Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Beer's “organizational tensegrity” and the challenge of democratic management

  • Papers
  • Published:
Systems practice Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Many systems scientists are keenly interested in the democratization of management, particularly in the development of better processes for democratic decision making. Stafford Beer's recent development of a consensus decision-making process based on “organizational tensegrity” is an exciting contribution in this area, which also has important implications for the design of democratic organizational structures. This paper describes some experimentation with these ideas (with assistance from Beer) in two work groups at Pacific Bell and explores the potential of Beer's process for democratic management.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ackoff, R. (1981).Creating the Corporate Future, Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ackoff, R. (1989). The circular organization: An update.Acad. Manage. Exec. 3(1).

  • Albert, M., and Hahnel, R. (1981).Socialism Today and Tomorrow, South End Press, Boston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beer, S. (1966).Decision and Control, Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beer, S. (1979).Heart of Enterprise, Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beer, S. (1981).Brain of the Firm, Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beer, S. (1983).Diagnosing the System for Organizations, Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beer, S. (1990). On suicidal rabbits: A relativity of systems.Syst. Pract. 3, 115–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beer, S. (1991a). Private communication.

  • Beer, S. (1991b).Team Tensegrity, Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Espejo, R., and Harnden, R. (1989).The Viable System Model: Interpretations and Applications of Stafford Beer's VSM, Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flood, R. L., and Robinson, S. A. (1989). Thimbles and hope: An essay on analogy and systems theory.Cybernet. Syst. 20, 201–214.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuller, R. B. (1975).Synergetics: Explorations in the Geometry of Thinking, Macmillan, New York.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Science and Technology Department, Pacific Bell, 94583, San Ramon, California

    David Schecter

Authors
  1. David Schecter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schecter, D. Beer's “organizational tensegrity” and the challenge of democratic management. Systems Practice 4, 303–317 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01062007

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01062007

Key words

Search

Navigation