LIS 404: Principles of Management Management Theory Presentation: Chaos theory as a management theory for libraries

1. Chaos Theory
Julie Goldman

2. The Butterfly Effect

3. Jurassic Park
The mathematician Ian Malcolm specialized in
'Chaos Theory'. He predicted through his
theory that the island will quickly proceed to
behave in "unpredictable fashion" and that it
was "an accident waiting to happen".
The mathematician Ian Malcolm specialized in
'Chaos Theory'. He predicted through his
theory that the island will quickly proceed to
behave in "unpredictable fashion" and that it
was "an accident waiting to happen".

4. Biology

5. Survival

6. Chaos Theory
you've never heard of chaos theory?
non-linear equations?
strange attractors?

7. Overview
Scientific Management
Frederick Winslow Taylor
closed system
Systems Theory
Ludwig von Bertalanffy
organization as organism
open system

8. Edward Lorenz
environment is not predictable
computer program to simulate weather
small changes drastic changes

9. What is Chaos Theory?
complicated nonlinear dynamic systems
nonlinear: change in one variable
doesn’t produce the same change or
reaction in related variables
dynamic: anything that moves,
changes or evolves in time
external and internal “disturbances” may significantly alter the
behavior and structure of the systems. They may appear irregular and
unpredictable, yet maintain an underlying patterns that has a
“hidden” recognizable form.
external and internal “disturbances” may significantly alter the
behavior and structure of the systems. They may appear irregular and
unpredictable, yet maintain an underlying patterns that has a
“hidden” recognizable form.

10. Main Points
complex systems have
underlying order
simple systems
produce complex
behavior

11. Chaos
systems appear chaotic and disorderly
management must know how to control
the work patterns when the organization
is thrown off equilibrium and existing in
a state of chaos

12. Change
most people hate change
they think it...
must be dealt with and managed
when in fact they should...
influence the processes behind it

13. But...
the world is constantly changing
organizations can not plan for the future
organizations can not predict the forces
they will have to deal with
can this management theory of chaos
provide guidance to help them survive?

14. How to Deal
discover nature and source of change
understand what is going on in the world
and the logic driving such forces
influence processes that produce change
initiating small changes can produce
larger effects and big changes

15. Self-Organization
people spontaneously reorganize into
something complex and unexpected
systems within the organization will self-
organize by modifying their structures to
adapt, survive, grow, and develop
spontaneously create order from chaos

16. Issues
forces that can’t be controlled
self-organization doesn’t always work
scientific managers of today must study their own organizations in order to learn
the most effective processes to make changes happen
scientific managers of today must study their own organizations in order to learn
the most effective processes to make changes happen

17. Chaos in Libraries
organizations function like organisms
they will only survive if they adapt to
environmental change
spontaneously self-organize into
something complex and unexpected

18. Libraries
complex, nonlinear systems
underlying order of:
well-developed employee culture
established rules
policies
procedures

19. Libraries
internal and external processes leads to
chaos within the organization
must change and evolve to meet the
changing needs of the community

20. Technology

21. Oh no...

22. Public Libraries
electronic vs print
listen to patrons
assistance
troubleshoot
licensing and cost

23. Use Chaos
to deal with change:
acquire information
flexible work arrangements
diverse staff
pursue learning and innovation

24. Management Plan
remain calm, encouraging, flexible
understand the big-picture
communication with stakeholders
employees
patrons
government/town/funding source

25. Manage Change
profession must change and evolve to
meet changing needs of the community
commitment to core values
maintain clear mission
ability to be flexible
open boundaries with environment
understand driving forces

26. This is Life