Complexity and Organizational Culture

Recently, I travelled to San Francisco to participate in a Cognitive Edge workshop that explains how they connect complex systems theory with narrative fragments in organizations to provide much more realistic mapping of cultural values than other methods.

Their approach is a great example of how leading research and technology, wisely applied, can tell us things about ourselves that might otherwise be difficult to see. This is particularly true in the highly complex environments of organizations. Humans are deeply wired to be story tellers and our stories tell a lot about us - individually and collectively.
Using Sensemaker - a trademark database tool that deals with story fragments - Dave Snowden explored how we can be better at understanding what reality looks like in our organizations. Being aware of actual conditions is critical for effective leadership, though neither easy or, where known, easily accepted.

While in San Francisco, I also paid a brief visit to one of my favourite companies, IDEO. The Pier 28 location was just over a mile from my hotel and I stopped in and chatted briefly with one of the people working late and then discovered another IDEO member was in the seminar with me.

Finally, I managed to get to the SFMOMA as they were open late on Thursday night. Great galleries are like a nested system with the architecture and space of the building, the rooms, interior design choices, people, exhibits and individual pieces all contributing significant cultural value. I generally experience galleries rather than studying them in a detached way - paying attention to what catches me directly rather than trying to make myself appreciate something I should like.