What can we learn from birds, and from boids?

The creative artist and facilitator Steve Chapman helped me to understand the importance of that organizations often needs “just enough structure” to function optimally. And to better understand that statement we can turn to our feathered friends.

I guess you recognize the beautiful V-formations as the migratory birds moves south or north. Beyond this remarkable achievement of flying thousands of miles, there is some important lessons to learn. I once met Paul Bennett on some kick-off thingy, and he enlightened me on the wonder of birds during a conversation on self-organizing systems in general and birds in particular. Firstly, he said, birds are taking turn in leadership. Peloton riders have adapted it similarly as they take turns at the front and push through the stiff headwind, while the others draft behind. Secondly, the rest of the flock are drafting behind and slightly above the leader in such a way that they conserve the energy. Thirdly, he concluded, the birds in the back of the flock honks enthusiastically to encourage the leader in the front. And there are other things to learn from birds too!

Maybe you´ve also seen that seemingly floating, ever-changing and fascinatingly coordinated flock of thousands of birds that moves like as if it was one? In 1987, Craig Reynolds summarized a model that described the emergent patterns and undulating motions of these flocks with a simple set of rules:

·       Avoid bumping into each other. (separation)

·       Align towards the average direction of the local flock-mates. (alignment)

·       Steer towards the average position of the local flock-mates. (cohesion)

He called the “bird-oid objects” in the simulation for “boids”.

Reynolds successfully modeled the intricately complex system, where each individual bird/boid seems to have an almost intuitive understanding of the whole, based on just a few simple framework conditions. And while questions remain about whether the birds are aware of what they're doing and how they're actually doing it (they probably are), it is still a stunning nature´s example of beauty and simplicity.

What strikes me in those two examples is how simple systems can enable not only highly functional endeavors, such as flying across half the globe, but also creating stunningly emergent beauty.  As Sonja Blignaut puts it “complexity is not supposed to be complex”, she knows it and the birds knows it.

What if we design our organizations in similar ways too?! What if we refrain from excessive policy rules and unnecessary dependencies, and as the birds, rely on few framework conditions and boundaries?! So.. what are the simple frameworks that allows for beauty and function in your organization? What is “just enough structure” for you?

*squeak*