Organisational Values as "Attractors of Chaos": An Emerging Cultural Change to Manage Organisational Complexity

Business organisations are excellent representations of what in physics and mathematics are designated "chaotic" systems. Because a culture of innovation will be vital for organisational survival in the 21st century, the present paper proposes that viewing organisations in terms of "complexity theory" may assist leaders in fine-tuning managerial philosophies that provide orderly management emphasizing stability within a culture of organised chaos, for it is on the "boundary of chaos" that the greatest creativity occurs. It is argued that 21st century companies, as chaotic social systems, will no longer be effectively managed by rigid objectives (MBO) nor by instructions (MBI). Their capacity for self-organisation will be derived essentially from how their members accept a shared set of values or principles for action (MBV). Complexity theory deals with systems that show complex structures in time or space, often hiding simple deterministic rules. This theory holds that once these rules are found, it is possible to make effective predictions and even to control the apparent complexity. The state of chaos that self-organises, thanks to the appearance of the "strange attractor", is the ideal basis for creativity and innovation in the company. In this self-organised state of chaos, members are not confined to narrow roles, and gradually develop their capacity for differentiation and relationships, growing continuously toward their maximum potential contribution to the efficiency of the organisation. In this way, values act as organisers or "attractors" of disorder, which in the theory of chaos are equations represented by unusually regular geometric configurations that predict the long-term behaviour of complex systems. In business organisations (as in all kinds of social systems) the starting principles end up as the final principles in the long term. An attractor is a model representation of the behavioral results of a system. The attractor is not a force of attraction or a goal-oriented presence in the system; it simply depicts where the system is headed based on its rules of motion. Thus, in a culture that cultivates or shares values of autonomy, responsibility, independence, innovation, creativity, and proaction, the risk of short-term chaos is mitigated by an overall long-term sense of direction. A more suitable approach to manage the internal and external complexities that organisations are currently confronting is to alter their dominant culture under the principles of MBV.

Art i part :la figura del/la professional de l'educació social en processos de desenvolupament cultural comunitari

Anàlisi de la figura de l'educador/a social en processos de desenvolupament comunitari a partir d'experiències diverses a Catalunya

On the cultural transmission of corruption

We provide a cultural explanation to the phenomenon of corruption in the framework of an overlapping generations model with intergenerational transmissionof values. We show that the economy has two steady states with different levels of corruption. The driving force in the equilibrium selection process is the education effort exerted by parents which depends on the distribution of ethics in the population and on expectations about future policies. We propose some policy interventions which via parents' efforts have long-lasting effects on corruption and show the success of intensive education campaigns. Educating the young is a key element in reducing corruption successfully.

Organisational values as "attractors of chaos": An emerging cultural change to manage organisational complexity

Business organisations are excellent representations of what in physics and mathematics are designated "chaotic" systems. Because a culture of innovation will be vital for organisational survival in the 21st century, the present paper proposes that viewing organisations in terms of "complexity theory" may assist leaders in fine-tuning managerial philosophies that provide orderly management emphasizing stability within a culture of organised chaos, for it is on the "boundary of chaos" that the greatest creativity occurs. It is argued that 21st century companies, as chaotic social systems, will no longer be effectively managed by rigid objectives (MBO) nor by instructions (MBI). Their capacity for self-organisation will be derived essentially from how their members accept a shared set of values or principles for action (MBV). Complexity theory deals with systems that show complex structures in time or space, often hiding simple deterministic rules. This theory holds that once these rules are found, it is possible to make effective predictions and even to control the apparent complexity. The state of chaos that self-organises, thanks to the appearance of the "strange attractor", is the ideal basis for creativity and innovation in the company. In this self-organised state of chaos, members are not confined to narrow roles, and gradually develop their capacity for differentiation and relationships, growing continuously toward their maximum potential contribution to the efficiency of the organisation. In this way, values act as organisers or "attractors" of disorder, which in the theory of chaos are equations represented by unusually regular geometric configurations that predict the long-term behaviour of complex systems. In business organisations (as in all kinds of social systems) the starting principles end up as the final principles in the long term. An attractor is a model representation of the behavioral results of a system. The attractor is not a force of attraction or a goal-oriented presence in the system; it simply depicts where the system is headed based on its rules of motion. Thus, in a culture that cultivates or shares values of autonomy, responsibility, independence, innovation, creativity, and proaction, the risk of short-term chaos is mitigated by an overall long-term sense of direction. A more suitable approach to manage the internal and external complexities that organisations are currently confronting is to alter their dominant culture under the principles of MBV.

