Comments on: Business Adaptation and the Biology of Failure http://www.markdrapeau.com/2009/02/business-adaptation-and-the-biology-of-failure/ The Design of Engagement Thu, 07 Jul 2011 06:05:33 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Noel Dickover http://www.markdrapeau.com/2009/02/business-adaptation-and-the-biology-of-failure/comment-page-1/#comment-36 Noel Dickover Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:05:36 +0000 http://www.markdrapeau.com/?p=85#comment-36 Kenneth Boulding called this the phenomena of being adaptive vs being adapted. Adapted businesses are optimized for there operating environment - they are "adapted" and stay dominant as long as the operating environment is static. Adaptive organizations are never really optimized, but are instead designed for environments experiencing radical change. That doesn't ensure their viability, but according to Beer's Viable Systems Model (Based on the law of requisite variety, which is the foundation of cybernetics), this is a MUCH better strategy for organizations in transient operating environments. Kenneth Boulding called this the phenomena of being adaptive vs being adapted. Adapted businesses are optimized for there operating environment – they are “adapted” and stay dominant as long as the operating environment is static. Adaptive organizations are never really optimized, but are instead designed for environments experiencing radical change. That doesn’t ensure their viability, but according to Beer’s Viable Systems Model (Based on the law of requisite variety, which is the foundation of cybernetics), this is a MUCH better strategy for organizations in transient operating environments.

]]> By: Karen Moorhead http://www.markdrapeau.com/2009/02/business-adaptation-and-the-biology-of-failure/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Karen Moorhead Sat, 28 Feb 2009 13:14:23 +0000 http://www.markdrapeau.com/?p=85#comment-35 Mark, I sell real estate so you can image how true this article is for people in my business. I especially like, "experimentation in the present can help adapt to an uncertain future". So true and so important to remain relevant for the future and have business tomorrow when the market rebounds. I found you from twitter where I follow you & I'm @a2karen for Ann Arbor. Mark,

I sell real estate so you can image how true this article is for people in my business. I especially like, “experimentation in the present can help adapt to an uncertain future”. So true and so important to remain relevant for the future and have business tomorrow when the market rebounds.

I found you from twitter where I follow you & I’m @a2karen for Ann Arbor.

]]> By: anthonyb http://www.markdrapeau.com/2009/02/business-adaptation-and-the-biology-of-failure/comment-page-1/#comment-33 anthonyb Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:22:36 +0000 http://www.markdrapeau.com/?p=85#comment-33 Thought provoking and on point. We can all use a bit of biology in all disciplines of human endeavor Thought provoking and on point.
We can all use a bit of biology in all disciplines of human endeavor

]]> By: John Bordeaux http://www.markdrapeau.com/2009/02/business-adaptation-and-the-biology-of-failure/comment-page-1/#comment-32 John Bordeaux Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:18:28 +0000 http://www.markdrapeau.com/?p=85#comment-32 Mark - I teach an (online) MBA course: Effective Leadership and Business Ethics. Fairly introductory, but I have already incorporated d) above, which will not surprise you. Looking into expanding into other courses using elements of a-c. One focus area I'm involved with is something called "Sustainable Enterprise Network." Basically a long-range vision that will require a-d and more to realize. Thanks for this view - it helps me gain depth in naturalistic systems as I combat the blinded warriors of engineering. One note: predicting the future (teleology) is actually downright impossible to do, not just difficult. Kant knew this way back when, and Taleb is making a mint writing and talking about it. Mark – I teach an (online) MBA course: Effective Leadership and Business Ethics. Fairly introductory, but I have already incorporated d) above, which will not surprise you. Looking into expanding into other courses using elements of a-c. One focus area I’m involved with is something called “Sustainable Enterprise Network.” Basically a long-range vision that will require a-d and more to realize. Thanks for this view – it helps me gain depth in naturalistic systems as I combat the blinded warriors of engineering.

One note: predicting the future (teleology) is actually downright impossible to do, not just difficult. Kant knew this way back when, and Taleb is making a mint writing and talking about it.

]]> By: JSchmitt (@cloudspark) http://www.markdrapeau.com/2009/02/business-adaptation-and-the-biology-of-failure/comment-page-1/#comment-31 JSchmitt (@cloudspark) Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:00:38 +0000 http://www.markdrapeau.com/?p=85#comment-31 Mark - on target with the concept of teaching "thinking" about business and not just the operations/marketing/economics of industry. Best quote: "Past success is irrelevant to survival." Well said lest anyone get complacenet and rest on their laurels/accolades/sales figures/stock prices. I'd add two to the recommended courses: 1) organizational/group dynamics so that you can learn about tripping points that contribute to failure and 2)neuropsychology/neuromarketing so that you can be in front learning about this new field and its application to behavior and patterns. We're complex as humans and gaining more understanding can give you a competitive advantage to your survival. Mark – on target with the concept of teaching “thinking” about business and not just the operations/marketing/economics of industry. Best quote: “Past success is irrelevant to survival.” Well said lest anyone get complacenet and rest on their laurels/accolades/sales figures/stock prices.

I’d add two to the recommended courses: 1) organizational/group dynamics so that you can learn about tripping points that contribute to failure and 2)neuropsychology/neuromarketing so that you can be in front learning about this new field and its application to behavior and patterns. We’re complex as humans and gaining more understanding can give you a competitive advantage to your survival.

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