Functional Organization Dissociation

The pathology occurs when Systems 1 are not productive systems, but Systems 1 are the functional units like logistics, sales, and production.

This typically leads to symptoms like

• extreme dependencies between the units
• Environments also have a high degree of overlap
• virtually no autonomy; everything is controlled through System 3

Dysfunctions

Look for the following symptoms and dysfunctions.

Fragmented Subsystems

• Isolated Departments: Departments or units within the organization operate in silos, with minimal interaction or collaboration. This isolation prevents sharing information and resources, leading to redundancies and inefficiencies.
• Independent Strategies: Each subsystem may develop local strategies and goals, which can conflict with or diverge from the organization's global objectives.

Poor Communication

• Lack of Information Flow: Essential information does not flow effectively between different parts of the organization. This lack of communication can result in misunderstandings, delays, and a lack of coordinated effort.
• Disconnected Feedback Loops: Feedback mechanisms are weak or nonexistent, preventing the organization from learning from its experiences and adapting to changes.

Weak Central Coordination

• Ineffective Central Management: The central management or coordination functions (System 2 and 3) are weak, failing to ensure that different parts of the organization work together towards common goals.
• Absence of Integrative Processes: No effective processes are in place to integrate the activities and outputs of different subsystems, leading to fragmented operations.

Conflicting Objectives

• Misaligned Goals: Different units may have goals that are not aligned with each other or with the organization's overall strategy. This misalignment can lead to internal competition and conflicts.
• Divergent Priorities: Priorities within the organization are not harmonized, causing a lack of focus and direction.

Try This

To address and mitigate dissociation pathology, you might try the following interventions:

Enhancing Communication

• Establishing Robust Channels: Develop and maintain effective communication channels that ensure the free flow of information between all parts of the organization.
• Implementing Feedback Mechanisms: Create strong feedback loops that allow the organization to learn from its experiences and adapt to changes.

Strengthening Central Coordination

• Empowering Central Functions: Strengthen the central coordination functions (System 2 and 3) to ensure all subsystems are aligned and working towards common goals.
• Integrative Processes: Develop and implement processes that integrate the activities and outputs of different subsystems, ensuring coherence and synergy.

Aligning Goals and Strategies

• Unified Strategic Planning: Develop a unified strategic plan that aligns the goals and efforts of all departments and units with the organization's overall objectives.
• Harmonizing Priorities: Ensure that the priorities of different parts of the organization are harmonized and support the broader strategic direction.

Fostering a Cohesive Culture

• Shared Vision: Promote a shared vision that unites all parts of the organization. This can help create a sense of common purpose and direction.
• Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Encourage collaboration and interaction between different departments and units to break down silos and foster a more integrated approach.