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Category Archives: Design

Assumed identities

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

As the creature emerged from the chrysalis, the documentary narrator, himself a prominent scientist in the field, announced that the previously observed grub was now revealing its true identity – the adult form of a wasp. But is that true?

Also filed in Culture, Group Dynamics | | Comments (0)

The advantages of extinction

Friday, August 7, 2009

In nature, there are a variety of ways that organisms can disappear. There are those associated with predation and competition, of course. But there are two others that are integrally related to the processes of natural selection and evolution. The more interesting of the two from the perspective of organizational design is called . . .

Also filed in Capitalism, Change, Individual Leadership | | Comments (2)

Errant evolution

Thursday, August 6, 2009

A key element of the many ideas drawn from science for application in management theories – and, in particular, in more recent notions of individual and organizational leadership – is the concept of evolution. As in so many other such borrowings, of course, the notion is roughly handled, and the results ultimately produce yet more disappointment and disaffection with the very thought of management theorizing. It is a truism, for example . . .

Also filed in Organizational Leadership | | Comments (2)

Whether the facts hit the theory or the theory hits the facts

Friday, July 31, 2009

Sometimes a theory becomes so powerful that no fact can withstand a collision with it. Indeed, it accumulates such overwhelming attractiveness as a persuasive, explanatory model, that facts wandering into its range are simply either absorbed or obliterated. It happens so quickly and completely as to escape detection. A violent end with no witnesses. In many ways, psychoanalysis is a good example of this . . .

Also filed in Organizational Leadership | | Comments (0)

Mr. Market

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Benjamin Graham, author of the venerable “Intelligent Investor,” used the phrase “Mr. Market” to make the point that the stock markets are often irrational, thus presenting profitable opportunities for investors. And today, it is also common for supposedly sophisticated and hard-nosed stock market observers to anthropomorphize the market. . .

Also filed in Culture | | Comments (2)

Inept individuals

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

An animal behaviorist calls ants inept individuals who, somehow, are able collectively to create striking organizations which can both adapt efficiently to their own evolving needs and cycling changes in the environment, and respond effectively to most emergencies arising from natural catastrophes or marauding neighbors. Inept individuals, no one of whom has any clue as to how they all do it, but who manage to do it anyway. As for us . . .

Also filed in Culture, The New Sciences | | Comments (3)

Business Evolution

Monday, March 9, 2009

Many of us have a tendency to anthropomorphize the concept of evolution. We think of it as animated by a sort of ingrained competitive instinct, or, perhaps, straining toward a pure standard of excellence, a state of perfection. But the truth is . . .

Also filed in Change, Culture, Management, Managing Leadership | | Comments (3)

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