Our vocabulary and conceptualization of business determines the style and approach of an organization – intended or emergent.

The very use of the word management – from Latin for hand – largely precludes an emergent strategy or action. Originally management used their hands to show how to do something and then used their hands to make sure it was done. An approach where one uses ones hands to direct and if needed force a specified action or activity only works in an intended environment.

Solidifying the intended approach is the conceptualization of organizations as machines. Modern organizations are structured largely based on a mechanistic view summarized well by René Descartes, “The whole visible world is as if it were a machine in which there was nothing at all to consider except the figures and motions of its parts.” – Machines (at least those in Descartes time) can be ‘managed.’

Yet 20th century science has shown us that the world, we and our organizations are not mechanistic. We have learned that everything is interconnected, interdependent, chaotic, complex and self-organizing. Hence everything that happens and everything that exists, is in reality emergent.

But, since we have no shared vocabulary that incorporates this reality of interconnected interdependence for an organization, nor do we have a shared conceptualization/ visualization view to replace the machine model – most organizations are “intended” in structure and operations.

Interestingly when an organization recognizes and embraces an emergent approach it finds that there is no distinction between an ‘upkeep phase’ and ‘unexpected change.’ ‘Spherical’ organizations recognize the essentiality of change and as such it is not unexpected but a normal and expected function of daily existence (upkeep).

From the sphere or whole of these organization emerges flexibility, adaptability, responsiveness and responsibility allowing them to function smoothly in all situations.

Spherical,
Phil

To learn more about spherical organization you can check out the link below to my work and book.

Links:

• http://www.b-whole.com/
• http://www.b-whole.com/beingspherical.htm