van Fm Frans Eijnatten

Chaordic systems thinking : some suggestions for a complexity framework to inform a learning organization

This contribution suggests a conceptual framework for using complexity to understand human interactions in learning organizations. The particular lens adopted for this purpose is that of the Chaos perspective. The following general concepts are described: discontinuous growth, attractors: their basins and landscapes, the chaordic properties of consciousness, connectivity, indeterminacy, dissipation and emergence, orienteering and path finding, holons and holonic capacity, dialogue, emergent leadership, and individual and organizational mind. Because all human individuals act as agents and are seen as part of the holon, this framework helps to prevent any split between different frameworks of causality. It exclusively supports the use of a transformative teleology.

Reflections: Chaos in organizational change

In this concluding article the guest editors take a reflective stand with respect to this special issue of the Journal of Organizational Change Management dedicated to exploring the ways in which Chaos is made applicable to and actionable in organizations. This summation chronicles a search for common ground as well as differences between the individual contributions. In addition, we respond to a number of issues we believe to be pertinent to the advancement of Chaos as a metapraxis of organizational change, concluding with a few suggestions for future research.

Introduction‐“Chaordic systems thinking” for learning organizations

The European Chaos and Complexity in Organizations Network (ECCON) held its Third Annual Meeting in Guimaraes, Portugal, June 2003, at the very same spot where the First Business Excellence conference was organized. As an outcome of that meeting, this TLO special brings together six ECCON members around the theme of “Chaordic Systems Thinking” (CST), a “new science” lens based in chaos and complexity. The CST framework will be presented, as well as some preliminary explorations into how it might inform a learning organization. Apart from the CST lens, the issue contains chaos‐and‐complexity concepts of learning and the learning organization, a dialogical conversation about the framework and some paper presenting empirical research findings.

A Chaordic Lens for Understanding Entrepreneurship and Intrapreneurship

The research regarding entrepreneurship hasevolved, resulting in differing definitions of entrepreneurship. For thisresearch, Paula Kyro’s categorization of three forms of entrepreneurship isutilized interchangeably, with the three forms identified as follows: 1)entrepreneurship as defined by the individual and his/her firm; 2)intrapreneurship as defined by the organization’s culture and behavior; and 3)individual, self-oriented entrepreneurship as defined by the individualentrepreneur’s behavior. A Chaordic Systems Thinking (CST) lens, allowing chaos and order tocoexist,is applied as a means of understanding entrepreneurship/intrapreneurship. A description of the chaordic framework is provided,including an explanation of Chaos Theory, the derivation of the CST model, andthe characteristics of CST (consciousness, connectivity, indeterminacy,dissipation, emergence). The impact of using a CST lens when examiningentrepreneurial/ intrapreneurial cultures is described, indicating that theculture is predominantly a collective interior characteristic as opposed to acollective exterior attribute. The significance of the CST concept of holons (wholes and parts of wholes)is also discussed in relation to entrepreneurship/ intrapreneurship. Boththe features of sustainable work systems and the impact of creation,destruction, and novelty are examined according to the CST lens. Theutilization of the CST lens presents some beneficial properties, including agreater understanding of 1) entrepreneurial/intrapreneurial creativity, 2)entrepreneurial/intrapreneurial culture, and 3) time factors. (AKP)