# The Internal Similarity of Self-Organizing Systems By:: [[Brian Heath]] 2023-07-05 A key characteristic in self-organizing systems is what elements are allowed to self-organize. For example, you'll rarely see two species of birds flock together. Typically, only birds of the same species will flock together. But why is this? If birds flock together for protection, wouldn't it be beneficial for all the small birds in the area to get together to avoid the hawks? While many exceptions likely exist, the self-similarity requirement in self-organizing systems is likely driven by communication protocols, "culture," and instinctual trust. Birds of different species don't know how to communicate effectively with each other. Furthermore, they have different behaviors, rituals, and objectives that one might call culture. This leads to an element of trust amongst the members of the flock. Humans operate in similar ways when organizing themselves. It started with tribes to survive and continues in many forms, from sports fandom to choosing where to live. However, one would need help saying that modern work organizations are remotely close to self-organizing systems. Sure, we are all human, but most people take a job as a means to an end. It's not about the values and beliefs of the organization, but one might say it is during the interview. Both parties know it's the driving force behind the relationship. If it was, laying off people would be akin to kicking someone out of the tribe and dooming them to certain death. Most people couldn't stomach this. So, what might a truly self-organizing work organization look like? Well, it needs to be comprised of individuals of the same ilk. They communicate in the same ways, have a shared "culture," and trust one another. If a system lacks this, it will not be self-organizing. There will be too many gaps, and management will start to emerge. One should distinguish management from leadership. Self-organizing systems can still have leaders that emerge and change over time, just like a "leading duck" constantly changing in the "v formation" when flying south for the winter. No managerial duck is telling the ducks how to fly south and where to go with daily stand-up meetings. It may be hard to visualize because it is exceedingly rare in human organizations, especially regarding work. But, self-organizing, complex adaptative systems are everywhere we look and are likely the original organizational structure. The reductionist scientific method struggles to measure these things. Hence we are stuck in a paradigm that ignores them. #### Related Items [[Self-organization]] [[Complex Systems]] [[Organization]] [[Work]] [[Nature]] [[Paradigms]] [[Science]]