crafting the raft lessons for managers

Crafting the Raft- Lessons for Managers

Ali Anani

Ants forming a raftFish swimming in

schoolsBirds flying in V-

formations

I dedicate this presentation to Bernard Hardy for being the Father of Groups. He is the raft that keeps us safe from sinking

What drives these behaviors?

• Ants forming a raft• Fish swimming in schools• Birds flying in V-formations

Crafting a raft• Fire ants avoid

sinking if flooded with water by sticking to each other. The way ants do this leave “air sacs”, which keep the resulting raft floating

• For excellent photos see this reference.

Motivation to form a raft

• Why ants keep doing that? What prompts each ant to follow simple rules?

Simple rules are not enough

• Ants realize that each one is unsafe from sinking. It is only through forming a raft that they are ALL safe

Simple rules are not enough- 2

• It is this realization that the grand goal of ALL ants supersedes any selfish goal that make ants follow simple rules to self-organize and form a raft

Simple rules are not enough- 3

• Other issues become less relevant such as which ant stays at the top layer, which one rests at the bottom layer and which ones stay in the middle

The Grand must be greater than the individual goal

• Survival is a grand goal

• Individual survival of ants is NOT possible; collective survival is

Organizations must do the same

• Individuals are selfish to varying degrees

• Unless employees believe they may only float if they join hands collectively they tend to show egoism

Organizations must do the same- 2

• If employees believe that that their survival is linked to collective actions they shall not abide by simple rules and will scatter efforts in all directions

V-formation of birds

• Birds fly in V-formations because each bird realizes that it has to put 78% extra effort if it decides to leave the flock

• The individual goal is less profitable than the collective goal

School of Fish• Fish swim in schools. Each

fish realizes it is more risk to swim alone than in keeping with the fish school

• It is the subdue of individual interest that make fish swim in schools and obey simple rules that lead to the emerging behavior

The lesson is great• Organizations MUST find a

grand goal that keep the interest of employees above the individual interest. Without such goal following simple rules and the emerging of new behaviors and structures would not be possible

Crafting the Raft Goal• This is what organizations

need