BUTTERFLY EFFECT

The definition of the Butterfly Effect: “The butterfly effect refers to the idea that a butterfly’s wings might create tiny changes in the atmosphere that may ultimately alter the path of a tornado, or might delay, accelerate, or even prevent the occurrence of a tornado in another location. The flapping wing represents a small change in the initial condition of the system, which causes a chain of events leading to large-scale alterations of events. Had the butterfly not flapped its wings, the trajectory of the system might have been vastly different. While the butterfly does not “cause” the tornado in the sense of providing the energy for the tornado, it does “cause” it in the sense that the flap of its wings is an essential part of the initial conditions resulting in a tornado, and without that flap, that particular tornado would not have existed.” So the whole concept of the Butterfly Effect (which is similar to the Domino Effect) relies on the notion that everything is part of a larger system – in which small changes in part of a system can result in larger changes to other parts of that system.The ‘Butterfly Effect’ is a popularised term taken from Chaos Theory. It is used to describe the phenomena of small actions in one area creating unforeseen significant consequences in another.

Dr Deming’s focus on quality as the prime barometer is underpinned by several key principles. One key one that I find fascinating is the focus on responsibility he places on management with respect to the ‘owning’ of mistakes that occur within an organisation. In fact Dr Deming states that:

This is no small point. Dr Deming referred to this behaviour as a deadly disease within an organisation.Rather than pointing fingers to staff, senior managers should be working with staff to resolve the inferiorities within the systems and processes of the business. Doing so will put the organisation on course to achieve its aims (delivery of quality) in a systemised, process driven manner.

I believe that successful management of overall organizational performance requires synthesis, alignment, and integration of the organization’s various parts. Your organization is a complex system, filled with hundreds – if not thousands – of independent work systems and processes, each designed to produce a set of outputs that presumably move the organization forward. In order to manage and improve – or at least better understand – the dynamics of your organization, you have to find the right leaders and they should have a framework and ability to put those processes into context within the larger system, so that resources are optimized, negative consequences are minimized, and results are improved and sustained.

So recruitment and finding the right leader for your company is the organization’s butterfly challenge. Essential recruitment and finding the right talent is crucial.

Quotation; The Butterfly Effect: Managing Your Organization as a System, Brian S. Lassiter.President, Performance Excellence Network 23, 07,2017