Models & misadventures: the perfectible machine fallacy

Q4 Business, Management and Accounting Strategy and Leadership Pub Date : 2020-10-06 DOI:10.1108/sl-07-2020-0093
Roger Martin
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Abstract

Purpose The author argues that the model for the management of the U.S. economy and businesses – one that assumes that they can be run like machines –is producing outcomes that neither were anticipated nor are desired. Design/methodology/approach The model of a perfectible machine needs to be supplanted by a model of a complex adaptive system in order to turnaround the performance of the economy and its companies. Findings In businesses, unrestrained pursuit of efficiency has had an unexpected and unintended effect. Practical implications One important way to design for complexity is to adopt multiple internally contradictory proxies for success. Originality/value Offers a critical insight for corporate leaders: The U.S. economy is not a perfectible machine: it is a complex adaptive system. Companies are not perfectible machines: they are complex adaptive systems. To produce better outcomes, leaders need to design for each element – complexity, adaptability and systemic nature.
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模型与意外:完美机器谬误
目的作者认为,美国经济和企业的管理模式——假设它们可以像机器一样运行——正在产生既没有预料到也没有期望的结果。设计/方法论/方法完美机器的模型需要被复杂自适应系统的模型取代,以扭转经济及其公司的表现。发现在企业中,对效率的无节制追求产生了意想不到的效果。实践含义针对复杂性进行设计的一个重要方法是采用多个内部矛盾的成功代理。独创性/价值观为企业领导者提供了一个关键的见解:美国经济不是一台完美的机器:它是一个复杂的适应系统。公司不是完美的机器:它们是复杂的自适应系统。为了产生更好的结果,领导者需要针对每一个因素进行设计——复杂性、适应性和系统性。
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来源期刊
Strategy and Leadership
Strategy and Leadership Business, Management and Accounting-Strategy and Management
CiteScore
1.20
自引率
0.00%
发文量
45
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