- Lexicon Home [1]
- About Us [2]
See Also
Definition
Development is an increase in capability and competence. Development is primarily a matter for learning.
Development is what results from the resolution of conflicting objectives into higher order solutions which eliminate, or dissolve, the conflict. This is referred to as finding the ""and"" instead of accepting the ""or"" in choices to be made. This results in purposefully increasing integration and differentiation at the same time. Examples of this abound in the evolution of businesses. There was once a time that you could get quality ""or"" low price. Now quality ""and"" low price are common. Faster communication used to cost more, now email is instantaneous and essentially free while long-distance calling services are a commodity.
Development is co-produced by integration and differentiation tendencies. Differentiation is required to develop unique high value solutions in response to commoditization. Integration is required to bring order and efficiency to the chaos that differentiation tends to produce. For example, uniqueness and uniformity combine to create innovation. Combing complexity and order requires higher orders of organization. Change and stability combine to form adaptability.
Development enables an organization to create the future rather than just react to the present. But there is more to development than the technique of dissolving conflicts. It comes from an impassioned desire to achieve a purpose. Passion for the purpose of the business motivates the pursuit of development, providing the impetus to overcome the challenges of conflict. A significant and virtuous purpose provides a positive identity to the associates of the organization, stimulating the inspired pursuit of greater capability to achieve the purpose.
Strategic management seeks to develop a strategic focus which produces a synergy from the integration of the business's purpose, competency, and value produced in pursuing the purpose. This strategic focus provides the guidance and motivation for continual development of higher order solutions.
Primary sources: Jamshid Gharajedaghi, Social Dynamics, Dichotomy or Dialectic, White Paper, www.interactdesign.com; Gharajedaghi, 2006; Ackoff, 1999a