FROM THE PENDULUM TO THE FIRE
Agnes Mura and William Bergquist [Derived from William Bergquist and Agnes Mura, Ten Themes and Variations for Postmodern Leaders and Their Coaches. and from a forthcoming book, William Bergquist and Agnes Mura, tentatively titled: Building an Appreciative Organization: Themes and Strategies for Effective Postmodern Leaders, Consultants and Coaches. Please contact Professional Coaching Publications, Inc. For more information: pcpionline.com
Abstract: What might we learn from postmodern theorists, observers and critics as well as contemporary physicists and biologists about the nature of change as it is now occurring in 21st Century societies? In this article a distinction is drawn between the mechanistic and orderly processes of pendulums and the dynamic and chaotic processes of fire. While many modern theories of organizational life are built on the assumption of the pendulum, we suggest in this article that contemporary organizations are actually more likely to operate like fire. We further suggest that pendulums are founded on the principle of first order change and learning, whereas fire and the dynamic and complex processes of contemporary organization leads us to establish an alternative foundation based on the principle of second order change and learning. First order change concerns shifts in magnitude or direction and first order learning concerns improvement in the way we currently are engaged in our work. By contrast, second order change concerns addressing an issue in an entirely new manner or questioning the need for change itself, while second order learning concerns the acquisition of skills, knowledge and attitudes related to an entirely different way of engaging in our work.