Rewiring the Corporate Brain

by Danah Zohar

Book Overview

Corporate structures, like the physical and biological structure of the human brain, operate from one of three individually distinct but intricately interrelated systems: mental, emotional, and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1576750221
• ISBN13: 9781576750223
• Release Date: November 1997
• Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 1.08 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.4" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Intense Reading

I think everyone should read this book, not just people getting into the business world, after all business is everywhere. It is time for everyone to expand their thinking. The old ways will not carry on anymore.

Open your mind.....think differently

The new science, quantum theory, and related branches of physics are clearly defined and related to business structures and people within "Rewiring the Corporate Brain"To some, the whole notion of "The New Science", let alone it's relation to the business world may seem like a bunch of new age babble. We (in the US especially) are used to thinking in terms of action-reaction, events, actions, and people, as individual and isolated. We make distinctions and often-strict divisions between work and the rest of our lives. We thrive on predictability, being able to determine outcomes, and control environments, which can inhibit the ability to quickly adapt to and accept change. "Rewiring the Corporate Brain" recognizes this, and uses quantum theory to illustrate that we might be missing something. The author demonstrates the shortcomings of the common, rigid Newtonian thinking and organization that permeates so many companies and minds, yet also recognizes that a pure quantum approach is not a cure all. The author presents a hybrid model that recognizes the importance of managing and living to obtain certain objectives, while allowing and encouraging the creativity, exploration, and openness to continually grow and adapt to the torrid pace of change. Not only does the application of quantum thinking make sense for the development and management of organizations, but also when trying to bring the separate parts of ones' life together into a more holistic, satisfying existence. The book refers to a few related "new science" books, which may be of interest to the reader. It also draws on some early Fast Company articles from the good ol' days before Fast Company became the useless waste of paper it is today.This book is not technical or difficult to read. You'll be able to polish it off within a few hours. If you liked this book, and would like to read more on the "New Physics", or would simply like to explore it ("New Physics") w/o the business context, pick up a copy of: "The Dancing Wu Li Masters : An Overview of the New Physics"

A new paradigm for leadership and organization.

"We live largely in a world of Newtonian organizations. These are organizations that thrive on certainty and predictability. They are hierarchical; power emanates from the top, and control is vital at every level. So, often, is fear. They are heavily bureaucratic and rule-bound, and hence inflexible. They stress the single point of view, the one best way forward. They are managed as though the part organizes the whole. Newtonian organizations do not respond well to change. Their primary value is efficiency. Human beings work and live in such organizations, but we often feel like passive units of production. Our lives serve the organizations, but the organizations serve only our utilitarian needs, and that only so long as we conform to the organization's purposes and are vital to the organization itself. The emphasis on control isolates these organizations from their environments. They don't interact with or respect those environments, including the people who work within them. It is my purpose here to describe a wholly different kind of organization. I hope to offer a new model for structure, leadership, and learning within organizations that can thrive on uncertainty, can deal creatively with rapid change, and can release the full potential of the human beings who lead and work or live within them. Such organizations, like the human brain, have the potential for self-organizing creativity just waiting to be unleashed within them. This new model is based on the thinking, ideas, language, and imagery of the new science-quantum physics, chaos and complexity, and the latest brain science. I believe that understanding the philosophical basis of these sciences, understanding the new paradigm from which they emerge, is critical to rewiring the corporate brain" (from the Introduction).In this context, Danah Zohar divides this invaluable book into two parts:I- Using the New Science to Rewire Corporate Thinking. In this part, she basically:* describes the uses and limitations of traditional paradigms in business activities and other life contexts.* focuses on three kinds of thinking (serial thinking, associative thinking, and quantum thinking) that the human brain can do, and discusses their advantages and disadvantages. * contrasts eight key ideas from Newtonian science/old paradigm, and their effects on business thinking, with eight key ideas from quantum science/new paradigm and their application to new thinking about leadership, and thus constructs a management-leadership chart that puts the features of these two contrasting paradigms as follows:- N.certainty, Q.uncertainty- N.predictability, Q.rapid change; unpredictability- N.hierarchy, Q.nonhierarchical networks- N.division of labor or function fragmentation, Q.multifunctional and holistic (integrated effort)- N.power emanates from top or center, Q.power emanates from many interacting centers- N.employees are passive units of production, Q.employees are coc

Linear thinking will stagnate your systems and your people.

I have read Rewiring the Corporate Brain and it doesn't take a genius to realize that linear thinking will stagnate corporate business and yourself. Open yourself up to see the possibilities and don't let the left side of the brain see all the work. As an entrepenaur it is possibly easier to see these insights. Danah Zohar has put some hard facts, hard science facts, that prove to any doubters that rewiring our brains is what this country needs. We can do it and we're worth it. Facts are there; she proves it. Make life simple; read it, do it, prove it to yourself.