Replying to LO24919 --
Dear OrganLearners
At wrote:
> I have stressed in many contributions that humankind is now actually
> shifting from simplicity to complexity. This shift began in full force
> after WWII and will take another perhaps fifty years before complexity
> will become readily accepted as a key feature of reality. I believe it is
> impossible to organise complex Systems Thinking in terms of comprehensive
> definitions like the case is for Systems Thinking on the paradigm of
> simplicity.
I have lurked for a long time (ironically in physical proximity of At,
since we tread the same precinct) but feel myself now drawn into the
dialogue by a not so strange attractor - complexity. It is a bit like
dancing on the edge of an abyss. Some people like to climb sheer cliffs
with their bare hands, hanging in only because the alternative is final.
Complexity is that, but more... the metaphor becomes redundant in the face
of the complexity of complexity itself.
We (of the LO) are never far from talking about our experiences on or near
the edge, or teasing out the long dia~ and multilogic thread woven around
the subject. I know the comlpexity At describes is different from my own.
Understanding (one of at least eight operationalised meanings of the
concept) means that I have to move from where I stand, to go and stand
where At stands (literally stand under him) so that he in turn can take me
on a 360 degree tour of his horison. He looks over my shoulder and asks:
do you see object/concept1? (easily visible), now look behind it slightly
to the left, you will see object/concept2 (not so readily visible). We
have all helped geographically impaired or challenged people in more or
less the same way, to find their way.
I try to help strategically impaired/challenged companies to find their
way through a changing landscape. My lasting impression is own of managers
increasingly being overwhelmed by complexity. I sense Eli Goldratt has
come to the same conclusion. TOC is one way forward, certainly not the
only way and definitely not all the way. Just up to the point of crashing
into the next constraint, which will be (a little, or a lot) more complex
than the previous one.
If we all look at (with At) complexity we will not make it go away, we
might just find a way to hang in there a little longer.....when we do so
corporately we may call that a Learning Organisation.
kind regards and take care
Chris Klopper
--"Chris Klopper" <syntagm@icon.co.za>
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