Chaordic Organisation
chaordic (adj. [fr. E. cha'os and ord'er])
- The behaviour of any self-organizing and self-governing organism, organisation, orsystem that harmoniously blends characteristics of chaos and order.
- Characteristic of the fundamental, organizing principle of nature.
The term was coined by Dee Hock, the founder and former CEO of the VISA credit card association - "By Chaord, I mean any self–organizing, adaptive, non-linear, complex system, whether physical, biological, or social, the behaviour of which exhibits characteristics of both order and chaos or, loosely translated to business terminology, cooperation and competition." Dee Hock
The mix of chaos and order is often described as a harmonious coexistence displaying characteristics of both, with neither chaotic nor ordered behavior dominating. Some hold that nature is largely organized in such a manner; in particular, living organisms and the evolutionary process by which they arose are often described as chaordic in nature. The chaordic principles have also been used as guidelines for creating human organizations - business, nonprofit, government and hybrids — that would be neither centralized nor anarchical networks.
Characteristics of chaordic organizations
- Are based on clarity of shared purpose and principles.
- Are self-organizing and self-governing in whole and in part.
- Exist primarily to enable their constituent parts.
- Are powered from the periphery, unified from the core.
- Are durable in purpose and principle, malleable in form and function.
- Equitably distribute power, rights, responsibility and rewards.
- Harmoniously combine cooperation and competition.
- Learn, adapt and innovate in ever expanding cycles.
- Are compatible with the human spirit and the biosphere.
- Liberate and amplify ingenuity, initiative and judgment.
- Are compatible with and foster diversity, complexity and change.
- Constructively utilize and harmonize conflict and paradox.
- Restrain and appropriately embed command and control methods.
• Are based on clarity of shared purpose and principles. • Are self-organizing and self-governing in whole and in part. • Exist primarily to enable their constituent parts. • Are powered from the periphery, unified from the core. • Are durable in purpose and principle, malleable in form and function. • Equitably distribute power, rights, responsibility and rewards. • Harmoniously combine cooperation and competition. • Learn, adapt and innovate in ever expanding cycles. • Are compatible with the human spirit and the biosphere. • Liberate and amplify ingenuity, initiative and judgment. • Are compatible with and foster diversity, complexity and change. • Constructively utilize and harmonize conflict and paradox. • Restrain and appropriately embed command and control methods. Source: p2pfoundation
See also
- Dee Hock, the founder and former CEO of the VISA credit card association.
- Chaordic Commons A network infrastructure created to support P2P-like initiatives, to facilitate access to knowledge about chaordic organizations and organizing.
- The Chaordic Organization: Out of Control and Into Order
- Chaordic Commons of Terra Civitas An invitation to participate in forming a self-organizing, self-governing global community dedicated to developing, disseminating and implementing new concepts of organization that result in more equitable sharing of power and wealth, improved health, and greater compatibility with the human spirit and biosphere.
