Organisational intelligence

Abstract

Purpose

Seeks to explore the notion of organisational intelligence as a simple extension of the notion of the idea of collective intelligence.

Design/methodology/approach

Discusses organisational intelligence using previous research, which includes the Purpose, Properties and Practice model of Dealtry, and the Viable Systems model.

Findings

The notion of organisational intelligence requires a metaphorically defined psychological frame of reference. In trying to formulate this metaphor, there has been a need to explore the collective from a psychological perspective. Applications of the notion of organisational intelligence operate in a variety of areas, and two of these are in organisational learning and managerial cybernetics. In the latter an interest lies in dealing with organisational pathologies, resulting in viable systems.

Originality/value

Addresses the need for developing organisational intelligence.

Citation

Yolles, M. (2005), "Organisational intelligence", Journal of Workplace Learning, Vol. 17 No. 1/2, pp. 99-114. https://doi.org/10.1108/13665620510574496