By analogy, a fishing net changes through wear and tear over time.
entity system development
One can identify stages of development in individual entity systems as well as species of entity systems. For example, in the course of its physical lifespan, an entity system goes through generic stages of development (e.g. stars, humans, plants and cells are “born”, grow, decline and die). However, each individual does so in its own unique manner.
As observed by evolutionary theory, species develop new characteristics as a result of their interaction with a changing environment. Human systems change as a result of accumulating new knowledge (e.g. as societies evolve, their knowledge, organisation and technologies change).
activity system development
In the course of a lifespan of an entity system, one can also observe changes in the development of its activity systems. For example, in the course of a person’s life, one can distinguish different stages of their career development or parenting. As societies move from the hunting and gathering to the information stage, their education, transportation, political and other activity systems evolve. As species adapt to a changing environment, their functions (e.g. visual) evolve to ensure survival.
relevance
In the naturosphere, the time span associated with a stage of development is related to the life span of the system (e.g. a life span of millions of years for stars, decades for organisms, days for some cells and nanoseconds for particles).
In the psycho-sociosphere, stages of development can follow each other in rapid succession (i.e. evolution can be fast), depending to a large extent on the generation of new information and its dissemination.
relevance for the change manager
Many organisations still struggle to move from the industrial to the information stage of development (e.g. from a silo structure, control hierarchies and competitive growth-based thinking to flexible, self-governing matrix management and an ethos that incorporates win / win, development and stakeholder cooperation).
what is the relevance of this concept for you?
