Gray Southon (gsouthon@ozemail.com.au)
>...However, apart from a release from the constraints of positive
>rationales,
>I cannot see that chaos theory (based on the study of inanimate systems)
>has much to contribute to the understanding of social systems....
I think Gray says it all. "Release from the constraints of positive
rationales! Much of the social systems thinking is still in the "newtonian
phase", whereas the chaos thinking introduces notions that are more akin
to quantum thinking. The dramatic progress that science has made since
that breakthrough seems to be lacking in much of the work going on in
social systems.
The notion that relationships will break down if not actively nurtured is
is a measure of the departure that such chaos thinking can generate. That
organization charts have very little to do with organizational workings.
That job descriptions do not describe jobs. All these notions will only be
acceptable if one accepts the underlying chaos that pervades all system.
In the physical world, we readily accept the continuing need for
maintenance and feedback to maintain stability. The key element of
thinking is to ask the question: "Why will this line of thinking we are
following or accepting NOT work in the long term?" IMHO this is also the
essence of a learning-org. FWIW & regards...Keith
K. C. Cowan
Orion Technologies (ORTG) at http://www.GlobalDEN.com or 604-207-3809
--"Cowan, Keith" <kcowan@ORION.GLOBALDEN.com>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>