Leadership as an Emergent Phenomenon: A Framework for Complexity and Adaptability

Abstract

The recognition by some military leaders about the need for a different paradigm of leadership that responds to requirements for adaptability in complex environments has not necessarily translated into action. Existing organizational structures and processes which explicitly and tacitly support current ways of thinking and patterns of behavior often present obstacles to transformation. Nevertheless, changing the framework, structure, and processes in and by which a new generation of leaders are developed is a critical component of the current military cultural transformation. This paper will integrate knowledge from the C2 literature, constructive development theory, and organizational learning to lay the groundwork for an understanding and legitimacy of a new paradigm of leadership and leadership development arising from the application of an understanding of emergent phenomena (complexity theory) in the social sciences. Based on the metaphor of organizations as complex adaptive systems (cas), the paper describes attributes, mind-sets, and behavior that can effectively support organizational adaptability and transformation. Then the compatibility of the Leadership Development Framework (LDF) and the assessment instrument, the Leadership Development Profile (LDP), associated with this framework is delineated, as this measure appears to be one of the few validated leadership development instruments compatible with complexity. Thus, the paper will describe the cognitive basis for organizational adaptability, illustrate the compatibility between the LDF and non-linearity, show how this perspective builds on existing theoretical work and empirical data, and finally outline a proposed inter-institutional pilot project incorporating the LDF at the USAWC.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA486843

Entities

People

  • Sandra M. Martinez

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Adaptive Systems
  • Command And Control
  • Complex Adaptive Systems
  • Complex Systems
  • Department Of Defense
  • Human Behavior
  • Leadership
  • Military Organizations
  • National Security
  • New York
  • Organizational Structure
  • Psychological Phenomena And Processes
  • Psychology
  • Self Organizing Systems
  • Social Psychology
  • Social Sciences
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Military Leadership and Professional Education.
  • Systems Analysis and Design