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Crafting the Raft- Lessons for Managers<br />Ali Anani<br />Ants forming a raft<br />Fish swimming in schools<br />Birds flying in V-formations<br />

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I dedicate this presentation to Bernard Hardy for being the Father of Groups. He is the raft that keeps us safe from sinking<br />

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What drives these behaviors?<br />Ants forming a raft<br />Fish swimming in schools<br />Birds flying in V-formations<br />

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Crafting a raft<br />Fire ants avoid sinking if flooded with water by sticking to each other. The way ants do this leave “air sacs”, which keep the resulting raft floating<br />For excellent photos see this reference.<br />

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Motivation to form a raft<br /><ul><li>Why ants keep doing that? What prompts each ant to follow simple rules?</li></li></ul><li>Simple rules are not enough<br />Ants realize that each one is unsafe from sinking. It is only through forming a raft that they are ALL safe<br />

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Simple rules are not enough- 2<br />It is this realization that the grand goal of ALL ants supersedes any selfish goal that make ants follow simple rules to self-organize and form a raft<br />

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Simple rules are not enough- 3<br />Other issues become less relevant such as which ant stays at the top layer, which one rests at the bottom layer and which ones stay in the middle<br />

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The Grand must be greater than the individual goal<br />Survival is a grand goal<br />Individual survival of ants is NOT possible; collective survival is<br />

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Organizations must do the same<br />Individuals are selfish to varying degrees<br />Unless employees believe they may only float if they join hands collectively they tend to show egoism<br />

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Organizations must do the same- 2<br />If employees believe that that their survival is linked to collective actions they shall not abide by simple rules and will scatter efforts in all directions<br />

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V-formation of birds<br />Birds fly in V-formations because each bird realizes that it has to put 78% extra effort if it decides to leave the flock<br />The individual goal is less profitable than the collective goal<br />

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School of Fish<br />Fish swim in schools. Each fish realizes it is more risk to swim alone than in keeping with the fish school<br />It is the subdue of individual interest that make fish swim in schools and obey simple rules that lead to the emerging behavior<br />

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The lesson is great<br />Organizations MUST find a grand goal that keep the interest of employees above the individual interest. Without such goal following simple rules and the emerging of new behaviors and structures would not be possible<br />

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Crafting the Raft Goal<br />This is what organizations need<br />