Organizations: Social Systems Conducting Experiments

Transcription

1 Organizations: Social Systems Conducting Experiments

2 Introducing Organizations as Social Systems Conducting Experiments Introduction Making Sense of Organizations: From "Phenomena" to "Key Features" Situation 1: Strategy Formulation Situation 2: A Worker in Trouble The First "Arche": The Experimental Character of Organizations The Second "Arche": The Social Systemic'Character of Organizations The Relation Between the Social Systemic and the Experimental Character of Organizations Organizations as Social Systems Conducting Experiments Conducting Experiments Organizations as Social Systems Principles Improving Organizational Design Functional Design Principles Specific Design Principles Conceptual Background Outline of the Book Part I: Organizations as Social Systems Conducting Experiments with their Survival Part II: Designing Organizations as Social Systems Conducting Experiments Part III: Poor and Rich Survival 28 References 29 The Experimental Arche: Ashby's Cybernetics Introduction Cybernetics: Effective Methods for the Study of Complex Systems Describing Behavior: "Systems" and "Transformations" Regular Behavior and Input A procedure to Describe Behavior and Identify Regularity Cybernetics: Effective Methods for the Control of Complex Systems Ashby's Views on Regulation: Definition, Types of Regulation and Requisite Variety Control, Design and Operational Regulation Adaptive Behavior 63

3 2.4 Organizations as Systems Conducting Experiments- 67 References 70 The Experimental Arche Continued: Von Foerster on Observing Systems Introduction Two problems in first-order cybernetics The problem of selection The problem of defining the transformation Dealing with Both Problems: The Cybernetics of Observing Observers as Closed Systems Producing Eigenvalues Closed Systems and Their Eigenvalues Closure, cognition and observing Problems of First-order Cybernetics Revisited Von Foerster and the Risky Nature of the Organizational Experiment A Common Sense Understanding of Risk A More Fundamental Understanding of Risk Two Consequences of von Foerster's View on Risk 106 References 110 The Second "arche," Organizations as Social Systems: Luhmann Introduction Luhmann's General Theory of Social Systems Autopoietic or Self-Producing Systems Meaning Processing Systems Social Systems The Social "arche": Organizations as a Particular type of Social Systems Elements of Organizations: Decisions The Organization's Structure: Decision Premises Processes of Self-Production: The Autopoiesis of Organizations Questions Concerning Luhmann's Theory of Organizations Organizations as social systems reflecting complexity 160 References..: 162 Epilogue to Part I: The Two "Archai" Combined Introduction Cybernetics and Social Systems Theory; an Exploratory Comparison The Goal and Core Concepts of Respectively Cybernetics and Social Systems Theory Cybernetics and Social Systems Theory Compared Combining the Experimental and the Social "Arche" Transition to Part II: Designing organizations 175 References 175 Beer: Functional Design Principles for Viable Infrastructures Introduction Viability and Complexity Complexity Relations Between Environment, Organization, and Its Management Three Strategies to Solve the Complexity Problem A functional Model of Viability 189

4 6.3.1 What Does it Mean to Make a Functional Model of a Viable System? Beer's Functional Model of Viable Organizations Relations Between Functions Diagnosing and Designing Viable Infrastructures The Viable System Model and Social Systems Conducting Experiments Example Example2 219 References 221 Specific Design Principles: de Sitter's Organizational Structures Introduction Designing Organizational Structures: Aiming at Attenuation and Amplification Organizational Structures Relevant Organizational Variables Disturbances Attenuation and Amplification by Organizational Structures Principles for Designing Organizational Structures Design Parameters Using Design parameters to Formulate Design Principles De Sitter's Organizational Structures and Conducting Experiments Relating de Sitter to Ashby, Luhmann and Beer How Do Low Parameter Structures Benefit Organizational Experimentation? 275 References 276 Epilogue to Part II: functional and specific design principles Introduction Summary of the Design Principles Functional Design Principles Specific Design Principles The Status of the Design Principles Principles of Experiments with Meaningful Survival Design Principles Figuring in Experiments with Meaningful Survival Transition to Part III: Poor and Rich Survival 283 Poor Survival: Disciplining Organizational Behavior Introduction Foucault: The Disciplines in the Eighteenth Century The Analysis of Space The Analysis of Bodily Operations The Analysis of the Process of Production The Synthesis of Space, Bodily Operations and the Process of Productions Hierarchical Surveillance Normalizing Sanctions Examination A Cybernetic and Social Systemic Generalization of the Disciplines Cybernetic Analysis of the Disciplines Social Systemic Analysis of the Disciplines Cybernetic and Social Systemic Principles Underpinning Discipline in Organizations 302

5 9.4 Why are the Disciplines Disquieting? V Trivialization Self-Trivialization Fear as a Prime Motivational Factor A Science of Discipline Detachment and Lack of Involvement Contingent and Minimal Goals 307 References Towards Rich Survival: Aristotle Introduction The Highest Good for Man: Basic Distinctions The Highest Good for Man: Living a Fulfilled Life Characteristically Human Capacities and the Fulfilled Life Virtues Involved in Eudaimonia Eupraxia: Moral Virtue, Practical Wisdom, and Choice Moral Virtue Practical Wisdom Aristotle Versus the Disciplines 341 References Organizational Structures Supporting Rich Survival Introduction Incorporating the Organization into Society Rich Survival: Specific Design Principles and Corresponding Structures Requirements to and Design Principles for "Rich" Organizational Structures Production and Control Structures Fitting the Design Principles Organizations and Rich Meaningful Survival 370 References Epilogue Introduction Organizations, "Archai", Design Principles, and "Rich" Survival Rich Survival: Its Applicability to Organizations and Relation to Poor Survival Things to do 378 References 379