Perceptual mapping of practical ethics along the value chain: A multiple correspondence analysis with industry and cultural indices as supplementary variables

This paper presents findings from a study investigating a firm s ethical practices along the value chain. In so doing we attempt to better understand potential relationships between a firm s ethical stance with its customers and those of its suppliers within a supply chain and identify particular sectoral and cultural influences that might impinge on this. Drawing upon a database comprising of 667 industrial firms from 27 different countries, we found that ethical practices begin with the firm s relationship with its customers, the characteristics of which then influence the ethical stance with the firm s suppliers within the supply chain. Importantly, market structure along with some key cultural characteristics were also found to exert significant influence on the implementation of ethical policies in these firms.

Managing by values in the next milenium: Cultural redesign for strategic organizational change

The system of beliefs and values, that shaped the model for management and organizations during the 20th century, is just not good enough today. In order to keep a business functioning well and competing successfully in markets that are increasingly more global, complex, professionally demanding, constantly changing and oriented towards quality and customer satisfaction a new model is needed. In this paper, we will propose that both Management by Instructions (MBI) and Management by Objectives (MBO) today give notoriously inadequate results. By contrast, description of a new approach labeled: Management by Values (MBV), seem to be emerging as a strategic leadership tool. The paper outlines this approach and discusses the implementation of MBV as a tool to redesign culture in organizations and prepare them for the next millenium.

Cultural differences on seeking information: an eye tracking study

The main goal of this research is to investigate how people with different cultural background differ in their interaction style and visual behavior on search engine results pages (SERP), more specifically between groups from the Middle Eastern region vs. Western Europe. We conducted a controlled eye-tracking experiment to explore and evaluate the visual behavior of Arabs and Spaniardusers when scanning through the first page of the search results in Google. Big differences can be observed in the 4 aspects studied: U.A.E. participants stayed on the SERPs for longer, they read more results and they read each snippet in a more complete way than Spaniards. In Spain, people tended to scan the SERP, reading less text on each snippet, and choose a result among the first top rankedones without hardly seeing those in bottom positions.

Construcción y redefinición de identidades, prácticas culturales yComunicación. Estudio de caso del Centro Cultural Comunitario de PlayaAncha (Valparaíso)

Esta investigación se enmarca en el estudio de la vida cotidiana de las personas y se pregunta específicamente por el proceso de construcción y redefinición de identidades, es decir los cambios en la vida de las personas. Un tema que podría ser demasiado general se encuadra en un caso concreto: El Centro Cultural Comunitario de Playa Ancha (CCPA)1.Entendemos todo proceso de construcción y redefinición identitaria como una experiencia de aprendizaje perceptual. En el marco específico del CCPA, los participantes han construido una comunidad de práctica a través de sus interacciones comunicativas recurrentes en el tiempo, prácticas comunicativas y significativas para los miembros del CCPA. Comparten una serie de repertorios simbólicos, relaciones de participación y cooperación, entre otras cosas. Aprendizaje que logrado que los integrantes del CCPA sean reconocidos por su entorno como practicantes y miembros del CCPA.Para explorar este proceso nos posicionamos desde un abordaje cualitativo. Por lo mismo, intentamos objetivar esta experiencia de aprendizaje perceptual desde las percepciones y las prácticas de los sujetos estudiados. Se contempla el desarrollo de un trabajo de campo de 6 meses que contempla un período de inmersión en la comunidad a través de la observación participante.Por medio de esta herramienta, se explorará en las formas que organizan su espacio, sus tiempos, sus prácticas y por ende, sus interacciones comunicativas. Es decir, como establecen y coordinan el vivir en común. Posteriormente, para objetivar el proceso de construcción y redefinición identitaria se realizarán 10 historias orales temáticas a los miembros más antiguos y experimentados del CCPA.

