Running head: FUTURE OF ORGANIZING

Margaret Wheatleys New Science of Leadership Theories Analysis

Samantha Statham
Capella University
Professor Hagedorn
October 20, 2016

WHEATLEYS NEW SCIENCE OF LEADERSHIP THEORIES ANALAYSIS

Ms. Wheatleys theory is one that I had never heard of but found myself pleasantly
accepting as I read through the interview. The theory of chaos and miracles out of chaos was
most surprising and I found it to be enlightening as having spent time in the military, Ive
witnessed some situations that I would classify as miracles out of chaos. Anyone that has served
in the military will tell you that it is a highly organized, and finely tuned machine. Everyone is
highly trained and skilled in their respective fields. Its backbone is the small unit leadership
which is based on centralized command and decentralized control. The concept being the junior
leaders have the autonomy to maneuver however they need to, to accomplish the mission.
Continuous training insures accuracy and obedience to orders. With that said, on a base there are
literally hundreds if not thousands of leaders at any given time all on one accord. In training
exercises these small unit leaders get to put their training to practical application and this is
where one could witness the miracle out of chaos.
Another theory that I found interesting is the natural environment theory and the direct
correlation to nature. I called it the Everythings all right in the universe scenario. Ms.
Wheatley suggests that the natural environment of a business organization is inherently selfhealing or self-correcting. Meaning all that is in time and space, no matter the error will correct
itself in time because its dynamic, constantly evolving. Thinking about the nature of most
humans to control a situation, this would trigger that natural response to want try to maintain
control of that situation. Leaders of today have to be able to adjust to the dynamic nature of a
corporate environment. Think tanks and brainstorming sessions are still part of a process by
which corporations come to new ideas, now there is a part of the process where we allow chaos
to ensue and then the transformation and new idea come into to view.

WHEATLEYS NEW SCIENCE OF LEADERSHIP THEORIES ANALAYSIS

What Ive taken note of during the progression of this assignment is that it isnt the
corporation that changes but rather the people behind the corporation. Within every business
organization the personnel change over time which brings with it new practices, new ideas, and
new policies which all contribute to the change of said business organization. While it is true that
corporations generally take shape and become a form all its own, it is the people that make up
that corporation that drives that form. Society also drives change as well. Societal change is
driven by time. For example, what was considered morally inappropriate for TV in 1970 is now
probably morally acceptable today. So in the cycle of change we have society which is made up
of people which are influenced by time.
Knowledge: When it comes to knowledge, the more information you have about business
management and leadership, the more power you have to be an effective leader.
E-Business Systems: With constant advancement in modern technology, more companies
are realizing they have the opportunity to conduct more business online, thereby replacing the
traditional brick and mortar stores.
Net Communication: With extensive network communications, businesses have the
ability to communicate and chat across the country and around the world. Cell phones,
computers and tablets have more options than ever before to keep businesses connected to
conduct day-to-day activities.
System Dynamics: Society today is always in a hurry. We want everything instantly, from
food to business. Communication companies are competing with one another to see who can
offer us the fastest processing services to conduct our personal or business matters.

WHEATLEYS NEW SCIENCE OF LEADERSHIP THEORIES ANALAYSIS

Social: With the development of social media, stakeholders can now stay connected and
informed regarding the performance of organizations they have a stake in. Gone are the days of
paper reports, as now everything is so readily available at the touch of a button.

WHEATLEYS NEW SCIENCE OF LEADERSHIP THEORIES ANALAYSIS

References
Brown, T. 91993). The new science of leadership. Indrustry Wee, 242(2), 14.
London, S. (1997). The new science of leadership: An interview with Margaret Wheatley.
Retrieved from http://www.scottlondon.com/interviews/wheatley.html
Wheatley, M. J. (2006). Leadership and the new science: Discovering order in a chaotic world
(3rd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler