Organisations as emergent normative personalities: part 2, predicting the unpredictable

Abstract

Purpose

In part 1 of this paper the organisation was modelled as a socio‐cognitive agency with a normative personality, where patterns of behaviour occur through underlying trait control processes, and from which specific behaviours can be predicted. However, prediction is dependent on a stable agency orientation which occurs in normal conditions of homeostatic equilibrium. In post‐normal conditions the immanent dynamics of the agency have the potential to change its orientation leading to a lesser likelihood of predicting behaviour. Using information theory, this paper aims to further develop the model to show how it is possible to predict behaviour in post‐normal conditions. It also aims to consider the nature of agency pathologies.

Design/methodology/approach

The information theory approach of Frieden is harnessed to explain the immanent dynamics of the agency, and explore the likelihood of predicting its behaviour.

Findings

The outcomes of the research formulate the cognitive processes of normative personality such that its potential behaviour in given situations can be predicted, even potentially where the agency has pathologies.

Originality/value

There are no comparative approaches to explore organisational behaviour and their potential pathologies.

Citation

Yolles, M., Fink, G. and Roy Frieden, B. (2012), "Organisations as emergent normative personalities: part 2, predicting the unpredictable", Kybernetes, Vol. 41 No. 7/8, pp. 1014-1049. https://doi.org/10.1108/03684921211257856