It should be obvious by now that the theory
presented in this paper sees no solution to the problems of
organizational viability in the development of institutional,
social, and cultural values of high generality. According to the
theory herein, we can expect always to have people at different
levels and we can expect always to have different value systems in
our world. The solution to such problems lies not in the
production of values of high generality but in the application of
a relativistic point of view in relevant situations.
Level theory says we do not have a problem of
creative innovation versus the conservation of traditional values.
Creative innovation and conservation of values can occur at any
level. Creative innovation can harm an organization that is viable
and not ready to move and conservation of values can help or
hinder depending on conditions. Our question is not how can we
assure vitality through creative innovation and through overcoming
the tendency to conserve. Our question is: "Will we maintain
organizational viability by a conservation of traditional values
or will we maintain organizational health by creative
innovation?" After all, Lincoln Electric has long remained
viable through conservation and Non-Linear Systems has recently
become viable by innovation.
What kind of creative innovation does a sick
organization need to become viable and what people at what level
must we bring into an organization in order to increase the
probability that the needed innovations will occur is another of
our questions. Still another question is: "Does the
organization have within its confines people whose pre-existing
values will allow them to accept an idea if it is created?"
And if not, we must ask how can one operate so as to move people
to a level where the needed idea can be accepted. If an
organization needs new ideas for utilizing mechanical energy then
third level people must be brought in or freed within the
organization. If the organization suffers because managers cannot
accept participative innovations then fourth level inputs are
needed. If analysis indicates that viability exists because fourth
level managers fit well the needs and beliefs of their third level
people, then our question is: "Are there enough potential
fourth level managers and enough third level applicants in the
management and labor market to continue our ways?" If the
answer is yes, then the problem is a simple selection problem. If,
on the other hand, there is a scarcity of applicants needed to
conserve the viable relationship then the organization must change
or it will stagnate or it will perish. Cautious we must be lest we
innovate when conservation is the key. The wise man may select to
retain what the foolhardy is ready to change. This belief in
general values as the solution is much too questionable to warrant
such faith.
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