Organizing for complexity and variability:
adaptive organization design at work
28 May, 2019 by Cocoon Staff
There is a growing interest in organisations that are able to cope with increasing amounts of unrelenting change, while keeping a clear strategic direction. Achieving this is not just a matter of bringing some more “agility” to the existing organisation at any scale.
In fact, it is about understanding and implementing a completely new concept of the organisation itself.
It is about putting the real system and the formal system in the right order of priorities, stop trying to fit the territory into our ideal map and telling people they have to adapt to the organisational structure as it is “designed”.
Here lies one of the most compelling revolutions we’re undergoing globally: we’re devising organisations that allow people to arrange the way they work together according to the needs of the situation and having the formal system adhere to the real one.
In any given moment, the real structure is reflected by the formal one. And this is key for the maximum expressions of our ancient capability of dealing with complexity and variability as a unique whole. Having the formal structure as a dynamic support instead of a burden in our way.
Making this possible is what Adaptive Organisation Design is all about.
Adaptability here is almost always meant for the organization: to design an adaptive organization. That is true, of course. And yet it is far from enough. “Adaptive” needs to be referred also to the other noun: design. It is very important.
I’ve met so many people looking for clear instructions on how to “craft” an adaptive organization, a sort of manual that can be followed. Truth is, the beauty of human systems is inseparable from the impossibility of doing so. Not only each human system is different from the others, but it is also different from itself in each phase of its life. Identity, context and trajectory are key concepts to be embraced and carefully considered each and every time, if we really want to master AOD. Design needs to be truly adaptive as well. We need to be adaptive as well.
From “Adaptive Organization Design: a Manifesto” by Stelio Verzera.
In this X-Course we’ll literally play with this concept, in order to deeply understand it, building it up so to be concrete and relevant to our professional lives.
And we are going to achieve this using LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®, a methodology that embeds decades of studies in the fields of cognitive sciences, neurobiology, management, strategy and more.
Rather than drawing organization charts or even organigraphs, imagine bringing the new organization to life in 3 dimensional ways.
Imagine having a tool that enables people to envision their organizations in creative and radically new ways, allowing for the integration of rational thinking, intuition and emotions.
These are the main topics we will explore together:
- Adaptive organizations.
- Co-creation and the usage of full human potential.
- Co-design processes and techniques for adaptive organisations.
- Complex adaptive systems.
- The evolution of human systems.
- Organizational narratives and why they matter.
- Strategic inclusion of unknown unknowns.
- The usage of narratives, metaphors and brain-hand connection in design.
- Unconscious knowledge and its usage in organisational design.
We will explore and co-learn who, why and how to involve in the design process, what an “adaptive organisation” really is, how to design for adaptiveness, how to craft and ask questions in the deep research of needs, desires and fears of the people in an organisation, how to cocreate adaptive organisations to lay foundation for their excellent execution and navigate change in real time. All in all, you will develop capabilities needed for engaging both your imagination and your intellect in approaching the setup of Adaptive Organisations with increased confidence, commitment and understanding.
• • •
It will be a 2-days journey with Stelio Verzera.
The language will likely be English, but if all the participants will be Italian or Spanish it will be done in their native language. Let us know if you are interested, so to understand as soon as possible which scenario will be.
This X-Course is geared for:
- Entrepreneurs.
- CEOs and General Managers.
- VPs of Strategy and/or Marketing.
- Heads of Division/Unit.
- HR Directors.
- R&D managers.
- Innovation Officers.
This X-Course will be held in Rome on July 8th and 9th, and it will be confirmed within June 14th, as soon as the minimum number of participants will be reached.
Also, Stelio is available to organise this X-Course at your organisation premises, if desired.
The price for the 2 days is € 1.200 (VAT excluded).
If more than one person from the same organization wants to join, we are providing a special discount.
To jump in or to ask for any information, contact us: xc@cocoon-pro.com
The X-Courses are meant for those organizations that want to increase awareness on complex issues, learning about effective tools and techniques that can be applied in their own contexts. They will follow an experiential approach through which the participants can dive into the specific domain of the course. Moreover, if they want, they’ll be able to take part in the building of a community among companies and organizations for exploring and sharing insights about the evolution of work.
