Verified Document

Chaos Theory The Phenomenon Of Term Paper

By doing so, organizations are aiming to embrace chaos and diversity, which they believe will lead to multiple "butterflies" bringing about positive change (Goldoff, 2000; Stilwell, 1996). Thus, as Petzinger (1999), Stuart (1995), and Richardson observe, chaos theory has led to organizations being viewed as organic or living systems that will find orderly solutions if they are allowed to do so. However, this does not imply that management should let go of all control. On the contrary, all chaos theory implies is that organizational management needs to be more sensitized to environmental changes, leading to flexibility, responsiveness, dynamism, and a reduced reliance on precise planning (Stilwell, 1996). For, as events unfold, there is always an allowance for freedom of choice in making decisions to change or stay with the nature of processes at work. The use of chaos theory, however, helps in tracing the "butterfly effect" of management decisions, and is, therefore, able to set direction in making new, effective decisions (Priesmeyer, p. 14).

For instance, chaos theory is useful in strategic management and decision-making because the chaos model emphasizes the need to look at non-average or nonlinear behavior as a source of change. Similarly, chaos theory stresses on the need for a future orientation in organizational strategies rather than a reliance on repeating the successful patterns of the past (Goldoff, 2000). In effect, the use of chaos theory in strategic decisions can, by itself, lead to organizations becoming more innovative and dynamic.

In fact, as Petzinger (1999) points out, organizations such as Koch Industries of Wichita, Kansas have grown bigger than Microsoft and Coke in terms of sales precisely because such organizations have learnt the value of working with chaos. Koch achieves this through a culture that has no central planning, no budgets, and no fixed job descriptions. In a similar vein, Priesmeyer (p. 12-13) points out, the only way market share can be changed in the long run is by changing the nature of the relationship...

It gives us a new perspective from which we can see the fundamental constraints that restrict us."
Innovation has always been the fuel that drives the engine of business. However, in an intensely competitive and fast changing world, a company must necessarily be innovative even in the way it interacts with the environment. To achieve this, organizations need to create an environment that empowers its employees to contribute to solving any problem or tapping into opportunities that may present themselves. One surefire way of doing this is for organizations to operate on the basis of chaos theory. In other words, organizations must view themselves as organic systems that can change and adapt all the time and still achieve order!

Works Cited

Goldoff, A.C. "Decision-Making in Organizations: The New Paradigm." International

Journal of Public Administration. Vol. 23:11, 2000, p. 2017.

Petzinger, Thomas Jr. "A New Model for the Nature of Business: It's Alive!" The Wall Street

Journal. February 26, 1999. Accessed May 10, 2005: http://management.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ& sdn=management& zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.petzinger.com%2Falive.shtml

Priesmeyer, H.R. "Organizations and Chaos: Defining the Methods of Nonlinear

Management." Westport, CT: Quorum Books, 1992.

Richardson, J. "Life in the Workplace: At the Edge of Chaos and Spirit." Business Spirit

Journal Online. Accessed May 10, 2005: http://www.bizspirit.com/bsj/archive/articles/richardson.html

Stilwell, J. "Managing Chaos: Use It to Your Advantage." Public Management. Vol.

78:9, September 1996, p. 6+.

Stuart, A. "Elusive Assets." CIO Magazine. November 15, 1995. Accessed May 10, 2005:

http://www.cio.com/archive/111595_notebook.html

Sources used in this document:
Works Cited

Goldoff, A.C. "Decision-Making in Organizations: The New Paradigm." International

Journal of Public Administration. Vol. 23:11, 2000, p. 2017.

Petzinger, Thomas Jr. "A New Model for the Nature of Business: It's Alive!" The Wall Street

Journal. February 26, 1999. Accessed May 10, 2005: http://management.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ& sdn=management& zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.petzinger.com%2Falive.shtml
Journal Online. Accessed May 10, 2005: http://www.bizspirit.com/bsj/archive/articles/richardson.html
http://www.cio.com/archive/111595_notebook.html
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

The Relevance of Chaos Theory to Organizations Today
Words: 4838 Length: 16 Document Type: Essay

AbstractToday, organizations of all sizes and types rely on different types of projects to achieve their objectives. Indeed, project management has become a discipline unto itself in recent years and a growing body of scholarship has been developed in response to this trend. Moreover, there are also international organizations such as the Project Management Institute which are dedicated to helping business practitioners improve their project management skills. Although there remain

Artist in Cultural Phenomenon in Science Fiction
Words: 810 Length: 3 Document Type: Term Paper

Artist in cultural phenomenon in science fiction that have been influenced by a topic in mathematics including pure, applied mathematics, artificial languages and the philosophy of mathematics Darren Aronofsky's Pi Mathematics has long inspired individuals concerned in science fiction, as its logics influenced them to believe that it would be extremely important for mankind as a whole to be able to process a series of difficult mathematical calculation with the purpose of

Thomas Kuhn's Paradigm Theory
Words: 2840 Length: 7 Document Type: Essay

Thomas Kuhn (1922-1996) was an American scientist, historian and philosopher who wrote a controversial book in 1962 called The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Kuhn was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and from an early age expressed interest in science, particularly physics; obtaining his BS degree in physics from Harvard in 1943. He stayed at Harvard for his MS and PhD, and credits the period of the late 1940s in helping him

System Theory the Origin and
Words: 4711 Length: 17 Document Type: Research Paper

However, in the most recent theory of evolution which discusses the living world appears as the result of chance and an output of different randomly selected natural mills. This kind of development came to present as a result of the need of more subjects or topics in areas such as cybernetic, general system theory, information theory, theories of games which is needed in most decision making process in line

Bioecological Theory Bioecological Model Differs From Others
Words: 2639 Length: 10 Document Type: Essay

Bioecological Theory Bioecological model differs from others in that it charts and describes the development of the human and the group over the spectrum of the life course, through successive generations both past and present. The model consists of four principal components and the prime dynamic, interactive element that guides them. The four processes are: the forms of interaction between organism and environment, usually called 'proximal processes that due to interaction between organism

Edwin Sutherland's Differential Association Theory
Words: 4613 Length: 11 Document Type: Term Paper

Warlords have apparently been in the process of financing their various struggles against the Western States in two different contexts. One is that which occurs in the several drug producing countries of the world, that is, those that come under the so called 'Golden Triangle', and the struggles that occur in the various different drug trafficking routes, like for example, in Sub-Saharan Africa, where there has been a complete

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now