1. Six Lenses
More Information Here
Data

2. Birth of the Chaordic Age
We live in an era of unprecedented challenge and unparalleled opportunity.
Every aspect of our societies, organizations and personal experience is undergoing profound transformation.
What will it take to realize the dreams we all harbor for fulfilling lives, creative work, healthy communities and a sustainable relationship with the Earth?

3. Transforming … Cultures and Economies
Globalization
Transformative technologies
Control of wealth and power
Social and demographic shifts
Ecological constraints

4. Transforming … Organizations and Institutions
Limiting centralized command-and-control
Fostering innovation and creativity at all levels
Adapting new information and communications technologies
Creating open, flexible structures for activity and governance

5. Transforming … Organizations and Institutions
Supporting diversity and search for meaning in work
Integrating financial, intellectual, social and natural capital
Enabling fluid webs of collaboration and competition
Transforming concepts of leadership

6. Transforming … People and Relationships
Meaning and identity
Relationship and diversity
Contribution and creativity
Equity and acknowledgment

7. Transforming … All Aspects of Human Life
Global scope and responsibility
Growing interconnectedness
Evolving technological prowess
Extraordinary need and unprecedented opportunity
Emerging stories

8. Patterns That Connect Complexity sciences Organizational learning
Political philosophy and economic theory
Ecology and living systems
Consciousness research
Evolving business models
New technological systems
Community development
Grassroots social movements

9. An Evolving Whole The cosmos at all scales is …
Self-organizing and self-regulating
Interconnected and interdependent
Participatory
Open to and productive of novelty and diversity
Harmonious blend of competition and cooperation
Continually evolving

10. What If Our Organizations Were…
Self-organizing and self-governing in whole and part.
Designed to foster maximum autonomy while enabling coordination and coherence at every scale to the global.
Able to thrive amid diversity, complexity and change.
Compatible with the human spirit and biosphere.

11. chaos and order … CHAORD (kay-ord)
Living systems thrive in a narrow band between
chaos and order …
CHAORD (kay-ord)
ORDER
CHAOS
CONTROL

12. A Chaord Is Any organism, organization or system that is:
Self-organizing
Self-governing
Adaptive
Nonlinear
Complex
“Chaordic” means characterized by the fundamental organizing principles of nature and evolution.
CHAORD

13. Chaordic Organizations
Enduring in purpose and principle.
Powered from the periphery, unified from the core.
Exist to enable constituent parts.
Equitably distribute power, rights, responsibilities and rewards.
Fluid webs of cooperation and competition.
Cannot be managed, can only be led.
Compatible with the human spirit and biosphere.

14. Chaordic Initiatives Multi-Stakeholder Networks
Strategic business alliances
Cross-sector initiatives
Social movements
Community transformation
Organizational Initiatives
For profit corporations
Nongovernmental organizations

15. Six Lenses into Organization
PURPOSE
PRACTICES
PRINCIPLES
PARTICIPANTS
CONSTITUTION
ORG. CONCEPT
©2001, The Chaordic Commons

16. Chaordic Design Process
PURPOSE
PRACTICE
PRINCIPLES
Chaordic Design Process:
Six Lenses on Organization
CONSTITUTION
PARTICIPANTS
ORG.
CONCEPT
Chaordic Design Process
©2001 Chaordic Commons

17. The one community (commonality)
PURPOSE
A clear, commonly understood statement of that which identifies and binds the community together as worthy of pursuit.
The one community (commonality)
encompassing many.
Purpose
©2001 Chaordic Commons

18. Commitment to right relationship.
PURPOSE
PRINCIPLES
Clear, commonly understood statements of how Participants will conduct themselves in pursuit of Purpose.
Commitment to right relationship.
Principles
©2001 Chaordic Commons

19. The members of the community necessary to its effective initiation
PURPOSE
PRINCIPLES
The members of the community
necessary to its effective initiation
and continuance – all relevant
and affected parties.
PARTICIPANTS
The many communities
participating in one.
Participants
©2001 Chaordic Commons

20. Organizational Concept
PURPOSE
PRINCIPLES
Characterization of Participant
relationships that all can trust to
be just, equitable and effective
in achieving the Purpose
in accord with the Principles.
Images of organization –
patterns and scales of connection.
PARTICIPANTS
ORG. CONCEPT
Organizational Concept
©2001 Chaordic Commons

21. Adaptive, binding agreements.
PURPOSE
PRINCIPLES
Codification of Concept specifying rights, obligations and relationships of Participants, giving rise to the organization as a legal entity.
CONSTITUTION
PARTICIPANTS
Adaptive, binding agreements.
ORG.
CONCEPT
Constitution
©2001 Chaordic Commons

22. PURPOSE
PRACTICES
PRINCIPLES
Activities,
products and services through which Participants pursue the organization’s Purpose and create value.
CONSTITUTION
PARTICIPANTS
Life, work, and service.
ORGANIZATIONAL
CONCEPT
Practices
©2001 Chaordic Commons

23. An Iterative, Interdependent Process
PURPOSE
PRACTICE
PRINCIPLES
CONSTITUTION
PARTICIPANTS
ORG.
CONCEPT
An Iterative, Interdependent Process
©2001 Chaordic Commons

24. Six Lenses into Organization
PURPOSE
PRACTICES
PRINCIPLES
PARTICIPANTS
CONSTITUTION
ORG. CONCEPT
©2001, The Chaordic Commons

25. What is deeply meaningful
Life in action
PARTICIPANTS
CONSTITUTION
ORG. CONCEPT
PRACTICES
PRINCIPLES
PURPOSE
Right relationships
Adaptive agreement
Many communities within one
Fractals, scale, and patterns of connection
©2001, The Chaordic Commons

26. Deep Commonalities Expanding Possibilities A Fertile Starting Point
(One Right Answer)
PARTICIPANTS
CONSTITUTION
ORG. CONCEPT
PRACTICES
PRINCIPLES
PURPOSE
Expanding Possibilities
(Infinite Right Answers)
A Fertile Starting Point
(Many Right Answers)
©2001, The Chaordic Commons

27. Community Organization
PARTICIPANTS
CONSTITUTION
ORG. CONCEPT
PRACTICES
PRINCIPLES
PURPOSE
Diversity
Commonality
Formality
Dynamism
Organization
©2001, The Chaordic Commons

28. Deeply personal Deeply common Unique starting point Universal nature
AND…
Deeply personal
Deeply common
PARTICIPANTS
CONSTITUTION
ORG. CONCEPT
PRACTICES
PRINCIPLES
PURPOSE
Unique starting point
Universal nature
AND…
©2001, The Chaordic Commons

29. Expression of Creativity (Infinite right answers)
Bonding
(One right answer)
Expression of Creativity
(Infinite right answers)
PARTICIPANTS
CONSTITUTION
ORG. CONCEPT
PRACTICES
PRINCIPLES
PURPOSE
Source of Creativity
Enabling
(Many right answers)
©2001, The Chaordic Commons, Jack Ring, OM

30. Process Notes Process is iterative and interdependent.
Team members are stewards.
Probe assumptions with rigor and respect.
Gently push for radically new perspectives.
Seek balance among creative tensions.
Recognize what is “good enough for now.”
Be comfortable with conflict, frustration, ambiguity and confusion – and excitement, inspiration and fun.
©2001, The Chaordic Commons

31. Ideal Conditions for Success
Strong sense of need (or crisis)
Perceived opportunity, aspiration and vision
Leaders and champions
Appropriate project design
Dedicated, diverse working groups
Broad communication and engagement
Resources
Interplay of design and practice
Will to succeed, grace to compromise