1. Organizational Change A Systems Perspective

2. The Universality of Systems All healthy natural systems share the same 12 qualities: Purposefulness–the dominance of goals Differentiation– specialization of parts Wholeness– subjugation of parts to the whole Interrelatedness– interdependence of parts Openness– environmental influence and adaptation Transformation– input-output process Control– maintaining focus and order Rhythms– cycles and patterns Competition – seeking competitive niche distinction Decay and death – natural entropy Intelligent design – irreducible complexity and beauty ????? – what would you add? 2

3. The Universality of Purposefulness Purposefulness – the dominance of goals Healthy systems marshal all their structure and processes to serve the system’s purposes Healthy systems have simple, clear, compatible purposes. The greater the number or complexity of purposes the more fragile the system Healthy systems adapt to environmental changes by making adaptations to continue to meet their purposes 3

5. The Universality of Wholeness Wholeness – the subjugation of parts to the whole Healthy systems sub-optimize by each part sacrificing itself to the good of the whole Sub-optimization in healthy systems is a good thing because it focuses on the cooperation of parts in service to the greater collective gain of the system The design of healthy systems reflects harmony and rationality 5

6. The Universality of Interrelatedness Interrelatedness – the interdependence of parts Healthy systems achieve an internal communication process that minimizes conflict and maximizes cooperation Healthy systems demonstrate an efficiency in design – parts and processes flow together in ways that demonstrate balance and proportion 6

7. The Universality of Openness Openness– environmental influence Healthy systems sense, respond to and live in balance with their environment Healthy systems adapt to changes in their environment The design and function of healthy systems reflect mutually beneficial dependencies 7

8. The Universality of Transformation Transformation– input-output process Healthy systems receive resource inputs and change them into outputs used by the system and valued by its environment Healthy systems are efficient – the proportion of inputs to outputs reflects internal conservation and value-added Healthy systems creatively adapt to changes in environmental inputs 8

9. The Universality of Control Control– maintaining focus and order Healthy systems develop optimal controls to insure effectiveness (goal attainment) and efficiency (resource utilization) Healthy systems place controls at the key points where recognition and response are best located Healthy systems exhibit economy of control – control always serves clear value-added purposes 9

10. The Universality of Rhythms Rhythms– cycles and patterns Healthy systems exhibit cycles rest – work – recuperating birth – growth – maturity – decline daily – monthly – seasonal – annual Healthy systems exhibit a pacing and sequencing that preserves and restores the system 10

11. The Universality of Competition Competition – seeking competitive niche distinction Healthy systems compete with other systems for resources – that competition helps make the system stronger and more adaptively resilient Healthy systems compete by focusing on a an environmental niche and marshalling resources to attain a competitive edge in that niche 11

12. The Universality of Decay and Death Decay and death – natural entropy Healthy systems have a finite life – no natural system last forever All systems lose, gradually and eventually completely, loss of energy and function Healthy systems experience decay and death (and rebirth and repair) in various parts throughout their lifetime 12

13. The Universality of Intelligent Design Intelligent design – irreducible complexity and beauty Healthy systems reveal structural design and process integration that is impossible to achieve accidentally Healthy systems are irreducibly complex – their minimum requirements could not appear merely sequentially by a natural evolutionary process 13