No panaceas for organizational diseases, but better knowledge and systems thinking

Author:

Conti Tito

Abstract

PurposeThis paper aims at contributing to a better knowledge of organizations' nature, physiology and pathologies, in order to improve their fitness for purpose. The mechanistic view of organizations has in fact delayed that. Systems thinking is needed to bring average organizational fitness to the levels needed by a global and closely interconnected world.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is a synthesis of the author's experience as manager, consultant and teacher. By thinking back to the last 30 years of history of managing for quality and excellence, failures and successes, the causes of delay and even regression are explored. Borrowing from the systems view of organizations, a parallel is made between history of human beings' and organizations' healthcare.FindingsKnowledge of the factors that make organizations fit for their purpose is still scarce, absolutely unfit for the challenges of an uncertain future. That is particularly true for those large organizations that govern globalization. Risks for humanity increase. It is no longer time to fiddle with management fads or panaceas for all diseases. It is time to use the modern approaches to complexity that systems thinking offers, overcoming the resistance of traditional thinking. Analytical thinking alone, in fact, may lead to squeeze the planet resources dry, neglecting the risks of long‐term negative impacts.Originality/valueConformism in managing for quality is still high. Rare are the papers that discuss the evolution of TQM/excellence models towards systemic models, where the system is socio‐cultural and the model covers doing the right things, not just doing things right.

Publisher

Emerald

Subject

Strategy and Management,General Business, Management and Accounting,Business and International Management,General Decision Sciences

Reference29 articles.

1. Ackoff, R.L. (1999), Re‐creating the Corporation, Oxford University Press, New York, NY.

2. Ackoff, R.L. and Emery, F.E. (1972), On Purposeful Systems, Aldine‐Atherton, Chicago, IL.

3. Baldrige, M. (2010), The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, available at: www.baldrige.nist.gov/.

4. Business Week Bloomberg (2010), “The living company – the lifespan of a company”, available at: www.businessweek.com/chapter/degeus.htm.

5. Caluwaerts, M.J. (2004), “Bekaert: a never ending journey in total quality management”, copy of slides in the author's archives.

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