Abstract
The idea of chaos in organizations is nothing new. Many people have expressed the idea of describing human and organisational interaction as chaotic and complex (Goldstein, 1994; Goerner, 1994). But a key feature to understanding this chaos and complexity is to see the patterns that emerge from these interactions. Humans tend to interact with each other through the choices and decisions that are made. If one can understand the pattern of decision making of the individuals and the organisation, then the true goals of the organisation can be made apparent. This is a very powerful concept for allowing organisations to understand themselves and become more effective. Values are the filter by which we make these decisions (Ellis and M.L.W. Hall, 1994). Understanding values therefore is a key to unleashing the complexity and power of an organisation. Systems thinking and human values are the context for the tools and methodologies used to unleash and hopefully harness the power in these organisations.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Beck, D. E., and Cowan, C. C. (1996). Spiral Dynamics-Mastering Values, Leadership, and Change Exploring the New Science of Memetics, Blackwell, Cambridge.
Ellis, R. K., and Hall, M.L.W. (1994). Systems and values: A practical approach to organizational intervention. New Systems Thinking and Action for a New Century, Proceedings of the ISSS, Pacific Grove, CA.
Gleick, James 1987, Chaos: Making a New Science, Penguin Books: New York.
Goerner, Sally J. 1994, Chaos and the Evolving Ecological Universe, Gordon and Breach: USA.
Goldstein, Jeffrey 1994, The Unshackled Organization: Facing the Challenge of Unpredictability Through Spontaneous Reorganization, Productivity Press: Portland, OR.
Graves, C. W. (1974). Human Nature Prepares for a Momentous Leap. The Futurist 8, 72–87.
Hall, B. P. (1973). Values Clarification as a Learning Process: A guidebook of Learning Strategies, Paulist Press, New York.
Hall, B. P. (1976). The Development of Consciousness: A Confluent Theory of Values, Paulist Press, New York.
Hall, B. P. (1979). Developing Leadership in Stages: A Value-Based Approach to Executive Management, Manohar Publications, London.
Hall, B. P. (1986). The Genesis Effect: Personal and Organizational Transformation, Paulist Press, New York.
Hall, B. P. (1993). Values Power, Values Technology, Santa Cruz, CA.
Hall, B. P. (1995). Values Shift: A Guide to Personal and Organizational Transformation, Twin Lights, Rockport, MA.
Hall, B. P., and Joiner, C. W. (1992). Management by Values, Values Technology, Dayton, OH.
Hall, B. P., and Thompson, H. (1980). Leadership Through Values: An Approach to Personal and Organizational Development, Paulist Press, New York.
Hall, B. P., Harari, O., Ledig, B., and Tondow, M. (1986). Manual for the Hall-Tonna Inventory of Values, Paulist Press, New York.
Hall, M.L.W. (1994). Discerning Chaos in Organizations: Understanding Chaos and Complexity in Organizations Using Human Values. 1994 Chaos Network Conference, People Technologies, Denver, CO.
Hall, Martin L.W. 1997 Systems Thinking and Human Values: Towards A Practical Organizational Intervention Methodology. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Lincolnshire and Humberside. Lincoln, UK.
Hofstede, G. (1991). Cultures and Organizations: Intercultural Cooperation and Its Importance for Survival, McGraw-Hill International, London.
Jackson, M. C. (1991). Systems Methodology for the Management Sciences, Plenum Press, New York.
Maslow, A. H. (1970). Motivation and Personality, Harper and Row, New York.
Maslow, A. H. (1970). Motivation and Personality, Harper and Row, New York.
Maslow, A. H. (1971). The Farther Reaches of Human Nature, Viking Press, New York.
Maslow, A. H. (1971). The Farther Reaches of Human Nature, Viking Press, New York.
Mason, R. O., and Mitroff, I. I. (1981). Challenging Strategic Planning Assumptions, Wiley, New York.
Robertshaw, J. E., Mecca, S. J., and Rerick, M. N. (1978). Problem Solving: A Systems Approach, Petrocelli Books, New York.
Rokeach, M. (1979). Understanding Human Values: Individual and Societal, New York, Free Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2000 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Hall, M.L.W. (2000). Systems thinking and human values. In: Parra-Luna, F. (eds) The Performance of Social Systems. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4251-3_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4251-3_2
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-6908-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-4251-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive