Flaws in organizations LO16236

J.C. Lelie (janlelie@pi.net)
Sun, 14 Dec 1997 23:30:05 -0800

Replying to LO16225 --

Hi Simon, you wrote:

> IVNS Raju started the "How do Nations learn?" thread by asking why "We now
> are seeing the diplorable state of affairs of our political system wherein
> forces like corruption.... are safely sheltered". I responded early onb by
> saying that learning deficits are a function of a lack of incentives and a
> lack of independence. I have reflected further on this topic and offer the
> following analysis of the fundamental flaws that limit the performance of
> and threaten the survival of both political and business organizations.

The definition of a tragedy, i've been taught, is a story of a hero who
meets his destiny (death), his un-doing through a flaw in his character.
This "flaw" is also his (or hers) strongest point, the thing that makes
him or her a hero in the first place. These Greek writers wanted us to
learn something, perhaps something like: ideas are just ideas that work,
have worked but are carried to the extreme and used in situations were
they are no longer appropriate. It might lead to your own undoing, without
the Gods being able to interfere. And this, i think, holds for every human
thought or feeling.

For instance: taking care of other people is good, unless these other
people come too dependent of your care (and you of them; and this is also
true of people with a nine-to-five job in a big corporation: some seem to
think: i do not think, because the company will care for me) Trying to
release people from an over-care situation is good, but must not lead to
careful mothers ("kar vol modder" this is also a pun in Dutch: it means a
truck (van) with mud) having to go out to work, being unable to care for
their young, etc...

Somebody has learned me that i shouldn't try to correct the flaws in my
character, nor try too hard to exploit my talents. Balancing seems
appropriate.

"As i'm typing this: didn't the Greek also invent Tyrany and Democracy?
Doesn't that proof that organisation can learn?"

"Yes, it does, but we do not agree on the lesson thaught."

Take care,

Jan Lelie

"CORElate diversity"

-- 

Drs J.C. Lelie CPIM (Jan) janlelie@pi.net (J.C. Lelie) @date@ @time@ LOGISENS - Sparring Partner in Logistical Development - + (31) 70 3243475 Fax: idem

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