Safi Bachall, noted physicist and author of bestselling ‘Loon Shots,’ makes a compelling case for identifying the correct ‘control parameters’ that determine state change. When explaining this concept to an audience, he’ll hold a glass of water and swirl his fingers in it. Then he’ll claim that at 32 degrees, something starts to change – he’ll no longer be able to swirl because as we all know, the molecules will have reconfigured themselves into ice.
Then comes the claim – ‘the two determinates of when a liquid becomes a solid are temperature and molecular bond strength.” These are the control parameters. Safi will go on to ask the same question about traffic flow vs traffic jam (if you’re curious, see the answer at the end of this article) and again about a brush fire that burns out vs one that erupts into a wildfire.
Why are we talking about this?
Because the same principle is at work in determining what causes a shift in operating state – say from insular to tumultuous, or pluralistic to synergistic. And when you have your hands on the wheel so to speak, you can effect a change of state intentionally vs haphazardly.
Operating States
Our claim is that operating state is determined by resilience and ingenuity in an organization. When both are abundant, the organization will naturally move toward synergistic. When resilience and ingenuity not aligned with what’s required for fitness with a given ecosystem, the organization will drift toward a different state, depending on the balance between resilience and ingenuity. Resilience and ingenuity are the equivalent of the control parameters Safi calls attention to.
We believe culture matters because culture, vision, and strategy are tightly connected; a change in one affects the other two. Want to find out more? Check out our latest blogs and case studies. Or contact us directly at info@businessingenuityinc.com; we’ll be happy to answer all your questions.