Title: A Few Simple Rules Will Do: A Complexity View of The University of Texas System
1A 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
2- 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.
3Organizations as Mechanical Systems
- Known properties
- Deterministic
- Cause and effect can be known
- Rigid rule systems
Defense against unknowability
4Complex Adaptive Systems
- They self-organize.
- They are emergent.
- They co-evolve.
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5Universities as Complex Adaptive Systems
- Doubt
- Discovery
- Disconfirming questions
6(No Transcript)
7Focus Less on Rules and More on Accountability
- Are we doing the right thing?
- mission
- desired outputs
- Are we doing it the right way?
- values
8Simpler Rule System
- Encourages mindfulness
- Encourages sense-making
- Encourages problem solving
- Minimizes blind rule following
9U. T. as a Complex Adaptive System
10U. T. as a Complex Adaptive System
11Rethinking 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?
12Appendix 1 Number of Subjects Covered in
Governing Rules