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Consider the donut's
two fundamental elements, the ring and the hole, as two modes of
organizational thinking. The hole keeps the
organization "whole:" it sustains the tried and true operating systems
required for the organization to function. All of the practices, the
methodologies, the systems, and structures that are currently operational
are sustained there. The thinking required
to keep the organization "whole" is a very pragmatic approach that relies
on organizational norms, standards, and traditions to sustain day-to-day
operations. Everyone here knows what to do and does it routinely
well. Yet, every
organization must also address its need for perpetual innovation. No time
in our history could bring that message home more clearly than the current
economic crisis where even tried and true corporate giants like GM are on
their stiff knees, having sustained business as usual to arthritic
excess. To stay nimble, vital
and responsive, an organization must also perpetually engage in the
evolutionary change that learning, talking and creating will
engender. Every day, week, month or year is another opportunity for
strategic innovation or continual improvement. We could think of the
outer donut ring as the thinking required to push the envelope, to make
incremental improvements, to learn from experience and to change.
The thinking required for change in the outer ring is virtually opposite
the thinking required in the hole. The ring seeks possibilities; the hole
seeks standards and norms. Yet both modes
of thinking are required to sustain the viability of the organization. The
donut grows, expands, and evolves as the possibility thinking pushes ever
outward to the next incremental improvement or strategic
innovation. These modes of
thinking must maintain a healthy, symbiotic balance, just as the donut
hole is always symbiotically joined to the donut ring. If no-change
thinking prevails, the donut becomes fossilized; if change
thinking prevails, the donut loses its center. James Graham
Johnston | ||||
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INNOVATION
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Partners for
Innovation is in the business of helping you create organizations that
thrive on creativity and social capital. We write these articles to
support your work in building vital and resilient organizations. Please
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