I have been busy
articulating my learning that there is a problem with human endeavour and man
has no option but to use IT to solve it.
Historically, mankind has progressed linearly: we experience an opposing force, we fall-in behind a leader to confront it, we sustain our assault, we prevail and we progress. It worked for centuries till the growth of knowledge work brought us face to face with a powerful counter-force within ourselves towards the end of the 20th century. It led to fragmentation of our ranks and folly in our actions. The 21st century felt the imperative to quell the counter-force but has yet to realize in practice the three words for progress defined by Mary Parker Follet in 1927 and ratified by time: Interacting, Uniting, and Emerging.
Ironically it is the convicted fraudsters in our midst, who at one time numbered amongst the brightest, who surfaced that organiations are pitted against a system problem. Their ambition was perhaps driven astray by watching genuine and immense effort being frustrated day after day like that of the work-horse Boxer in George Orwell’s Animal Farm. They could not identify with Boxer. The system problem explains the pervasive mediocrity in relation to the potential for better performance and superior use of resources. The problem is also reflected by the stagnant productivity in the knowledge system since the early 20th century despite the availability of powerful technological support for uniting and interacting. The precarious state of the world demands identification and resolution of the system problem as leaders can do little against it. The prescription of hard work over an extended period of time by Rooke & Torbert and Prof. Kotter in celebrated HBR articles is very similar to the solution adopted by Boxer.
Considerable work has been done to solve the system problem defined above. However, it is focused on what personnel should do and leaders must achieve. It is a load that few leaders can bear because immense energy is required to change behavior and then sustain it. It stands to reason that people cannot be expected to identify their folly and correct themselves since folly is inherent. Even if it is possible only a few can achieve it. The energy must be invested in the system. Today only IT can provide that energy. My work defines why it has been impossible to date and makes it possible.
