1. Organisations as living
systems
dr ir Gerda M. van Dijk
adj. Prof.
GG 2012

3. Company climate
• Behaviour:
– External world
– Own products and services
– Among each other
• Life cycle of organisations
• Four successive phases
• Each phase has its own characteristic company climate
• Determines the effectiveness of interventions

5. External
I II
Pioneer Growth
Intuitive Systematic
chaotic structured
IV Internal III
Relapse Consolidation

6. phase 1: pioneer
Climate
• wild
• everything is possible
• product or niche in the
market
Management
• one leader: pioneer
• ad hoc
• hasty, dynamic
• no paper
• by ‘intuition’

7. phase 1: pioneer
Organisation
• few rules
• no/little structure
• creative
• scoring, ‘taking risks’
• a lot of success
• many young employees
Dynamics
• over-expansion

8. External
I II
Pioneer Growth
Intuitive Systematic
chaotic structured
IV Internal III
Relapse Consolidation

9. phase 2: growth
Climate
• smart
• flexible
• strategy and marketing
Strategy !
Management
• team
• structured decisions
• delegate
• little paper
• by ‘exception’

10. phase 2: growth
Organisation
• limited staff
• rational/systematic
• output
• freedom
• lively
• entrepreneurial
Dynamics
• arrogance
• over-rationalising

11. phase 3: consolidation
Climate
• maintaining success
• safe
• improving existing
products/services
Management
• group
• formal
• signatures, procedures
• lot of paper, memos
• by ‘control’

12. phase 3: consolidation
Organisation
• staff and management
• planning and control
• detailled, perfectionistic
• carefull
• trustworthy, responsible
• input- and task-oriented
Dynamics
• losing contact with the
market

13. phase 4: relapse
Climate
• defensive
• explaining
• protecting position
Management
• coalitions
• non decisions
• status
• narrative reports
• by ‘politics’

14. phase 4: relapse
Organisation
• indistinct
• fragmented
• experience counts
• many reorganisations
• office politics
• ‘keeping the myth alive’
Dynamics
• demasqué

15. External
Pioneer II
Growth
Intuitive Systematic
chaotic structured
IV Internal III
Relapse Consolidation

16. The natural dynamics of the life cycle:
four ‘laws’
1. The fixed sequence
2. Variable tempo of change
3. The parts influence the whole and the whole
influences the parts
4. Position is a choice

17. Being a leader
MIND THE GAP
Being part of

18. Managing the present from the future
• FUTURE
Which phase fits best?
• PRESENT
In which phase are we now ?
• Choose the right change strategy

19. Pioneer Growth
2 Dynamic
balance
2 Dynamic
balance
Relapse Consolidation