Shifting Paradigms: From Newton to Chaos In the article “Shifting Paradigms: From Newton to Chaos”, Toby Tetenbaum argues that Chaos theory, a term used to describe nonlinear complex systems and organizations, can be used to study change in organizations. Unlike Newtonian scientists who believed that “…relationships between cause and effect are simple, clear and linear.” , Tetenbaum argues that due to the information era organizations are more complex with employees working anytime from dispersed locations. The increasing speed of communications and the demand for knowledge sharing has also contributed to more of a self managed model. Consequently, Tetenbaum says that the 21st century manager’s role must consist of 5 critical skills. He/she must be able to: 1) Manage the Transition, 2) Build Resilience, 3) Destabilize the System, 4) Manage Order and Disorder, the Present and the Future, and 5) Create and maintain a Learning Organization.
In the first role, “Managing the Transition”, Tetenbaum explains that organizations are moving from the industrial to the information era. Both employees and managers have to change their attitudes towards how work is done and how problems are solved. In the industrial era workers take orders from upper management and follow instructions to ensure the expected results. Their knowledge and practices are based on proven skills and experiences previously tested. Transitioning to an information era would mean letting go of what is familiar and moving away from what workers and managers know as stable, comfortable, predictable and safe. The role of the manager is to “be specific regarding the attitudinal and behavioral changes that are necessary, communicate consistently and often, expect and accept people’s negative reactions, and reward their positive efforts.”
Secondly managers are to “Build Resilience”. Workers are