Steve
Much as I have admired your postings to date, I think you're off base on
this one--even though you're probably still in the ballpark.
If there's an analogy between the 49'ers and Microsoft, Bill Gates isn't
Joe Montana, he's Bill Walsh. Montana was a superb executor of Walsh's
strategy (and a superb tactical innovator), but he did not create the
strategy. Walsh did, and, more importantly, he created (or, more
properly, transformed) the 49ers organisation.
When Walsh got there, in 1978 or so, the 49ers had an organisation
(coaches, scouts, players, administrators, etc.). They functioned,
although ineptly. They existed. They were, could one say--alive?! After
Walsh they functioned eptly--very eptly. Most importantly, they continued
to do so, and still do so, long after Walsh left.
Something Happened (pace Joseph Heller). Just as something happened with
the Boston Celtics (with and post Red Auerbach) and with the Dutch
national soccer team in the 1970's ("Total Football"). And with McKinsey
(with and post Marvin Bower). And with H-P (even after H and P have
gone). Will Microsoft's run last as long? It will depend on how much of
what Gates has contributed to its developement continues to live after
him, and how much will be interred with his bones.
What happened (to the 49ers, McKinsey, etc.) or will happen (to Microsoft,
Berkshire Hathaway, etc.)? Nobody really knows. That's what makes the
practice of organisational development a "practice" rather than a trade.
All I think I know is that there is a discernible, quasi-tangible,
qualitative difference between a "healthy" organisation and an "unhealthy"
one. And, I think, using biological methaphors (or similes or whatever
rhetorical devices) is a useful way of diagnosing and characterising
organisational health.
Does that mean I think organisations are "alive?" Quite frankly I don't
know and I don't care. All I know is that using that analogy can be very
useful, so I use it, from time to time, where and when appropriate.
Do/Can organisations "self organise?" Are tautologies tautological? How
did the Celtics manage to run their fast breaks so seamlessly for so many
years, regardless of the people involved?
If and when we find these sorts of things out, the world will be a much
less mysterious place to be. If we do so, however, I strongly suspect
that metaphors from our understanding of "life," biological, ontological,
or otherwise will have proven to be be among our most important and
irreplaceable tools. That, in itself is a tautology, for we only know
what we experience, and what we experience is, by definition, our life.
Isn't it?
Richard Goodale
--Richard Goodale <fc45@dial.pipex.com>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>