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Theory of Living Systems and Organizational Changes:
An Introduction

By Mario deSantis, August 23, 1998

Last week, I read the book "The Web of Life" by Fritjof Capra [1]. In this book, Capra exposes the emerging theory of living systems as characterized by common principles of organization. In accordance to this theory, the organization of living systems is the configuration of all the relationships of the components of the systems and therefore such components and related relationships can be represented by network models. The most important properties of living systems are their self-organization to maintain themselves and their capabilities to create new configurations. These properties have been associated with the concept of cognition or mind, that is the process of knowing, which in turn is identified as the process of life.

This theory of living system provides a valuable framework for the study and understanding of societal organizations. Therefore, no matter what we are investigating, we can use the universal concepts of systems, of components and relationships of networks, of individual intelligence of the components and their collective intelligence. When in the Spring of 1997 I wrote the paper "Coping with changes: an overview of the Learning Organization, Knowledge Economy and current practices in information technology applications" I had no prior knowledge that the system theory of life [2] would have provided the needed conceptual background to link the Learning Organization with the Knowledge Economy and the omnipresent high technological changes. Therefore, even if among academicians there is a debate on the acceptance of this theory of living system, I believe that the effectiveness of this theory in the study of societal organizations can hardly be disputed, especially at this time of rapid technological changes when we are confronted in finding dynamic and balanced solutions to our organizational problems of dealing with stability and change.

My interest in the theory of living systems developed naturally and as a consequence of my business efforts to provide innovative solutions to the computerization of a seamless system integrating the accounting, payroll and employee scheduling functions of Saskatchewan health district boards. In Saskatchewan, significant amounts of taxpayers dollars have been spent in the failed Stargarden payroll project [3]. The failure of this project was the direct result of outdated mental models of our business and political leaders, who see themselves in a position of power and control rather than in a position of service. Today, the obsolete mentality of our political leaders transpires in their continuous attempts to solve organizational problems by finding legal solutions and shifting the blames to specific individuals [4].

In this article we have pointed that the exercise of power is the overriding characteristic of our traditional mental models and organizations; we also stated, that the theory of living systems is not centred on the use of power but on the natural exercise of our intelligence--the process of knowing. In the next articles, we will find out how the New Economy [5] is supporting the theory of living systems, and how we can use the universal principles and characteristics of living systems to address our organizational issues brought by the continuous technological changes.

REFERENCES

[1] THE WEB OF LIFE, by Fritjof Capra, Anchor Books, 1996

[2] Turning Point, by Fritjof Capra - 1982, Chapter 8: The Systems View of Life

[3] Conversation Paper: Economic policies for the computerization of accounting and payroll functions of Saskatchewan District Health Boards. Meeting of July 15, 1996 between Brian Rourke, Chairperson of SAHO, Arliss Wright, President and CEO of SAHO, and Mario deSantis of DigiCare. Prepared by Mario deSantis, July 12, 1996

[4] Refer to the Channel Lake saga, various articles in the StarPhoenix, Saskatoon, week of August 16, 1998

[5] The New Economy has been called alternatively Knowledge Economy, Information Age, Network Economy, Internet Age.