Andrew's BookStore : Book Review / Discussion
Corporate Tides : The Inescapable Laws of Organisational Structure
The Path of Least Resistance
What is the difference between System Thinking and Structural Thinking? They have cousin-relationship : In what ways?
Corporate Tides: The Inescapable Laws of Organisational Structure By Robert Fritz
System thinking gives a big jump from "Box Thinking" to understanding of inter-relationship, inter-connectivity and interdependence of "parts". But it is very overwhelming. What can one do, or where should one begin if every thing is part of every other things, connected and related?
Hence System Thinking gives us deeper understanding, but may not help to lead us into some simple action that can have ripple and resonant effect on the many other parts in the right direction.
Structural Thinking
- Structure - "Anything" that causes human being to behave, to act, to think, ...
Once the "Structure(s)" are identified or recognised, we can "do something" with the intended goal, or modification of the "Structures"
If thinking is perceived as something happening in the brain, and if the brain can be taken aside with examination of its Structural make-up, we can then reshape or redesign the thinking process by making changes to the structural domains of the brain . IF. Maybe this is what Structural Thinking is about. Since we can't isolate the brain, we "take" our perception as "Object" with "Structural properties" for Structural Thinking to take place.
Others books by Robert Fritz
At first glance at the title of the book, I thought the phrase indicating something that is obvious, "that energy will always move where it is easiest for it to move". But as I explore further, I appreciate the author is describing the underlying "structures" that cause something to move or behaviour in what on the surface appears obvious or natural. Far too often human "responds" or "reacts" to events or circumstances, it is because the underlying "structures" or something refer to as "environment" causes the expected behaviour or responses..
Chinese ancient wisdom has similar expression : "Go along with the Nature (implies natural forces)". The essence of the wisdom is to understand the "natural forces" and then ACT. Natural forces can be conducive or not conducive in respect to the desired goal or outcome, in its simplicity, it is called "evil forces" or "positive forces". A ghetto with high crime rate, delinquencies etc. can be an environment (hence structures in place) with "evil forces" that cause most youth to follow the same path (a path of least resistance). Likewise a renowned quality college with consistent good behaviour / academic performance induces more students to excel, following the natural forces of the environment, with its structures of high reputation. qualified and experienced academic staff, good facilities etc..
Many sincere efforts are made to make changes (for the better) aim at behavioural change, fixing the symptoms, solving the problems, etc., produce temporary good result or fail with more disastrous and miserable consequences. Underlying Structures are not understood and hence ignored. .
A thought is a structure, which causes expected behaviour. When the original mission of AT&T was to put every American home a black telephone, the business nearly collapsed when the mission was almost achieved, as the structural thought imposes a limitation to the business growth..
A good understanding of underlying Structures that cause the outcome result or behaviour is the key to creation of a worthwhile goal in life, vision or future.
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Andrew Wong
(Business System Observer, Sarawak, Malaysia)
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