Building on the idiomatic meaning of “in the ordinary course of business“, we developed the eXtraordinary Course of Business: experiences that take you out of the ordinary, allowing for a first step on a new journey.
Organizing for complexity and variability:
adaptive organization design at work
There is a growing interest in organisations that are able to cope with increasing amounts of unrelenting change, while keeping a clear strategic direction. Achieving this is not just a matter of bringing some more “agility” to the existing organisation at any scale.
In fact, it is about understanding and implementing a completely new concept of the organisation itself.
It is about putting the real system and the formal system in the right order of priorities, stop trying to fit the territory into our ideal map and telling people they have to adapt to the organisational structure as it is “designed”.
Here lies one of the most compelling revolutions we’re undergoing globally: we’re devising organisations that allow people to arrange the way they work together according to the needs of the situation and having the formal system adhere to the real one.
In any given moment, the real structure is reflected by the formal one. And this is key for the maximum expressions of our ancient capability of dealing with complexity and variability as a unique whole. Having the formal structure as a dynamic support instead of a burden in our way.
Making this possible is what Adaptive Organisation Design is all about.
Adaptability here is almost always meant for the organization: to design an adaptive organization. That is true, of course. And yet it is far from enough. “Adaptive” needs to be referred also to the other noun: design. It is very important.
I’ve met so many people looking for clear instructions on how to “craft” an adaptive organization, a sort of manual that can be followed. Truth is, the beauty of human systems is inseparable from the impossibility of doing so. Not only each human system is different from the others, but it is also different from itself in each phase of its life. Identity, context and trajectory are key concepts to be embraced and carefully considered each and every time, if we really want to master AOD. Design needs to be truly adaptive as well. We need to be adaptive as well.
From “Adaptive Organization Design: a Manifesto” by Stelio Verzera.
In this X-Course we’ll literally play with this concept, in order to deeply understand it, building it up so to be concrete and relevant to our professional lives.
And we are going to achieve this using LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®, a methodology that embeds decades of studies in the fields of cognitive sciences, neurobiology, management, strategy and more.
Rather than drawing organization charts or even organigraphs, imagine bringing the new organization to life in 3 dimensional ways.
Imagine having a tool that enables people to envision their organizations in creative and radically new ways, allowing for the integration of rational thinking, intuition and emotions.
These are the main topics we will explore together:
We will explore and co-learn who, why and how to involve in the design process, what an “adaptive organisation” really is, how to design for adaptiveness, how to craft and ask questions in the deep research of needs, desires and fears of the people in an organisation, how to cocreate adaptive organisations to lay foundation for their excellent execution and navigate change in real time. All in all, you will develop capabilities needed for engaging both your imagination and your intellect in approaching the setup of Adaptive Organisations with increased confidence, commitment and understanding.
• • •
It will be a 2-days journey with Stelio Verzera.
The language will likely be English, but if all the participants will be Italian or Spanish it will be done in their native language. Let us know if you are interested, so to understand as soon as possible which scenario will be.
This X-Course is geared for:
This X-Course will be held in Rome on July 8th and 9th, and it will be confirmed within June 14th, as soon as the minimum number of participants will be reached.
Also, Stelio is available to organise this X-Course at your organisation premises, if desired.
The price for the 2 days is € 1.200 (VAT excluded).
If more than one person from the same organization wants to join, we are providing a special discount.
To jump in or to ask for any information, contact us: xc@cocoon-pro.com
The X-Courses are meant for those organizations that want to increase awareness on complex issues, learning about effective tools and techniques that can be applied in their own contexts. They will follow an experiential approach through which the participants can dive into the specific domain of the course. Moreover, if they want, they’ll be able to take part in the building of a community among companies and organizations for exploring and sharing insights about the evolution of work.
Building on the idiomatic meaning of “in the ordinary course of business“, we developed the eXtraordinary Course of Business: experiences that take you out of the ordinary, allowing for a first step on a new journey.