Excerpts Organizational Intelligence The World of Theory Intelligence by Design The Learning Loop Hearts and Minds New Attributes of Behavior Preludes Questions Sections

Excerpts from Chapter 5 of The Intelligence Advantage Excerpts: Next | Previous Prelude Intelligence by Design Let's explore the design principles for intelligence. Intelligence is a function of: The total number of internal connections of the system. The number and variety of connections to the external environment. A variety of loose and tight coupling with elements of the environment and the internal system, and the ability to alter the degree of that coupling. The number of internal and external connections of each element along with the combinations required for a complete piece of information to be stored, formed and accessed. A complex system composed of a limited set of principles which are strong, with many and varied possible inputs and a grammar which determines an order of events, which has impact on possible combinations. Communication operating freely within a structure, but requiring accumulation of other free communications to achieve meaning or relevance in action. Guidance by patterns rather than detail -- the guidance is directional rather than absolute. A balance of reliability and randomness (mistake, experiment, trial, etc.) which maintains system integrity (identity) while allowing maximum flexibility. Attention at the boundaries and at the center with little concern for the "middle" -- that is, a design that handles routine and limit checks while keeping values strong and information at a maximum. The amount of redundancy in a system that is a match for the ambiguity required for the existence of possibility beyond extensions of the past. The first step in designing is to create the design principles from which the rest will develop. The process of transformation is one of emergence, rather than one of a specified direction, pathway, or intervention. Design is an unfolding process from abstraction to detail. Involve as many others as possible in the educational and creative processes as they unfold; in doing so, you gain access to organizational intelligence. Apply the same design principles at ever-increasing levels of detail to allow for emergence and unfolding. Continual reassessment based on feedback should be included in the design process. By frequently using feedback to reassess both the design principles and the specific design that is unfolding, you will be developing organizational intelligence at the same time as you are altering design. Questions to this chapter Excerpts: Next | Previous