| This is a creative theoretical dissertation, demonstrating the theory that business organizations are complex adaptive systems and their ability to adapt is restricted by the extent they are locked-into the patterns of their identity, beliefs, and rules. The research methods used, included qualitative heuristic analysis of personal experiences, together with hermeneutics, general systems theory and non-linear dynamics applied to secondary source data.;The researcher discovered that not only is this a universal phenomenon, which occurs throughout all natural and artificial organizations at all levels of detail, from biological cells to major multinational businesses, it has also occurred throughout recorded history. She identifies significant benefits to the locked-in patterns of organizational identity, beliefs and rules; such as to restrictions to adaptation that enable connectivity and coordination through the formation of structure and standards. However, she shows the phenomenon becomes a problem when an organization becomes stuck in the locked-in patterns of its identity, beliefs and rules inappropriately, and is consequently unable to adapt in its own best interests when circumstances change.;The researcher argues this is particularly important at this time when information technologies are fast eliminating the historical barriers of time, geography and accessibility of information transference and manipulation. This is radically changing the limits of the possible in the structures of everyday life, so that organizations unable to adapt appropriately, will perish.;She identifies traditional business management processes as a major area for concern. These practices emerged about a hundred years ago to better coordinate large scale human action, and have been slowly evolving ever since. However, there is evidence of business organizations becoming stuck in the locked-in patterns of these practices, thereby missing vast new possibilities and opportunities, brought about by rapidly evolving and co-evolving information technologies. She explores the essence and implications of coordination of human action, in terms of information transference and the interpretation of received information. |
