Adaptive Action

1© 2012. HSD Institute. Use with permission.

Adaptive Action

Navigating the Turbulence of ChangeGlenda Eoyang, PhD

Founding Executive DirectorHuman Systems Dynamics Institute

www.hsdinstitute.orggeoyang@hsdinstitute.orgwww.Wiki.hsdinstitute.org

@glendaeoyang

2© 2012. HSD Institute. Use with permission.

Turbulence in Nature and Art

3© 2012. HSD Institute. Use with permission.

Turbulence in Life

4© 2012. HSD Institute. Use with permission.

HealthcareThriving in Turbulence

5© 2012. HSD Institute. Use with permission.

Turbulence in CCO Oregon

Present

Quality

ExpenseExperience

Future

Coordinated Care

Dental

Mental Health

Primary Care

Past

6© 2012. HSD Institute. Use with permission.

Static ChangeSisyphus

7© 2012. HSD Institute. Use with permission.

Dynamic ChangeRace to the Finish

8© 2012. HSD Institute. Use with permission.

Dynamical ChangeChaos and Emergence

9© 2012. HSD Institute. Use with permission.

Turbulence Is Natural when . . .

Yesterday Tomorrow

Local action—local effects Local action—global effectsFeedback in months Instantaneous feedbackOrganizational monocultures Diversity of many kindsStable & predictable services Emergent needs &

opportunityRelative independence Massive interdependencyControlled information Ubiquitous informationAmple resources Dwindling resourcesAnd . . . And . . .

10© 2012. HSD Institute. Use with permission.

Finite Game Infinite Game

Defined field of playOpponents are knownRules are constantExpertise is clearBeen there beforeEasy to keep scorePurpose: To Win

Fuzzy boundariesEverybody playsChanging rulesLooking for fitNew territoryEverything may matterPurpose: Keep Playing

The Rules Are Changing

11© 2012. HSD Institute. Use with permission.

Playing the Infinite Game

12© 2012. HSD Institute. Use with permission.

A collection of individual agents who have the freedom to act in unpredictable ways, and whose actions are interconnected such that they produce system-wide patterns.

How Does Complexity Emerge?Complex Adaptive System (CAS)

Agents interact

13© 2012. HSD Institute. Use with permission.

Complex Adaptive System (CAS)Self-Organizing System

Agents interact

Those system-wide patterns, in turn, influence the behaviors of the agents

System-wide patterns emerge

14© 2012. HSD Institute. Use with permission.

Thriving in Turbulence

Findpatterns

AdaptiveAction

Makesense

Takeaction

15© 2012. HSD Institute. Use with permission.

Thriving in Turbulence

What?

AdaptiveAction

So what does it mean?

Now what will we do?

16© 2012. HSD Institute. Use with permission.

What?Adaptive Action and Personal Stress

17© 2012. HSD Institute. Use with permission.

So What?Adaptive Action and Collaboration

18© 2012. HSD Institute. Use with permission.

Now What?Adaptive Action and Coordinated Care

19© 2012. HSD Institute. Use with permission.

More resources

BooksFacilitating Organization Change (Olson & Eoyang)Coping with Chaos (Eoyang)Patterns (Holladay & Quade)Adaptive Action:Leveraging Uncertainty in Your Organization (Eoyang & Holladay)

Webwww.adaptiveaction.orgWiki.hsdinstitute.orgwww.hsdinstitute.orgHsdcommunity.ning.comTwitter: #hsd #adaptact @GlendaEoyang

Out in April 2013

Preorder NOW

20© 2012. HSD Institute. Use with permission.

Even More Resources

TrainingWebinars (free monthly)HSD Professional Certification (Portland, 2013)Custom training

Adaptive Action LaboratoriesFocus on your own sticky issuesLearn HSD models and methodsBuild adaptive capacity for individuals and groupsInvolve large groups or smallAddress major issues or “trivial”Commit to half-day to three-day sessions

21© 2012. HSD Institute. Use with permission.

Remember . . .

Adaptive Action helps you thrive.

You are playing an infinite game.

Turbulence is the new normal.