theories
What people get wrong about Luhmann’s systems theory—and what it means for organisational intervention
There is a difference between criticising an argument and exaggerating it into an easier target. Here are three recurring misunderstandings of Luhmann’s systems theory and how it impacts the work in organisational transformation….
How Language Shapes Organizational Reality: Insights from Maturana’s Theory
A Different Lens on Language and Organizations Chilean biologist Humberto Maturana, working with Francisco Varela, offered a compelling perspective on how language…
Can We Create Order in the World?
It is undeniable that we transform the world and create order On a first-order observation of human intervention, we transform materials from…
Observant-Dependant Social World
There has been some discussion about the world being complex in all instances or if we could consider some things simple. Most…
Reality Bias: How Our Tendency to Simplify Causes Us to Miss Out
We all tend as human beings to generate a coherent explanation of events that simplify reality to reduce anxiety and allow decision-making…
Sociopoiesis — The Evolution of Social Systems Theory
As I was reading and preparing to explore how social systems have evolved in paradigms over time, I’ve heard that Professor…
Containing Anxiety in Organizations and Groups
We are living in a moment of continuous change and adaptation that has taken people out of their comfort zone: it is…
Bummer, We Can’t Change Society After All
We can only reflect and act on communications that are already part of our system. It’s important to reflect on how dis-empowering…
Social Systems and System Complexity
Social systems hold a paradox — it contains a structure in form of meaning patterns so complexity can be reduced and allow a more reasonable predicability in social interaction. On the other hand, the selection of structures makes the description and re-creation of meaning a more complex task….
Language and System Complexity
Reading about language, dialogue and complex systems used to be paralell readings with some things in common. Today, language and complexity seem…