Intelligent praxis

Michael McMaster self-published "The praxis equation. Design principles for intelligent organisation." in 1997. online chapters

This text remains one of the best explications of the links between KM, complexity and autopoiesis

Michael, weaves together learnings from Warfield, Holland, Kauffman, Seely Brown, Stacey, Valera, Maturana and other leading thinkers. His approach rests on these important praxis design principles:

Without a starting hypothesis discovering which part of that space of possibility will offer us our greatest rewards is left to chance.

A focus collects energy and kindred spirits, gives meaning and imparts energy to any inquiry

We need only to understand how things work - not why they work.

Understanding increases when we observe based on theory and connect inputs to results


The principle of recombination is to intentionally introduce new elements (ideas, language, distinctions) into the pool of established ideas of the existing systems.

Combining existing elements leads to emergence, variety and complexity

In organizations, our building blocks are distinctions, ideas and language.

Create hypotheses and recognize emergent entities

We seldom have the luxury of trying out a carefully planned series of responses. As a sense of urgency increases, our ability to access general principles becomes increasingly important.

Organisations need to have fall-back (more general) responses to cope with the unexpected. When general responses are being applied often it is time to start new research.

The source of success is often remote from the action that appears to be producing the success.

Track back and assign due credit to earlier building blocks, this is increase resilience and innovation.

Michael McMaster points to many core properties of KM: dialog, listening, periphery, distinctions, the key role of language and identity, the importance of creating forums, core documents, levels, emergence and metaphor.

Find a copy - read it!

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Part of the book is available at http://www.co-i-l.com/coil/knowledge-garden/oi/books/odp/index.shtml