Thank you, Aaron. I agree that OS is a major upgrade to the more traditional machine ‘pop-the-hood’ metaphor, and can generate valuable insights.
The question here is how far do you want to go, and to what aims. How much are you willing to stretch/invest to unleash the real potential that is inherent (and probably dormant) in the system you’re working with? The living systems paradigm is vast and holds much more that the worn-out DNA metaphor. I have been studying and applying it for a couple of years now, and I know I’m just scratching the surface. Probably the most coherent organizational embodiment of it is the Regenerative Approach — I highly recommend that you give it some attention. Here is a good place to start, from Carol Sanford (whom I study and partner with):
Forty years ago, I met a cadre of business designers and developers who called what they did Regenerative Business…carolsanfordinstitute.com
And here is more on the regenerative design principles here:
The Regenerative Organization - Guidelines to Design Work and How to Manage People for Innovation, Growth and…carolsanfordinstitute.com
A word of warning — these are not quick-and-easy tricks to add to your bag. They require a serious mental investment. A choice to make :)
I will share this — when applied well, it creates tremendous breakthroughs in organizations. The kind I haven’t seen with any other approach. I’m talking about taking a struggling division within an esteemed company such as P&G, Colgate, Clorox or DuPont and generating double- or even triple-digit growth for years. In the case of Kingsford, going from poorly performing regional brand to capturing 70% of the US market — in just 2 years. All by growing a ‘mind of a CEO’ in every worker. These are real, factual case stories. Hard to believe, isn’t it?
I can share more depending on your interest, and there is a Regenerative Business summit coming up that we are putting together in October.
Cheers, and thank you again for your contributions to the field.