The Surprising Similarities Between Ant Colonies and Generative Westrum Organization Culture

Generative Westrum organization culture and ant colonies are both self-organizing systems that exhibit emergent behavior. In both cases, the individual components of the system (ants or employees) are relatively simple, but when they interact with each other, they can produce complex and sophisticated outcomes.

In a generative “Westrum organization culture”, employees are empowered to make decisions and act on their own. They are encouraged to be creative and innovative, and they are given the resources they need to succeed. As a result, employees are more engaged and productive, and they are more likely to come up with new and innovative ideas.

In an ant colony, each ant is also relatively simple. However, when ants interact with each other, they can accomplish amazing things. For example, ants can build complex structures, such as nests and bridges. They can also forage for food and defend their colony from predators.

The similarities between generative Westrum organization culture and ant colonies suggest that self-organizing systems can be very effective. When employees are empowered to make decisions and act on their own, they can be more engaged and productive. They are also more likely to come up with new and innovative ideas.

Few observations:

• Both systems are decentralized. There is no central authority that tells ants or employees what to do. Instead, individuals or small groups make decisions.
• Both systems are adaptable. Ant colonies can adapt to changes in their environment, such as the availability of food or the presence of predators. Generative Westrum organizations can also adapt to changes in their environment, such as changes in the market or the introduction of new technologies.
• Both systems are resilient. Ant colonies can recover from setbacks, such as a flood or a fire. Generative Westrum organizations can also recover from setbacks, such as a failure of architecture decision or the loss of a key employee.

Overall, generative Westrum organization culture and ant colonies are both examples of self-organizing systems that exhibit emergent behavior. These systems are decentralized, adaptable, and resilient. As a result, they are well-suited to a changing and unpredictable world.

Reference:?

• Westrum organizational culture | DevOps capabilities | Google Cloud
• https://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/13/suppl_2/ii22
• https://rework.withgoogle.com/blog/five-keys-to-a-successful-google-team/
• https://www.gen-i.co.uk/index.php/2018/10/19/the-ant-nest-principle/
• https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms15414