Evolutionary Baessler Consulting & Dr. Otto Training & Consulting 1 Management.

Evolutionary

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Management

Evolutionary Management

• Management model for organizations• We use comparable processes from nature as a

basis for creating organizational processes in the business world.

• Learning– Species develop– Simple to complex– Will to live– Adaptability– Natural selection

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Nothing makes senseexcept seen in the light of evolution.

Five central theses of Evolutionary Management

• Specific activities in nature are taken as an example for managing organizational processes.

• The biological evolution of species becomes the example for development processes in the economic world.

• Neurobiological research results are used to enhance management performances.

• Evolution happens to human beings & humans actively participate in the evolutionary process.

• Evolutionary Management places the organizational world into the framework of biological evolution.

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Development of organizations• Every organization has its own history with its specific qualities, traditions

and myths.• The development of an organization can be described as an evolutionary

landscape with the following characteristics:

– growth, stability and shrinkage– Speed of processes– direction of the development– lifetime of the organization

• Analyses of previous evolutionary developments can support decision-making in future projects.

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Dialogue• Pair up with somebody you don’t know• Share a story of your experience in organizations

– What happened?– What was the result?

• Discuss how the natural principles showed up and what ideas you have to use them consciously

• Switch• Report out to large group

– How did the natural principles show up in your example– How would a conscious use of the natural principles have helped you

guide the situation?

5 min each

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Competition & Cooperation• Competition and cooperation are forms of

interaction in evolution.

• Competition in nature always implicates using more energy than symbiotic relationships.

• Competition serves self preservation and the dynamics of evolution.

• Evolution is not the survival of the fittest, but the extinction of the least fit.

• Organizations need competition and cooperation.Baessler Consulting & Dr. Otto Training &

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Teams• A team is a complex system consisting of several

organisms.• A team functions well, if different facets of the team

behavior are matched to a certain team task.• A well-functioning team can live different types of

cohabitation.– Behavior patterns in nature & organizationsBehavior patterns Nature Organizations

Lone actor Lynxes Super sales representative

Swarm intelligence Swarms of fish Team acting in concert

Division of labor Ant colonies Team with clear task structure

Care Bird nests Team that cares

Leadership Lions Leadership & Management team

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Learning from Neurobiology• The human being is not merely rational.• Classical business administration theories assume that

maximizing financial profit is human motivation. • We have various behavior patterns that are based on instincts

and drives. • Intrinsic motivation captures positive experiences as well as

instant and continuous feedback slopes.• Two fundamental drives:

• The need for survival • The need for well-being

• Facilitate intrinsic motivation: Solving a problem for the first time Developing new ideas Learning successfully Satisfying curiosity Overcoming situations that seemed frightening in the beginning

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Intuition• Intuition is

– the “immediate apprehension of an object by the mind without the intervention of any reasoning process" (Oxford English Dictionary).

– Intuition does not rely on logic but comprehends the all the elements of a situation/phenomenon in their entity.

• Developing intuition– Congenital instincts– Ability to connect stimuli with reactions– Broad perception– High sensibility

• Know thyself– Integrate intuition into your reasoning– Learn about your prejudices– Listen to your body– Distract yourself

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Intuition Experienced• Form two circles that revolve in opposite directions• Close your eyes and slowly step forward until I stop you• Notice your experience

– What do you feel? What do you think?– Notice the assumptions you make about the other or the

situation• Check out one or two assumptions with the other

person• Report your experience in the large group

– What feelings/thoughts did you experience during this exercise

– Share your assumption about another and what you found out when you checked your assumption

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Circle of Innovation

Preservation (standardization)

Selection(evaluation)

P C

S

Creation of diversity(destruction of the old)

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The circle of innovation

(the CSP model)

Nature’s Ways To Create Innovation• Recombination

• Adaptation of functions

• Substitution of specific parts

• Enlargement, expansion

• Simplification

• Change of direction

• Use of pre-adaptations

• Search for new niches

• Adaptation to the environment

• Change by analysis of growth phases

• Symbiosis

• Use of swarm intelligence

• Check need of quantity or quality

• Create diversity

• Re-launchRemember: These are only a limited number of examples of how nature can be helpful for innovation processes. Of course, you can search for other examples in nature that help you facilitate change in organizations!

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Aspects of Evolutionary Management• Change happens: how and how much can we influence

• Three steps: change happens, we realize it as danger or chance, we react

• Humans are a designing factor in evolutionary management: Knowing oneself is the base for influencing development

• By influencing ones own development actively, we can influence complex evolutionary processes.

• Evolutionary Management anticipates the evolution of the organization and drives it towards thriving

• Feel humbled and realize boundaries of influence!

• Love it, change it or leave it!Baessler Consulting & Dr. Otto Training &

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„We have to develop the future, otherwise we get one that we don‘t want.“

(free translation after Josef Beuys, German Artist championing of the healing potential of art and the power of a universal human creativity. )

Resources• http://www.evolutionsmanagement.de/• http://www.dr-otto.de/• Dr. Otto , Uwe Nolting, Christel Baessler: Evolutions Management

• (sorry all are in German )• Dr. Otto – live at the ODN Conference October 18-21, 2009 in Seattle • Geus, A. de: The living company, Harvard Business School Press, 1997• Lawrence, R.R. Nohria, N.: Driven – How human nature shapes organizationsAlso: http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/2543.html• Pascale, R.T., Millemann, M.; Gioja L.; Herrmann M. : Surfing the edge of chaos: the

laws of nature and the new laws of business• Godin, S.: Survival is not enough. Zooming, Evolution and the Future of your

company. Free Press, NY 2002• Koch, R.: The natural laws of business: How to harness the Power of Evolution,

Physics and economics to achieve Business Success, NY 2001• www.baesslerconsulting.com for this presentation & as a contact for further

questions• Similar idea around nature and the production process:

Harvard Business Review February 08: Gregory C. Unruh: The biosphere rules

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