RE: [Kb-complexity] Cracking the Complexity Code in Organisations -Article from Mckinsey Quarterly

["Wirth, Ross" <RWIRTH@citgo.com>]

The following response was originally posted in the OrgComplexity group,
but I thought I would post it here also since it addresses the same
article.
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/OrgComplexity/message/295 

Re: Cracking the Complexity Code 

While the authors have some good points, they also greatly confuse
the reader especially in how they are using the word "complexity"
throughout the article. For the most part, I would
use "complicatedness" instead of complexity, which I reserve for more
specific use related to emergence. However, at the very end of the
article they did provide some context relative to work being done at
the Santa Fe Institute, which only served to confuse their use of the
term more.

The authors also make a distinction between "institutional
complexity" (seems more related to structural complicatedness)
and "individual complexity," which they define as "the difficulty of
getting things done" (p. 88). Since organizational culture is often
defined as "the way things are done" I might prefer to look upon that
aspect of their focus as culture integrated with organizational
processes.

Some of their prescriptive comments have value, but would have
greatly benefited from being placed in a better context
of "complexity." The use of "managing complexity" also leads me to
believe they are writing about a subject they don't fully comprehend
and still have both feet planted in the old paradigm.

Overall, I was a bit disappointed in the quality of this article. It
failed to live up to the normal quality I expect from The McKinsey
Quarterly.

Ross Wirth
 

-----Original Message-----
From: kb-complexity-bounces@list.knowledgeboard.com
[mailto:kb-complexity-bounces@list.knowledgeboard.com] On Behalf Of
Carol Webb
Sent: Monday, June 25, 2007 12:35 PM
To: kb-complexity@list.knowledgeboard.com
Subject: [Kb-complexity] Cracking the Complexity Code in Organisations
-Article from Mckinsey Quarterly

Hi Folks

An interesting McKinsey Quarterly article available to read without
subscribing to premier membership:
http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/article_abstract_visitor.aspx?ar=2001&l
2=18&l3=30&srid=17&gp=0

It talks about focussing primarly on two types of complexity within
organisations: organisational complexity to do with interactions within
it; and individual complexity to do with the ability of individuals to
handle complexity and make good use of it.

Good food for thought?





    Best wishes, Carol.

       
   
   
  Dr Carol Webb, Research Officer, School of Applied Sciences, Cranfield
University, Beds, MK43 0AL, United Kingdom. 
   
  Tel: +44 (0)7930405603 

Carol Webb's profile on www.linkedin.com:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/carolwebb  - add yourself to my professional
network using my email address carolwebb75@yahoo.com 








       
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