Strategic governance of distributed

social systems
Part 1: proliferation of systemic logics and reconciliation
Part 2: fallacies of strategic governance
Part 3: learning systems and collective intelligence

Prof. Dr. Helmut Willke

Willke: Strategic governance

Proliferation of autonomous logics in non-trivial system

patterns of observing
the world
Observation

system history
learning history

Communication

systemic identity
reflexivity
self reference

Willke: Strategic governance

Evolution of autonomous subcultures in complex systems

hi st
st em
or
y

sy

s
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co
nt
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id xtu
en a t
tit ed
y

Willke: Strategic governance

n of s
nitio
xt
defi conte
rse
dive

an
m

core of
identity
and
self-guidance

lf s
s e ge
a
im

dynamics

se

external

to d adapta
t
iffer
ent ion
con
text
s

discourse

external

dynamics

on x t
s
le onte
u
r
a- in-c
t
e
m emst
sy

A new context for distributed social systems

intelligent
firm
knowledge
work

Supra structures
of global governance

Knowledge
Society

intelligent
goods
private

collective
intelligence
collective
goods
management
of ignorance

Infrastructures
of global governance
PPPs
Willke: Strategic governance

public
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Elements of systemic cultures

resisting change and governance

rules
convictions
of members

divisional
subcultures

structural
givens

procedural
predispositions

traditions

routines

culture
projects

standards

role
models

myths
confirmed
knowledge

visions

Willke: Strategic governance

Modes of reconciliating diversity

Subsidiarity

distributed problem solving

empowerment at every level
utilizing local expertise
optimizing degrees of freedom
increasing variety pool

federalism

creating synergies
constructing fitting contexts
empowering cooperation
utilizing collective intelligence
using economies of scale
Willke: Strategic governance

Strategic governance of distributed

social systems
Part 2: fallacies of strategic governance

Prof. Dr. Helmut Willke

Willke: Strategic governance

Control and cohesion

Models of governing complex systems

Hierarchy
Apathy from below

Guided autonomy
Decentral coordination
Alliances and PPPs

Hybrid

Flat hierarchies
Contextual guidance
Matrix organization

Active
Network
Lacking compliance

Hybrid
Market
Indivdualistic
syndrome

Involvement and autonomy

Willke: Strategic governance

Policy dynamics of a global knowledge society

 global networks
proliferation
proliferation of
of voice
voice options
options

 digitalization
proliferation
proliferation of
of atopic
atopic knowledge
knowledge

 expertise as core resource

proliferation
proliferation of
of non-knowledge
non-knowledge and
and risks
risks

 global competition
proliferation
proliferation of
of exit
exit options
options

 global institutional dynamics

proliferation
proliferation of
of rule
rule systems
systems

Willke: Strategic governance

Extending complex governance

vertical subsidiarity
extended subsidiarity

autonomy
autonomy of
of territorial
territorial levels
levels

horizontal subsidiarity
autonomy
autonomy of
of functional
functional domains
domains

synergy from coordinating policy

levels
extended federalism

coordinating
coordinating policy
policy arenas
arenas

synergy from combining public and

private competencies
coordinating
coordinating collateral
collateral goods
goods

Willke: Strategic governance

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Paradox of governance: time logic of intervention

Source: Charles Handy 1995

A Investing

2: Intervention at point A
A

reaping

1: Intervention at point B
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degree of positive energy

Paradox of governace: types of crises and

learning

2
constructive crisis

incremental crisis

stable crisis

time line

1: Initial phase
2 Sucess phase
3 Point of intervention
Willke: Strategic governance

destructive crisis

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Strategic governance of distributed

social systems
Part 3: learning systems and collective intelligence

Prof. Dr. Helmut Willke

Willke: Strategic governance

13

Comparing strategy in private and public-sector organizations

Strategic feature

Private sector

Public sector

General strategic goal

Competitiveness

Mission effectiveness

General financial goals

Profit; growth, market share

Cost reduction, efficiency

Values

Innovation; creativity; good

will; recognition

Accountability to public;
integrity; fairness

Desired outcome

Customer satisfaction

Customer satisfaction

Stakeholders

Stochholdes; owners; market

Taxpayers; inspectors;
legislators

Budget priorities
defined by:

Customer demand

Leadership; legislators;
planners

Justification for
secrecy

Protection of intellectual
capital; proprietary knowledge

National security

Key succuss factors

Growth rate; earnings; market

share; Uniqueness; advanced
technology

Best management practice;

sameness; economies of
scale; Standardized
technology

Source: Averson 1999

Willke: Strategic governance

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Systemic learning: the knowledge spiral

implicit

socialization

externalization

explicit

(Source: Nonaka/Takeuchi)

internalization

combination

from

Implicit

to

Willke: Strategic governance

explicit
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Core rigidities in systemic learning

Source: Leonard-Barton 1995

Lacking
experimentation

future
Insufficient
implementation
and
integration

Core
rigidities

Disregarding
external
knowledge

Limited
Problem
solving

present
internal

external
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Connecting learning and knowledge

Knowledge
prevents
learning

knowledge

learning

Knowledge
supports
learning

Willke: Strategic governance

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Szenarios of future goverannce regimes

Szenarios
zuknftiger
Arbeitsformen
Coping
with paradox
diversity

Gegenwart

2010

Willke: Strategic governance

focus
federalism

governance

Focus
heterogeneity

exchange

Focus
networking

emergence

??

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Complexity and the intelligence of democracy

 inclusion
people
people
intermediate
intermediate social
social associations
associations
collective
collective actors
actors

 intelligent structures
beyond
beyond hiearchy
hiearchy
inclusion
inclusion of
of networks
networks
inclusion
inclusion of
of hybrids
hybrids

 intelligent processes
input:
input: extending
extending the
the base
base
output:
adding
strategic
output: adding strategic perspective
perspective
impact
impact assessment
assessment

 intelligent rule systems

meta-rules
meta-rules
from
from normative
normative to
to cognitive
cognitive rules
rules

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