S06 E10 Dave Snowden on Organizing for Emergence

In this conversation, Dave Snowden discusses various topics related to complexity, agility, and decision-making. He shares his experiences with travel and speaking engagements, emphasizing the importance of listening to the audience and adapting his presentations accordingly. Dave highlights patterns and cynicism in the Agile community, cautioning against the commoditization of Agile and the reliance on motivational speakers. He explains the principles of organizing for emergence and complexity, emphasizing the need to work with how things are and focus on local interactions. Dave also discusses the outcome of complexity models, the risk of losing purpose in breaking things down, and the challenge of organizational attention span. He concludes by discussing the contribution opportunities for Hexi and the importance of creating a capability to handle unknown unknowables. The conversation explores the concept of constant complexity in the world and the need for adaptability and strategic thinking.

The impact of AI and ecological collapse is discussed, highlighting the potential risks and opportunities they present. The tension between control and empowerment in organizations is examined, along with the role of risk in decision-making. The importance of building ecosystems and embracing distributed decision-making is emphasized. The conversation concludes with a reflection on the impact of work and the future of the Agile landscape.

Takeaways

• Listen to the audience and adapt presentations accordingly

• Beware of the commoditization of Agile and the reliance on motivational speakers

• Organize for emergence and complexity by working with how things are and focusing on local interactions

• Quantify human judgment and detect anomalies to make better decisions

• Create a capability to handle unknown unknowables and shift to a profession mindset The world is experiencing constant complexity, and organizations need to adapt and embrace strategic thinking to navigate this reality.

• AI and ecological collapse are significant factors that are changing the business landscape and require proactive preparation.

• Overdependence on technology can hinder adaptability and resilience, and organizations should strive for a balance between technology and human intelligence.

• Risk should be considered in decision-making, and organizations should focus on reducing risk through distributed decision-making and building ecosystems.

• The impact of work extends beyond individual contributions, and collective efforts and teamwork are essential for long-term success.

• The Agile landscape should focus on collaboration, innovation, and addressing unarticulated problems to become a sustainable movement.
  
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