The chaordic organization

Dee Hock, founder of VISA, coined the word chaordic to describe an organization that finds the balance where chaos and order meet to ensure it thrives under the demands of the dynamic business context.

Key aspects of the chaordic organization are:

1. Crystal clarity on the highest need the organization is choosing to serve.
2. The purpose of our organization, i.e. what you do to serve that need.
3. The principles governing how individuals interact with each other.
4. Strong culture and diverse people aligned through values and a sense of purpose

Applying chaordic principles can help an organization adapt rapidly, learn by doing, and deal with complexity similarly to a natural ecosystem:

• Everything is self-organized, an all levels.
• Focus is on what works well enough to take the next step.
• Whoever is best able to fulfil a role at a point in time does so.
• No-one knows what every part is doing.
• Everyone knows what their specific purpose is.
• Everyone is fully empowered to do act.

See also: Chaos and order in business?