The Starfish and the Spider
Decentralization and the Church

Spider Organizations

Spider Organizations
One Head

Spider Organizations
One Head
Multiple Legs

Spider Organizations
One Head
Multiple Legs
Cut off the head and the Spider dies

Starfish Organizations

Starfish Organizations
Decentralized

Starfish Organizations
Decentralized
Multiple Legs

Starfish Organizations
Decentralized
Multiple Legs
Cut of a leg and the Starfish will Grow a new one

Starfish Organizations
Decentralized
Multiple Legs
Cut of a leg and the Starfish will Grow a new one
With some species the arm will even grow into a
new starfish

Spider Org. in History

Spider Org. in History
Aztecs

Spider Org. in History
Aztecs
The Record Industry

Starfish Organizations

Starfish Organizations
Apaches

Starfish Organizations
Apaches
Craigslist

Starfish Organizations
Apaches
Craigslist
Wikipedia

Starfish Organizations
Apaches
Craigslist
Wikipedia
Emule

Traits of Spider Orgs.

Traits of Spider Orgs.
A Centralized Head (CEO, President etc.)

Traits of Spider Orgs.
A Centralized Head (CEO, President etc.)
A Hierarchal System

Traits of Spider Orgs.
A Centralized Head (CEO, President etc.)
A Hierarchal System
Great Degree of Control

Traits of Spider Orgs.
A Centralized Head (CEO, President etc.)
A Hierarchal System
Great Degree of Control
Driven by Coercion (i.e. money etc)

Traits of Starfish Orgs.

Traits of Starfish Orgs.
No Head

Traits of Starfish Orgs.
No Head
Flat System

Traits of Starfish Orgs.
No Head
Flat System
Driven by ideology

Traits of Starfish Orgs.
No Head
Flat System
Driven by ideology
Abolition Movement

Traits of Starfish Orgs.
No Head
Flat System
Driven by ideology
Abolition Movement
Women Suffrage movement

Traits of Starfish Orgs.
No Head
Flat System
Driven by ideology
Abolition Movement
Women Suffrage movement
Al Qaeda

Traits of Starfish Orgs.
No Head
Flat System
Driven by ideology
Abolition Movement
Women Suffrage movement
Al Qaeda

How Starfish Org. Grow

How Starfish Org. Grow
Circles

How Starfish Org. Grow
Circles
Early Methodism

How Starfish Org. Grow
Circles
Early Methodism
The genius of the Methodist movement was its realization that what had
begun as an informal circulation of John Wesley’s emissaries among the
first classes and Methodist groups could be channeled into a means of
spreading the Gospel that literally grew with the new nation out to its
very frontier.

Catalyst

Catalyst
Draws Circles into action

Catalyst
Draws Circles into action
Motivates the forming of new circles

Ideology

Ideology
This is the glue

Ideology
This is the glue
The stronger the ideology the stronger the organization

Networks

Networks
This is what the circles are formed from

Networks
This is what the circles are formed from
Every Starfish org. that has gone big took advantage of a preexisting
network.

A Champion

A Champion
Catalyst organize, champions sell

A Champion
Catalyst organize, champions sell
They are tirelessly dedicated to the cause

Hybrid Organizations

Hybrid Organizations
EBay

Hybrid Organizations
EBay
Has decentalized elements such as the seller rating

Hybrid Organizations
EBay
Has decentalized elements such as the seller rating
Users sell directly to each other

Hybrid Organizations
EBay
Has decentalized elements such as the seller rating
Users sell directly to each other
Has a CEO and centralized leadership

Hybrid Organizations
EBay
Has decentalized elements such as the seller rating
Users sell directly to each other
Has a CEO and centralized leadership
Amazon

Hybrid Organizations
EBay
Has decentalized elements such as the seller rating
Users sell directly to each other
Has a CEO and centralized leadership
Amazon
User reviews

IBM

IBM
Sun Microsystems

Starfish and the Church

Starfish and the Church
The Church can never be a fully Starfish
organization

Starfish and the Church
The Church can never be a fully Starfish
organization
The Church could be a fully Spider Organization

Starfish and the Church
The Church can never be a fully Starfish
organization
The Church could be a fully Spider Organization
The Church would function best as a Hybrid Org.

Hybrids & CrossWinds

Hybrids & CrossWinds
What are our current Starfish-like features?

Hybrids & CrossWinds
What are our current Starfish-like features?
What are some areas we could be more starfish-
like

Hybrids & CrossWinds
What are our current Starfish-like features?
What are some areas we could be more starfish-
like
What steps do we need to take?