I recently made a presentation to a group of organizational managers regarding the elements of a sound Strategic Management Framework, an enabling Governance and Accountability Framework and the key requirement for them to be bound in an appropriately calibrated Values Based Framework. We were discussing these various frameworks that support the construct of an organization when one manager asked me if I could give an example of how these frameworks "come together" and support the effective achievement of an organizations overall intentions. It provoked me to think about an appropriate metaphor that would ably exemplify the intimate working relationships and interdependence of these frameworks. What came to mind was the construct of the Human Body.
When we think of the Strategic Management Framework, it is in line with the human body’s Intellectual capacity to think, plan, predetermine and evaluate its various options and intentions. Our brain takes in information, examines various possibilities, determines specific risk factors, assesses resource requirements and limits choices to those that create the greatest opportunity with the lowest level of risk. Though this in itself is an amazing human capacity, much like a well-intended strategic or operational plan, it is not the sufficient condition to actualize any specific actions and/or results. The human body’s Intellectual capacity requires mobilization. This mobilization comes from the human body’s ability to connect good intellectual intentions with those Physical body parts that can create actions that realize results.
Much like the Governance Framework of any organization, the Physical body responds to priorities that are identified and ensures that actions are consistent with those requirements. The Physical body also sweeps in additional information as it progresses, feeding the Intellectual body with insights, that allow for mutual and interactive adjustments along the way. It also has limitations in its ability to achieve certain things, requires rest, nurturing and reinforcement, and it has overall capacity restrictions. This again is somewhat amazing, yet still not the satisfying condition for overall success. The human body’s Intellectual ability to plan intentions complemented by its Physical ability to mobilize action still requires consideration from the third, and likely most inspirational part of the body, that being it's Spirit.
The Spiritual body engages the emotional state of mind and the "how it feels to do it" and "am I inspired to engage in it" components. These are critical aspects when we are carrying out the greatest intentions of the Intellectual and Physical aspects of the body. The Spirit creates purpose and establishes fulfillment, it defines our sense of meaning and being and drives our emotional responses and inspires our values. As with the Values Based Framework of an organization, simply getting it done is not the satisfying condition for the reasons as to why we are doing it at all. It must be meaningful, feel right and have a sense of purpose in order to motivate the right actions and garner the expected results.
Together, the Intellectual, Physical and Spiritual parts of the body, exemplify the necessary elements of a whole organization.... Literally, Organizational Life is A Body of Work... Just my thoughts and hope it encourages some discussion, cheers.
When we think of the Strategic Management Framework, it is in line with the human body’s Intellectual capacity to think, plan, predetermine and evaluate its various options and intentions. Our brain takes in information, examines various possibilities, determines specific risk factors, assesses resource requirements and limits choices to those that create the greatest opportunity with the lowest level of risk. Though this in itself is an amazing human capacity, much like a well-intended strategic or operational plan, it is not the sufficient condition to actualize any specific actions and/or results. The human body’s Intellectual capacity requires mobilization. This mobilization comes from the human body’s ability to connect good intellectual intentions with those Physical body parts that can create actions that realize results.
Much like the Governance Framework of any organization, the Physical body responds to priorities that are identified and ensures that actions are consistent with those requirements. The Physical body also sweeps in additional information as it progresses, feeding the Intellectual body with insights, that allow for mutual and interactive adjustments along the way. It also has limitations in its ability to achieve certain things, requires rest, nurturing and reinforcement, and it has overall capacity restrictions. This again is somewhat amazing, yet still not the satisfying condition for overall success. The human body’s Intellectual ability to plan intentions complemented by its Physical ability to mobilize action still requires consideration from the third, and likely most inspirational part of the body, that being it's Spirit.
The Spiritual body engages the emotional state of mind and the "how it feels to do it" and "am I inspired to engage in it" components. These are critical aspects when we are carrying out the greatest intentions of the Intellectual and Physical aspects of the body. The Spirit creates purpose and establishes fulfillment, it defines our sense of meaning and being and drives our emotional responses and inspires our values. As with the Values Based Framework of an organization, simply getting it done is not the satisfying condition for the reasons as to why we are doing it at all. It must be meaningful, feel right and have a sense of purpose in order to motivate the right actions and garner the expected results.
Together, the Intellectual, Physical and Spiritual parts of the body, exemplify the necessary elements of a whole organization.... Literally, Organizational Life is A Body of Work... Just my thoughts and hope it encourages some discussion, cheers.
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