complex leadership
DESCRIPTION
Complex leadershipTRANSCRIPT
Complexity Leadership Theory (CLT)
Can it help 21st century decision makers?
David A. StreatSBSF 7100
Mentor: Dr. Walter McCollum
3-1
Introduction
• Traditional leadership approach
• What is complexity science (CS)?
• What are complex adaptive systems (CAS)?
• What is complexity leadership theory (CLT)?
• How can leaders apply CLT to 21st century decision-making?
3-2
Traditional Leadership• Top-down approach
• Leaders specify desired futures.
• Leaders direct change.
• Leaders eliminate disorder and the gap between intentions and reality.
• Leaders influence others to enact desired futures. (Uhl-Bien & Marion, 2008, p. 135-143)
What is Complexity Science?• Complexity science is a new way to scientifically study the world we
live in.
• Complexity science examines the interactions of simple causes that may have large-scale effects on a given situation.
• Complexity science does not predict outcomes.
• Complexity science is multi-dimensional and allows interconnectedness.
(Phelan, 2001, p. 2-3).
3-4
What are Complex Adaptive Systems?• CASs are a basic unit of analysis in complexity science.
(Uhl-Bien & McKelvey, 2008, p. 187)
• CASs are open, non-linear dynamical systems that adapt and evolve. (Merali, 2006, p. 216-221)
• CASs are comprised of agents and individuals as well as groups of individuals (Lichtenstein, & Uhl-Bien, et al., 2006, p. 3).
• CASs allows for negative and positive feedback (Merali, 2006, p. 216-221).
3-5
What is Complexity Leadership Theory?
• CLT is a framework containing administrative, adaptive, and enabling leadership components.
• CLT is a way to examine dynamic, complex systems, and processes.
• CLT is a theory that attempts to distinguish leadership from managerial positions.
• CLT is a way to examine an organization’s systems of interactions.
• CLT attempts to create control structures and align the vision and mission of the organization while influencing order.
(Uhl-Bien & McKelvey, 2008, p. 187-189)
3-6
The good side of complexity • Complexity facilitates healthier lives.
• Complexity also allows us the opportunity to be a more diverse and engaging world.
• Complexity is a source of creativity and innovation.
• Complexity creates the best possibility for improvement and lasting change to happen.
(Dixon-Homer, 2011, p. 6).
3-7
The bad side of complexity• Complexity contributes to an organization’s vulnerability.
• Complexity suddenly pushes leaders to a new equilibrium.
• Complexity causes organizational failures to look like falling dominoes.
• Complexity contributes to an organizationational uncertainty. (Dixon-Homer, 2011, p. 6).
3-8
CLT & 21st Century Decision-Making
• Organizations have to change how they are managed (Burnes, 2004, p.321).
• Must focus on how leadership may occur in all interactions .(Lichtenstein & Uhl-Bien et al., 2006, p. 8)
• Shift the focus of information systems (Merali, 2006, p. 224).
• Must understand that they do not direct, change, or control future outcomes (Plowman et al., 2007, p. 344).
3-9
CLT& 21st Century Decision-Making
• Leaders enable interactions and are catalyst.
• Leaders give meaning to what is happening in the organization.
• Leaders disrupt exiting patterns by creating conflict and acknowledge uncertainty.
• Establish simple rules, encouraging “swarm like” behaviors, and promote non-linear interactions.
• Act as sense-makers by creating correlation through language and direction.
(Plowman et. al., 2007, p. 345)
3-10
References• Dixon-Homer, T. (2011). Shifting the trajectory of civilization. Oxford Leadership Journal, 2(1), p. 2-10.
• Burnes, B. (2004). Kurt Lewin and complexity theories: Back to the future? Journal of Change Management, 4(4), 309-325.
• Lichtenstein, B. B., Uhl-Bien, M., et al. (2006). Complexity leadership theory: An interactive perspective on leading in complex adaptive systems. Emergence: Complexity and Organization, 8(4), 2-12.
• Merali, Y. (2006). Complexity and information systems: The emergent domain. Journal of Information Technology, 21, 216-228.
• Phelan, S. E. (2001). What is complexity science, really?Emergence, 3(1), 120-136.
• Plowman, D. A., Solansky, S., Beck, T. E., Baker, L., & Kulkarni, M. (2007). The role of leadership in emergent, self-organization. The Leadership Quarterly, 18, 341-356.
• Uhl-Bien, M., & Marion, R. (2008). Complexity leadership Part I: Conceptual foundations. Information Age Publishing, Inc: Charlotte, NC.
3-11
Conclusion & Questions ???????????
3-12