A Few Simple Rules Will Do: A Complexity View of The University of Texas System

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A Few Simple Rules Will Do A Complexity View of
The University of Texas System

• Donde L. Plowman, Ph.D.
• Professor of Management
• The University of Texas at San Antonio
• July 7, 2003

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• We used to think
• We could predict what was going to happen.
• We should avoid uncertainty and surprise.
• Rules protect us from mistakes.

• Now, we think
• Prediction isnt possible.
• Planning doesnt protect us from uncertainty and
  surprise.
• Mindfulness minimizes mistakes.

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Organizations as Mechanical Systems

• Known properties
• Deterministic
• Cause and effect can be known
• Rigid rule systems

Defense against unknowability
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Complex Adaptive Systems

• They self-organize.
• They are emergent.
• They co-evolve.

Southwest Airlines, VISA, 3M, Half-Price Books,
Microsoft...
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Universities as Complex Adaptive Systems

• Doubt
• Discovery
• Disconfirming questions

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Focus Less on Rules and More on Accountability

• Are we doing the right thing?
• mission
• desired outputs
• Are we doing it the right way?
• values

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Simpler Rule System

• Encourages mindfulness
• Encourages sense-making
• Encourages problem solving
• Minimizes blind rule following

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U. T. as a Complex Adaptive System
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U. T. as a Complex Adaptive System
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Rethinking the Regents Rules

• Establish a principle?
• Encourage component problem solving?
• Specify a law?
• Required for maintenance of the Systems
  identity/integrity?
• Encourage/allow for sense-making at the local
  level?
• Encourage mindfulness?
• Encourage improvisation?

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Appendix 1 Number of Subjects Covered in
Governing Rules