Theory of Organizational Change - Created by Shahrokh Pezeshk
First published in the Byte magazine
Brief Summary of the concept
In order to prove our points throughout this paper it is essential to understand the basic principles underlying the proposed Theory. UTOE (Unifying Theory of Organizational Energy) uses observation, empirical case studies, historical events and consistent reasoning to describe and characterise the common features of healthy processes. Having successfully achieved this, UTOE is then presented prescriptively as a Unifying Theory with a falsifiable hypothesis that conformity to these principles would increase process sustainability and success. This is useful in process design leading to better stakeholders’ satisfaction, in defining sustainable strategies through goal-oriented objectives while at the same time reduces the risks undertaken by processes owners. These principles are applicable on four aspects of human related processes, namely the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual (called process interplay) as follows:
The principles and their characteristics would be defined in detail in chapter 3 however a brief summary here may help the reader.
1st principle is that all processes have cyclical, repetitive or fluctuating manifestations with specific rhythm. Any human function that repeats itself may give rise to a product, service or an event; this in turn could trigger off other processes
A cycle, a routine, has its orbit, its rhythm, its opening and closing points, its motivating force, its sense of direction and its check points which intersect with other cycles.
A cycle initiator triggers off or stops a cycle within this principle.
We could have positive and negative cycles – carrying, vicious or healthy (virtuous) cycles!!
Cycles could also be classified as generative or dependent, isolated cycle or intersecting, healthy or a sick, critical and secondary cycles. Another example is the Time cycle or intersecting cycles.
There are also numerous Functional Cycles: Business cycle, Economic cycle, Anger cycle whose treatment would fall beyond the scope of this paper.
Considering the four layers of UTOE there will be physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual cycles. All above cycles with the exception of few, are taxonomies introduced by the author to facilitate the development of the Theory within this paper and are mentioned here to prepare the way for future research which would clarify their interfaces on the UTOE platform.
2nd principle is register or logging. This involves the register of the points that constitute a route, a path or an orbit of a cycle. One could register the important points of a cycle by saving or recording them by a recorder, computer or other devices or even capture information outside our sensory range
Depending on the type of cycle or processes there are specific requirements for registering that needs to be met so that these registers could be effectively used by other principles or could interface with other processes or layers
Operating registers could then trigger off interface registers that are responsible for behaviour patterns of processes. Because in all nine principles the negative and the positive are considered, when risks are registered, then opportunities should also be equally recorded.
The 3rd principle of the Theory is the positioning principle. Positioning involves interpolation of the logged or registered points of a cycle to the past. An extrapolation is the act of taking these registered points into the future. Comparing this system with similar systems developed by other analysts, in other cities or software houses in other countries, one is doing an external interpolation (benchmarking). For a good positioning extrapolation and interpolation should be balanced
4th principle is Interruptions.
To some extent, the strength and integrity of a process is determined by extent to which a process is prepared to handle or cope with interruptions. We could have regular or irregular interruptions. When cycles are related in macro-micro structures, positioning is done hierarchically or vertically. Voluntary or proactive interruption is normally referred to as an intersection.
This brings about an exchange of structural forces between the intersected cycles. Moral leadership with its actions on the highest level, which is spiritual (the value system), would affect changes in moral values that in turn can have influences on emotional, intellectual and physical cycles involved
For a good functioning of this principle intersection and interruption would need be balanced – This would be possible in seeing opportunities in crises! An option interrupt may involve a question as to whether at any specific moment one is exercising the best option. Here we could say that the logging or register interrupt is being activated three times a day if this recoding takes place with this frequency
The 5th principle of the theory is the DNA Remodelling, genetic coding, its remodelling, reformatting and is its transformational function.
At these stage pilot projects, strategic plans, normative, a primal example and referential structures are formulated.
The basic rules for transformation may also be seen on the four hierarchical levels we mentioned before. This principle is so important that eight other principles revolve around it and depend on it. Here the Ten Commandments (value systems), Love, Knowledge, and Money are four important agents for transformation.
The relationship between the value systems ensures the integrity of the operating systems. An example of this would be when we consider the conformity of an action in relation to its global context.
The 6th principle is Multiprocessing
Multiprocessing would be the act of executing more than one activity on the same principal route, without jeopardizing the satisfactory execution of the main cycle.
Here for activities or processes to function side by side they would necessarily need to pass consistency test. An example of multiprocessing on the emotional level would be to consider a doctor who faces the death of his patient. The doctor is naturally grieved and emotionally affected by the passing of his patient; at the same time he feels that he should tranquilize the relatives of his patients.
7th principle – sharing: The seventh principle is sharing. Here Sharing means that more than one process is controlled by the same processing unit.
Time-sharing is one well-known concept, very much used in information technology. Other forms of this principle would be in learning and unlearning, teaching and learning processes. In communication: receiving and transmitting would be another example. Consider a baby who sees that a person is being run over. He does not understand nor identify that event to be unpleasant and consequently he would have no reaction. But as other people share their emotions through their behaviour, he reacts accordingly.
8th principle: Control Interface. The operating interface is a kind of thermostat for the other eight principles
In order to accomplish a task or meet an objective, we may have any one of the four basic types of operating systems or interfaces, namely the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual (Value System). The objective of the operating interface is to attain a balanced control of the seven principles on each of the four layers. Some operating interfaces would have a catalytic effect on others.
9th principle is Synthesis of Operating Processes
Synthesis is a process that vertically unites the 4 layers of the Theory (i.e. the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual) and the operating principles controlled by the 8th principle. It is important to note that Resynthesising and DESYNTHESIZING cluster around the same principle
Common characteristics of all principle:
All of the above nine principles are applicable to four components of human-related entities (process owners, process rules, process objectives). Depending on the entity, the 4-layer composition and the applicability of the nine principles may vary. Nonetheless they all make their own specific contribution on the UTOE Platform.
Now that the specific characteristics of each of the principles of the theory are described, there are some features they share in common. For example they all have an interface to interact with all other principles.
Although each one has its specific function, e.g. the 2nd principle is to ensure registering; they all have their challenges to deal with. They also have their traps, barriers and threats to handle. For example, 8th principle (controlling) has a challenge of how to handle 5th (control the genetic code, 9th (control interface with layer balance vertically when it could affect the principle it has to control), the 4th (to redirect dissipation of energies to other principles when a process is abruptly intercepted) and 7th (to issue unlearning command when 7th principle may interfere with smooth functioning of other principles); the 6th principle has a challenge of how to ensure the critical path to be executed satisfactorily while performing other functions.