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ION Organizational

Analysis

Patrick PettyjohnShelley StephenMengyuan Zhao

September 20, 2011R621 – Dr. Cho

THEORETICAL BASIS AND PARADIGM CHARACTERISTICS

Part 1 – Four Logics of Change

Autopoiesis Theory

• Defined: Reveals the relationship between systems and their environments.

Autopoiesis Theory

• Defined: Reveals the relationship between systems and their environments.

Borders Bookstores• Started as homey, but

large, bookstore in Ann Arbor, MI, staffed by book lovers.

• Hired non-book people and narrowing selection without recognizing corporate identity change.

Chaos and Complexity Theory

• Defined: How ordered patterns of activity can emerge from spontaneous self-organization

Chaos and Complexity Theory

• Defined: How ordered patterns of activity can emerge from spontaneous self-organization

Borders Bookstores• Attractor of e-books

readers ignored• Stayed with more

dominant attractors - established mindsets and power bases

• Tried surviving as discrete corporate entity

Mutual Causality Theory

• Defined: Change is enfolded in the strains and tensions found in circular relations.

Mutual Causality Theory

• Defined: Change is enfolded in the strains and tensions found in circular relations.

Borders Bookstores• Good results with

continuous expansion through the early 2000’s reinforced positive feedback loop.

• Achieved a level of growth that was unsustainable.

Dialectical Change Theory

• Defined: Change is the product of tensions between opposites.

Dialectical Change Theory

• Defined: Change is the product of tensions between opposites.

Borders Bookstores• Opened a website for 2

years, sold it to Amazon, did not open another for 10 years.

• Decision to not be an internet player embraced a polarized view rather than finding a way to live in internet world.