Page 56 - Chapter One

24 The Management Shift

table 1.4 A comparison between traditional and emerging management
concepts and approaches
Traditional management approaches Emerging management approaches
Newtonian paradigm Complexity paradigm
Machine model Organizations as living organisms
Clockware (focusing on individual parts) Swarmware (focusing on interactions
amongst interconnected parts of an
organization)
Seek comfort Support differences
Competition Balance competition and cooperation
Focusing on one task at a time Multitasking
Human resources Talent management
Diversity imperative
Hierarchical linearity Non- linearity, networks, interactions
Command and control Distributed power, autonomy,
interconnectivity
Pyramids Networks
Manage by rules Manage on the edge
Focus on data Balance data and intuition
Control information and force agreement Stay on the edge and use the “right”
amount of information
Focus on formal relationships Utilize the shadow system
Ignore tension and paradox Embrace tension and paradox
Focus on shareholders Focus on customers
Focus on share price, earnings, growth Invest in future growth
Grow big (economies of scale) Be agile (flexible, adaptable)
Plan everything in detail before taking Have a good enough vision, take action,
action learn and adapt. Balance planning and
acting
Avoid risks Balance safety and risk, take reasonable
risks
No experimentation, trial and error Be open to experimentation, learning and
reflection
Know your direction in detail before action Let direction emerge from action
Reduce complexity, simplify models Embrace complexity
Settled and stable, maintain equilibrium Question the status quo, start to change
when on top
Authority based on power Authority based on knowledge