BEHAVIORSBEHAVIORS

by:by:

Oscar V. DomingoOscar V. Domingo

Ants Fishes BirdsAnts Fishes Birds

I dedicate this presentation toI dedicate this presentation toErnesto CuaErnesto Cua

for being the “for being the “Ninong”Ninong” to me. to me.

What Drives These What Drives These Behaviors?Behaviors?

Ants forming a raftAnts forming a raftFishes swimming in Fishes swimming in

schoolsschoolsBirds flying in V-Birds flying in V-

formationformation

Crafting A RaftCrafting A RaftANTS avoid sinking if flooded with ANTS avoid sinking if flooded with

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

A colony of fire ants survives flood conditions by joining together to form a floating mat.

Motivation To Form A RaftMotivation To Form A Raft

Why ants keep doing that?

What prompts each ant to follow simple rules?

The mystery behind the remarkable ability of fire ants to turn themselves into a living, crawling life raft has been unlocked by scientists: the insects use air pockets that form around their bodies to protect themselves from drowning

Simple Rules Are Not EnoughSimple Rules Are Not Enough

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

Fire ants, named for the burning sting left by their bites, possess incredible powers of floatation when they work together, turning themselves into life rafts that can survive flash floods and travel for months before making landfall.

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

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

When in water, fire ants band together and create a water-tight floating raft capable of holding a large amount of weight without breaking.

The Grand Goal must be greater The Grand Goal must be greater than the Individual Goalthan the Individual Goal

Survival is a grand goalSurvival is a grand goal Individual survival of ants is NOT Individual survival of ants is NOT

possible; collective survival ispossible; collective survival is

Floating Fire Ant Ball (Solenopsis invicta)

Organizations Must Do The SameOrganizations Must Do The Same

Individuals are selfish to varying Individuals are selfish to varying degreesdegrees

Unless employees believe they may Unless employees believe they may only float if they join hands collectively only float if they join hands collectively they tend to show egoism or self-they tend to show egoism or self-centerednesscenteredness

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

V-formation Of BirdsV-formation Of BirdsBirds fly in V-formations because each Birds fly in V-formations because each

bird realizes that it has to put 78% extra bird realizes that it has to put 78% extra effort if it decides to leave the flockeffort if it decides to leave the flock

The individual goal is less profitable The individual goal is less profitable than the collective goalthan the collective goal

V formation (sometimes called a skein) is the symmetric V-shaped flight formation of flights of geese, ducks, and other migratory birds.

"V" formation flown by birds allows each of the trailing birds to fly in the upwash flowfield that exists just outboard of the bird immediately ahead. The result for the individual birds is a lower induced drag allowing a reduction in the energy required to maintain a given speed.

The “V” formation is seeking to apply this symbiotic relationship to aircraft.

School of FishSchool of FishFish swim in schools. Each fish realizes Fish swim in schools. Each fish realizes

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

Fish travel in schools for safety, the movement of all the fishes may confuse a predator. Plus, there are more eyes to look out for danger.

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

The fish in the rear, discover that The fish in the rear, discover that there is no food left for them, and they there is no food left for them, and they dive underneath, to surface before the dive underneath, to surface before the ones in front. In doing so, they also ones in front. In doing so, they also drive the shrimps to the surface in a drive the shrimps to the surface in a rolling, continuous motion.rolling, continuous motion.

Salmon Fish

The Lesson Is GreatThe Lesson Is Great

Organizations MUST find a Organizations MUST find a Grand Goal that keep the interest of Grand Goal that keep the interest of employees above the individual interest.employees above the individual interest.

Without such goal following simple Without such goal following simple rules and the emerging of new behaviors rules and the emerging of new behaviors and structures would not be possible.and structures would not be possible.

Crafting the GoalCrafting the Goal

THIS IS WHAT ORGANIZATIONS NEEDTHIS IS WHAT ORGANIZATIONS NEED