The cybernetics of authenticity

Abstract

Purpose -Research was conducted in order to identify behaviours that improve a system viability in a complex, chaotic and volatile world. The purpose of this paper is to explain why complex cybernetic systems must be authentic over time in order to maximise their viability in a complex, chaotic and volatile world. Design/methodology/approach -In total, eight faculty staff from the Thunderbird School of Global Management were interviewed around the subject of "being a successful 21st century leader". These interviews were analysed using Ricoeur's hermeneutic methodology which resulted in three behaviours being identified: be authentic, open and transparent; these behaviours were then deep interpreted according to Ricoeur's methodology using cybernetic principles. This is an innovative piece of research that brings together phenomenology, cybernetics and leadership studies but it is also limited by being a new approach. Findings -Complex cybernetic systems must be authentic because authentic behaviour nurtures the system's identity and ensures that it is able to consistently generate a clear goal signal. It is also proposed that authenticity is important for coping with the "law of variety" by acting as an amplification mechanism.Research limitations/implications -The research implication is that it is possible to identify behaviours to improve the viability of all complex cybernetic systems. Originality/value -The work is highly original because it provides a cybernetic explanation for why authentic behaviour is necessary. As far as the author is aware, no work has yet combined cybernetics with leadership behaviours and provided a cogent explanation for why authenticity is so important for system viability. The value of this work is that it clearly shows the value of authentic behaviour by showing how and why authentic behaviour improves system viability and how inauthentic behaviour harms system viability.

Why systems must explore the unknown to survive in VUCA environments

“…Our identity emerges out of our meaningful memories (Burke, 1991). Thus, if the memory of a system changes, so does its identity; furthermore, some memories can be more meaningful than others (Bartscht, 2013). This is important because the more meaningful a memory is to the system, the more influence that memory has in shaping the identity of the system.…”

“…In the same way that an experienced The full cybernetic cycle of a complex system as described in Bartscht (2013) 255…”

“…He argues that if systems do not engage in these behaviours then they will, ceteris paribus, necessarily fail in time in a VUCA world. For example previous work has shown how one type of behaviour ("be authentic") can significantly improve a system's capacity to thrive in a VUCA world (Bartscht, 2013) and that inauthentic systems will always fail in the long term in a VUCA world. The power of combining system theory with behaviour is that it provides clarity as to what behaviours must be exhibited whilst using system theory to justify why, from first principles, it is necessary to engage in this behaviour.…”

“…It should be noted that this approach combines complexity science, cybernetics and systems dynamics because these are not considered to be separate but different ways of understanding systems. This paper uses the cybernetic diagram first presented in Bartscht (2013) (see Figure 1). This diagramming approach is notable because it includes for the first time the double loop of memory, identity and goal setting information loops.…”

Διασχίζοντας Τα Σύνορα, Ενώνοντας Τους Ανθρώπους

“…Η θεωρία της Κυβερνητικής, παρόλο που βρίσκει μεγάλη εφαρμογή στην επικοινωνιακή κατασκευή της ταυτότητας, εν τούτοις μόλις πρόσφατα έχει εμφανιστεί στο πλαίσιο των ανθρωπιστικών και κοινωνικών επιστημών υπό τους όρους της κοινωνικο-Κυβερνητικής (Sociocybernetics) (Almaguer-Kalixto, Amozurrutia, & Servós, 2014;Bartscht, 2013;Connell, 2002;Corning, 1996;Degele, 2008;Geyer & van der Zouwen, 1996;Hay & Flynn, 2015;Mezza-García, Froese, & Fernández, 2014;Mitchell, 2016;Scott, 2009;Stokes, 2006Stokes, , 2007, πόσο μάλλον στη μελέτη του χορού και του ελληνικού παραδοσιακοί χορού ειδικότερα ως τρισυπόστατου κίνησης-μουσικής και λόγου. Αναλυτικότερα, από την ανασκόπηση της βιβλιογραφίας, διαπιστώθηκε ότι η κυβερνητική κατασκευή της ταυτότητας, δηλαδή, η θέση ότι η ταυτότητα του ατόμου προκύπτει μέσα από μία κυκλική επικοινωνία και αλληλεπίδραση με τον εαυτό του και με τον κοινωνικό του περίγυρο, έτσι ώστε να διατηρήσει την ισορροπία του, δεν έχει απασχολήσει ακόμα το ενδιαφέρον των μελετητών του χορού σε διεθνές επίπεδο, καθώς δεν βρέθηκε κάποια σχετική έρευνα.…”