Christina Bowen - The Living Organization: Bridging Complexity Theory | TCL #38

The Complexity Lounge is thrilled to welcome Christina Bowen. Join us to explore a practical application of complexity theory: organizational design. Weaving together threads from traditional approaches, sociological insights, and complex living systems theory, let’s find some actionable things that we all can do to improve organizations we work in and with. First, we’ll look at conventional org design practices, the foundation that approach provided as well as the limitations it has in today's rapidly changing world. We’ll then look at more sociologically informed perspectives and how they've deepened our understanding of human dynamics and cultural factors in organizational effectiveness.

But what if organizations are also complex living systems? What can a complexity lens teach us? With a brief introduction to complex adaptive systems theory, we’ll hear fresh perspectives on adaptability, emergence, and organizational resilience. How can we design organizations that can thrive amidst uncertainty? What bridges from theory to practice and back do we need? What does a robust toolkit for crafting adaptive, future-oriented organizations need to include? Bring your own questions, and your best stories of wrangling complexity in human organizations.

*Christina Bowen*

*Timestamps*
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:35 *Opening Remarks*
00:04:09 What is a Knowledge Ecosystem?
00:05:39 Clockwork Org - Mechanistic Lenses
00:07:59 Seeing In Human - Sociological Lenses
00:09:20 Group Complexity - Networked Hierarchies
00:13:00 Bridging Our Gaps
00:13:58 *Tiani & Christina Discussion*
00:32:30 Discussion Wrap-up
00:33:53 *Group Discussion*
01:39:08 Summary

*Find Christina*

*References*

*Chat References*