagic.com/Fractals/ 2. It's also fascinating to me how a representation of the clouds
of
connections in our brains replicates organizational clouds and global
connections such as the internet. This is also a concept that would
apply
to "Self Organizing Sytems"
Brain (http://www.managersforum.com/adapt/Graphics/Neurons.jpg
Organization (http://www.managersforum.com/adapt/Graphics/cloud.jpg
)
Internet (http://www.managersforum.com/adapt/Graphics/Internet.gif
.
3. The pattern is the same, it only looks different depending on your
view point.
http://www.berkus.net/gallery/tutorials/fractals1a.html.
It's
fascinating to me how movies take a fractal pattern and "grow" a
mountain,
ocean or forest. Organizations are the same, they don't recognize the
underlying pattern because everyone has a different view point.
Chaos
Random Events Create Order. You see it all the time in organizations,
if
you're looking. Take a project that's experiencing different problems
from
different sources. Those apparently random events create their own
definition of order. Order in which the project cannot survive. Look
deeper and you'll probably find a hidden universe of disapproval of the
project, but surface agreement. It isn't a conspiracy, just individuals
initiating random events that culminate in a new order.
http://www.epub.org.br/cm/n14/mente/chaos.html
http://www.nmsr.org/digdudle.htm
http://www.article19.com/shockwave/fractal.htm
Other suggested links.
http://www.calresco.org/intro.htm#def - Introduction ot Complex
Systems.
I particularly enjoy applying this statement to change in organizations.
"Elements that survive negative environmental feedback will
automatically
re-settle themselves, or re-organize themselves and their interactions
in
order to better accomplish the system's goals. Success at this then
assures
their continued existence by also protecting or reinforcing the
structures
of which the elements are a part."
George Washington said the same thing in a different way.
"One of the difficulties in bringing about change in an organization is
that you must do so through the persons who have been most successful in
that organization, no matter how faulty the system or organization is.
To
such persons, you see, it is the best of all possible organizations,
because look who was selected by it and look who succeeded most in it.
Yet
these are the very people through whom we must bring about improvements.
."
http://www.calresco.org/links.htm#auto - Plethora of links
http://www.wfu.edu/~petrejh4/chaos.htm - Chaos/Complexity w/o the
Math
http://www.wfu.edu/~petrejh4/selforg.htm COMPLEXITY- SELF
ORGANIZATION IN
CHAOS
Christie Mason