Adapt and Prosper by Pat Craig from the Spring 2002 issue of the Complexity Management Chronicles
Our last newsletter laid the groundwork on complex adaptive systems (CAS).
We believe that CAS theories will prove helpful to running a robust business
and developing software successfully. This newsletter, the second in a two
part series, builds on the 3M case study and adds information from some of
our client experiences.
Our previous newsletter, which referenced the book, "Built to Last," by James
Collins and Jerry Porras, utilized 3M to provide concrete CAS implementation
ideas. Recall that 3M's "best practices" as related to CAS include the following:
1. Fostering proactive environmental adaptation to significantly increase the firm's profitability;
2. Supporting reactive responses to changes in the environment to further increase profitability and guard against erosion in the revenue base;
3. Instituting communication channels to rapidly transfer knowledge within the company;
4. Creating mechanisms to harness entrepreneurial drive; and
5. Reinforcing adaptive behaviors.
Our previous newsletter elaborated on proactive environmental adaptation and on reactive responses to changes in the environment. We'll pick up where we left off by providing additional detail on items 3-5 above.
To transfer knowledge, 3M hosts technical forums where professionals share information, technical papers and ideas. They also sponsor new product forums
, where divisions share product knowledge. A mutual fund client of ours,
employing 1,000+ systems professionals, also uses product fairs. Once a year,
this client's divisions set up product booths in a central area. These fairs
have helped the divisions reuse each other's software.
3M has a number of programs to harness entrepreneurialdrive. 3M has "Genesis Grants", an internal venture capital
fund, consisting of grants up to $50K for prototyping and market tests.
3M also have "Own Business" opportunities enabling successful product champions
to run their own department, group, or division depending on product sales.
A client of ours, a financial data provider, also has it's own internal venture
capital fund and encourages product and sales managers to start new subsidiaries.
We worked with one of their "start-up" subsidiaries and three years after
its inception, this subsidiary employed over 100 people.
To reinforce adaptive behaviors in employees and in the company, 3M has a number of programs. Recognition programs abound at 3M. The "Carleton Society" recognizes
technical professionals for their original and outstanding contributions
to the company. People who developed a new technology and shared it successfully
with another division get technology sharing awards. Our mutual fund client
discussed previously also had quarterly recognition programs to highlight
key contributions by staff members. Winners received an award and a $1,000
check.
3M as a company also realizes that to better adapt to its environment, it
needs employees with diverse interests and talents. Dual career ladders at
3M allows technical individuals to advance without becoming managers, and
foster diversity.
We will follow 3M's lead and adapt the way we do business by investing more
energy in teaching. Therefore after 8+ years of issuing newsletters, this
newsletter is our last one.
Newsletter writing has proved an interesting experiment. Over the years,
we've written about the trade-offs between delivery date, functionality,
and budget. We've examined hot groups from any number of dimensions: recruiting
staff, (including personality testing), retaining staff, leadership, etc.
We've discussed system dynamics and how it can foster improved performance.
We've looked at managing risk and also at containing development costs.
So dear reader, we than you for reading and we bid you adieu!
©2002 by Complexity Management Somerville, Massachusetts, in Metropolitan Boston
Complexity Management Chronicles, a newsletter for software quality
assurance professionals, has been published in print form four times a year until this final issue.
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