complexity theory: coaching in a complex environment

Organizational Development in Complex Environment – Causality Assumptions

Ari-Pekka Skarp www.skarpconsulting.fi/LESS2011.html

Purpose of the presentation

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Causality Assumptions

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Is the movement

towards the future that is

known or unknown?

Is there outside observer

controlling the phenomenon?

Efficient Causality

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The movement towards the

future is stable and predictable without any

notion of self-organization.

Interaction of the parts in a phenomenon

isn’t considered to be

significant.

Rationalist Causality

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Movement towards the

future is towards a known state,

chosen by rational human

being.

The rational theory exists before the

chosen action. As all the

changes are due to human choice, there

isn’t any notion of self-organization. 

“Motivating” staff with Efficient & Rationalist Causality

© 2011 Ari-Pekka Skarp | www.skarpconsulting.fi

Introvert

Likes money

Extrovert

Public recognition

Neurotic Shame

Challenges

Feelings

Carrot & stick

Discipline

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Formative Causality

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The movement is produced by self-organizing interaction of

the parts towards that

pre-given form.

The system “as a whole” is

moving towards a known, pre-determined

final form or more mature form of itself.

“Growing” teams with Formative & Rationalist Causality

© 2011 Ari-Pekka Skarp | www.skarpconsulting.fi

Setting boundaries: Job roles, trainings, company values, location, goals & roadmaps, leaders, incentive targets, metrics & measurements, purpose of the team…

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“Growing” teams with Formative & Rationalist Causality

© 2011 Ari-Pekka Skarp | www.skarpconsulting.fi

Diversity: Different job roles, projects, competence areas, work tasks, ethnicity, education, experiences, cross-functionality…

ScrumMaster

Project Mgr Product Owner

Test Eng

UX Designer Epic Owner

Test Lead

Quality Eng

Line Mgr

Coach

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Transformative Causality

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The movement is towards an

unknown state. There is a

possibility for continuity and transformation

of the identities.

Logic: “either…or”, “both…and”

à “at the same

time”

Gesture is at the same time

constraining and enabling

different possibilities for the responses.

Emergence of a team in Transformative Causality

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Inclusion

Responses

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Turn-taking

Analogies from the Complexity Sciences

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End of the presentation … or is it ?

© 2011 Ari-Pekka Skarp | www.skarpconsulting.fi

“Like everyone else you were born into bondage. Into a prison that you cannot taste or see or touch. A prison for your mind.” -Morpheus, “The Matrix”

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