The document discusses lessons that can be learned from nature and evolution for communication and organizational leadership. It notes that most people live in the present, learn from the past, and plan for the future. It also discusses concepts like swarm intelligence, where complex systems can arise from simple interactions among large groups. Lessons for organizations include having few clear values and rules to guide behavior while allowing flexibility, involving stakeholders early in problem-solving, and using a trial-and-error approach to build on small successes.

1. Mark Barnes
March 27, 2014
Norsk
Kommunikasjons-
dagen 14
Live Communication 2.0:
Lessons from Nature and Evolution
Page: 1

2. Thinking about Time
Seite: 9
Most people live in the present,
Learn from the past,
And plan for the future.

3. Seite: 10
Volatility
Uncertainty
Complexity
Ambiguity

4. Seite: 12
Human Evolution

5. Seite: 13
Media Evolution

6. Seite: 16
> 1´200´000´000 active users
Today, almost 20% of the world‘s population are
active facebook users. Never before has humanity
been connected to such a degree. This is a platform
for all kinds of global communication.

7. Swarms in action
Seite: 18
Swarm Intelligence is an example for the way complex systems
(swarm behaviour) and patterns arise out of a multiplicity of
relatively simple interactions.
If you want to steer a large organization successfully through
complexity you need
1. few rules that most abide
2. as much free scope to act flexibly otherwise
Translated into the world of corporations and leadership, this
means, we need few and clear values (from which to derive
behavioral guidelines) and otherwise lots of trust.

8. Stigmergy: A built in construction plan
Termite mounds with natural air
conditioning system
Stigmergy is a form of self-organizaion It produces complex,
seemingly intelligent structures, without need for any
planning, control, or even direct communication between
the agents.
As such it supports efficient collaboration between extremely
simple agents, who lack any memory, intelligence or even
individual awareness of each other.

9. Raft-building fire ants
Seite: 26

10. Shared Space
Seite: 27
Less rules can create
better results!
A planning idea developed by Durch Hans
Mondermann in the 1990: Remove all traffic
signs and regulations and letting the traffic free-
float.

11. How nature does it
• No selfish behaviors – individuals always act in the interest of
the collective and profit from the swarm
• Have some form of „always on“ communication
• Use combination of random behaviours and few rules that
most stick so that emergence can kick in
• Use trial & error to solve problems
• Keep and build on what works
• Stop doing what doesn‘t work
Seite: 28

12. Lessons learned for business
• Keep your organisation in „the loop“ of what is going on
• Don‘t fall for the temptation to fight complexity with more rules.
Use a balanced approach of „few rules that stick“ and plenty of freedom
to act within their boundaries instead
• Involve your stakeholders in finding a solution early on instead of
developing a solution on your own and then trying to sell it to the
stakeholders
• Don‘t assume crowds always require detailed instructions.
Under the right circumstances, crowds can be smarter than individuals
• Don‘t waste time trying to find the 100% solution.
Start with a seed idea and then use trial & error to build on it
Seite: 29

13. Swarm intelligence in live communication
Seite: 31

14. Contact
Seite: 32
SwarmWorks Ltd.
Langbaurghstraße 17
53842 Troisdorf
Germany
Telefon: +49 2241 12352-24
Telefax: +49 2241 12352-30
info@swarmworks.com
www.swarmworks.com