L'Impuls de la marca-ciutat Barcelona com a mecanisme de reactivació econòmica

La recerca tracta sobre els diferents mecanismes que les ciutats i les regions utilitzen per millorar la seva imatge. En aquest sentit, el treball se centra en la marca-ciutat, el màrqueting de ciutats i els diferents models de comunicació emprats per exaltar la reputació dels territoris. Pel que fa la segona part de la recerca, consisteix en l’estudi de la marca-ciutat Barcelona en els àmbits dels negocis, la societat del coneixement, el turisme, la sostenibilitat i la qualitat de vida i la cultura. Per tant, el propòsit d’aquesta recerca és comprendre quines accions desenvolupen els principals actors per incentivar els negocis a Barcelona, descobrir quines iniciatives s’han pres per potenciar l’economia del coneixement, el turisme, la sostenibilitat i la qualitat de vida i la indústria cultural a la ciutat de Barcelona

Propuesta para el proyecto “Sistema de gestión sostenible del patrimonio arquitectónico y cultural de la ciudad de Cuenca en Ecuador.

Projecte elaborat pel CPSV en motiu de la Convocatoria Abierta y Permanente (CAP) de la Agencia Española de Cooperación y Desarrollo.

La Interpretación del paisaje como instrumento de comunicación con la sociedad. Aportaciones de la semiótica y de los procesos de participación pública

La recién creada Ley del Paisaje de Catalunya responde, en primer lugar, a una nueva toma en consideración del paisaje como activo físico y cultural a preservar. El Observatorio del Paisaje de Catalunya es el ente encargado de gestionar dicha ley, mediante la redacción de los denominados Catálogos del Paisaje. Resulta especialmente interesante ahondar en el apartado que hace referencia a la delimitación de los valores simbólicos e identitarios del paisaje, los cuales serán implementados mediante procesos de participación pública, vehiculados, en su mayor parte, a través de Internet y de entrevistas a agentes sociales interesados (stakeholders). La semiótica, por su parte, se consolida como la ciencia general de los signos y representa, en este caso, un auténtico descodificador de la capacidad de evocación comunicativa del paisaje hacia la población. Esta comunicación dará a conocer los procesos –en esencia comunicacionales- mediante los cuales se ha intentado hacer aflorar los valores intangibles de los paisajes de Catalunya.

Estudi estratègic del coblisme com a bé cultural

Aquest treball de final de carrera tracta sobre l’aplicació de les modernes tècniques de reflexió estratègica aplicades al sector de la cultura popular catalana, concretament la cultura popular catalana que engloba les manifestacions on el vincle comú és la formació musical pròpia: la cobla. Aprofitar aquest sector, a priori tant complex i tant allunyat en principi del món d’estratègia d’empresa com aquest, és l’excusa per veure el comportament d’aquestes eines i teories, i comprovar-ne la seva eficàcia i adaptabilitat als diferents casos de la realitat, a més de poder treballar un tema tant nou com la valoració d’intangibles. A la vegada, es produeix una síntesi de treballs orientats a l’organització d’entitats sense ànim de lucre existents en la bibliografia especialitzada, i que han tingut un inexistent ressò pràctic. Això pot ser un contrasentit en un país on l’associacionisme és tan arrelat i un dels pilars socials que ens vertebren i diferencien. En el cas de la música per a cobla, especialment destacable en un moment molt important i crític per estar en un temps de transició social molt fort. També, cal destacar vivament que té una sèrie de valors afegits de qualitat i complexitat que la situen en un interessant camí entre la cultura popular i les propostes de caràcter més comercial, en unes condicions actuals de gran desconeixement social. Les vinculacions entre estratègia, innovació, responsabilitat social i cultura del coneixement, donen a aquest treball un fort caràcter actual i adaptat a la realitat en les consideracions sobre el management en general.