Narrow Results

The Cambrian explosion involved an extraordinary evolutionary event with sudden appearance of most metazoan (animal) body plans. Different aspects are involved in this event, from the molecular organization of gene networks to ecological factors. In this review, this event is explored from different points of view, including all approaches from paleontological evidence, the study of gene regulatory networks and some proposed theoretical models based on adaptation on rugged landscapes.

The inherent micro-structure (agent-agent/system) of human organizations has been introduced in Chapters 2 and 3. Fundamentally, human organizations are composite complex adaptive systems with human beings as interacting agents (each an intrinsic complex adaptive system). This chapter further analyzes the basic conceptual foundation of the multi-layer structure, including advantages of the intelligent biotic macro-structure (with inherent features similar to that of an intelligent biological being — a structural reform), and its unique and more integrative complex adaptive dynamic in intelligent human organizations (towards iCAD). The necessity of nurturing an intelligent biotic macro-structure with vital characteristics that better synchronize and enhance sophisticated information/knowledge-related activities is highly beneficial — achieving a higher structural capacity. Thus, the attributes, functions and higher structural capacity of the more intelligent biotic macro-structure can reinforced the competitiveness of any categories of human organizations extensively.

In this respect, connecting and engaging of intelligence/consciousness sources (individual and collective), organizing around intelligence, intelligence/ consciousness management, and the intelligent biotic macrostructure are mutually enhancing (towards higher coherency). Apparently, being intelligence/consciousness-centric is a beneficial and critical activator (strategic foundation) of the intelligence paradigmatic shift. In the present context, the roles and integration of intelligence, information and knowledge, as well as nurturing a ‘common’ language and elevating coherency in human organizations (with respect to the macro-structure and micro-structure, as well as their higher collectiveness — collectiveness capacity) must be more deeply scrutinized and utilized. The presence and significance of the individual intelligence enhancer encompassing three entities namely, intelligence, knowledge, and theory in the human thinking systems, and the necessity of nurturing a similar and effective intelligence enhancer at organizational level are analyzed. Subsequently, the supporting roles and contributions of artificial intelligence systems are also examined.

In between the macro-structure and micro-structure are two meso-structures. In the intelligent organization theory, the complexity meso-structure encompasses spaces of complexity and punctuation points. In this respect, complexity is a highly significant focal point, and the exploitation of co-existence of order and complexity is a new necessity (complexity-centricity). Next, the network meso-structure encompassing complex network (network of networks) is also an inherent structure and dynamic in all human organizations. This meso-structure is briefly introduced, and will be more deeply analyzed with respect to governance (network-centricity, network governance).

Hence, it is crucial to lead and manage human organizations with a strategic approach that integrates the above multi-layer structure/ dynamic at all time so that a higher structural capacity, collectiveness capacity, adaptive capacity, self-organizing capacity, and emergence-intelligence capacity can be nurtured. In the current highly competitive context, possessing these positive capabilities to elevate coherency and synergetic characteristics (including social consensus and the construal aspect) and dynamic is also highly crucial — a key focus of the complexity-intelligence strategy (towards achieving higher organizational mental cohesion). Hence, the significance and impact of nurturing intelligent human organizations with the complexity-intelligence-centric and network-centric approach that leads to the emergent of smarter evolvers and emergent strategists must be better understood and adopted. (The conceptual foundation on structural-dynamic coherency and synergy in intelligent human organizations developed in this chapter will be more deeply reviewed and exploited in later chapters.)

In this chapter, basic life-intelligence, and the evolution and co-evolution dynamics of eco-systems are further examined and compared to certain processes in human organizations. A special reference on human thinking systems as intelligence/consciousness sources, information decoders, information processors and complex adaptive systems (CAS) is re-emphasized. In addition, the significance of connectivity, communications, engagement, and orgmindfulness is analyzed with respect to the Abilene paradox, defensive routines and dialogue, as well as the human agent-agent/system micro-structure and micro-dynamic. The individual local self-centric (local self-enrichment processes) and the global orgcentric (global forces) evolutionary dynamics of intelligent human organizations (no global optimality) and their interacting agents (no optimal rationality) are investigated more explicitly with the exploitation of the certain complexity properties. It is observed that local order (stability of agents and networks/subsystem) is highly critical in human dynamic. It is beneficial to recognize that the intelligent complex adaptive dynamic (iCAD) driving an intelligent human organization (iCAS) is not similar to complex adaptive dynamic (CAD) in totality. This recognition provides a significant foundation and better understanding of the intelligent human organizational micro-structure and dynamic.

Essentially, there is a vital need for the transformed mindset, thinking, values, and expectations of human agents (leaders, actors, and non-actors) to be better synchronized. The intelligent person model (an ideal set of attributes) is introduced to substantiate the criticality of new vital characteristics of the human interacting agents in intelligent human organizations. Primarily, intelligent persons (a new category of agents, in particular, intelligence leaders and synergists) are concurrently intelligence/consciousness-centric, complexity-centric and network-centric. The new set of attributes includes high self-powered, intrinsic leadership, information decoding, smarter evolver, emergent strategist, and futurist capabilities. For instance, such a person is in a better position to function as a smarter evolver and emergent strategist that helps to bind a group (network, community, corporation, nation) of human thinking systems more optimally by elevating the quality of collective intelligence in the organization through better mindfulness, orgmindfulness, symbiosis, self-transcending constructions, co-evolution; deeper recognition of the characteristics of the rugged landscape and red queen race; innovative exploitation of relativistic complexity, and possessing futuristic thinking. Apparently, the presence of intelligent persons/agents will lead to a redefinition in leadership and governance strategy.

In this chapter, the intelligence-associated evolution and co-evolution dynamics of eco-systems are examined and compared to the processes of human organizations as stipulated in some existing organization theories. A special focus on businesses as complex adaptive systems is also included. The individual local self-centric and the global org-centric evolutionary dynamics of intelligent organizations and their interacting agents are more explicitly investigated. Subsequently, the intelligent person model is introduced to substantiate the needs to transform. How the intelligent person function as a smarter evolver helps to bind a group of human thinking systems and elevate the collective intelligence of the organization through mindfulness, orgmindfulness and co-evolution is also analyzed. (For better understanding, some concepts that are introduced earlier are further reinforced and better integrated in this chapter.)