Intelligent Organizations: An Integrative Framework

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how cybernetic theories open new paths towards organizational intelligence. This is illustrated by means of three theoretical models from organizational cybernetics. These models are integrated into a framework for a virtuous design, (self-)control and (self-)transformation of organizations. It is proposed that changes in activities, structure and behaviour-three of the dimensions of this framework-have to be synchronized among one another, and aligned with a fourth dimension: fundamental parameters such as organizational identity, ethos and vision. It is also claimed that a continued and integrative application of the models outlined can trace the path towards excelling organizational intelligence more effectively than merely punctual uses of one or more of them.