Adizes
This year I've been fortunate to attend the lecture of Ichak Adizes.
One of the most interesting ideas that were closest
to me, was the famous "Adizes Success Formula" as the ratio of
"External Integration" and "Internal Disintegration".
External integration is a function of how well the opportunities in the market place are matched with the capabilities of the company.
Integrating company capabilities to market needs requires managerial energy, and we know that energy is fixed at any point in time. Energy that should be available for external integration can easily be wasted by internal disintegration.
Internal disintegration is a function of mutual trust and respect. The less mutual trust and respect in the culture of the company, the more internal disintegration there will be and thus the less energy will be available to deal with integrating the company externally.
A company is in its Prime condition, and thus positioned for sustainable success, when it is integrated both externally and internally.
A company is in its Prime condition, and thus positioned for sustainable success, when it is integrated both externally and internally.
TOC
After receiving a certain amount of intellectual pleasure from the contemplation of simplicity and, at the same time, the depth of the above formula, I caught myself thinking that its philosophy is based on the same concept as the Theory of Constraints: there is a conflict at the heart of most system problems and the elimination of this conflict is the main task and the best way to enhance the system effectiveness.
"Internal disintegration" is an intrasystem conflict. "External Integration", in fact, only shifts the focus to the broader context and is related to systems positioning within a larger system (Supersystem). In other words, using the TOC terminology, we have to deal with two systemic "clouds".
Thus, having got an impulse to interpret the Adizes formula with TOC tools, I saw it as the "Triple multisystem cloud" (please forgive me this liberty of such not proper application of TOC instruments).
Personal Reflections
In the end, I’d like to make one more confession. For me, perhaps, the most important thesis of Adizes philosophy can be expressed in these words: the biggest asset you can have is not WHAT YOU HAVE (possess) but WHO YOU ARE.
And I was impressed by these words not because they were new for me, but because they reflected my personal opinion on the issue that I used to repeat many times in the past. I think that it is the main initial parameter; all others are derivative.
Based on this principle, I have derived my own vision of success components that, as for me, has much in common with Adizes formula. These components are: Value and Communications. Internal Value (who you are) and Communications (interaction) with the outer world.
Of course, these categories are closely interrelated and interdependent: without internal value, you are unlikely to communicate effectively with others; on the other hand, the increase of internal value is possible primarily through communications.
To have high Value, you should be internally integrated. However, some exceptions are possible – but they only confirm the rule. Anyway, to a large extent Value is a function of internal harmony. Also here “integrity” would be a proper word.
Nevertheless, sometimes absence of internal harmony can be a driver and source of creativity. But that is just the result of another kind of integration – let's say integration of resources available (talents and capabilities) and effective actions to exploit these resources.
My term “Communications” is similar to “External Integration”. As elements of larger system, we should be able to interact with other elements of the system. To do that, we should have Value (Capabilities) and ability to use Opportunities. Only that enables us to share our Value and accomplish Value Exchange with others.
Thus we can see that "External Integration" and "Internal Disintegration", TOC conflict concept and even “Value and Communications” ideas have much in common. So maybe these ideas contain some portion of common sense? The only thing left to do is to turn common sense into common practice.
Though, of course, Success does not mean Happiness. But that is another story…
