Distributed Intelligence

Select an organization and consider its distributed intelligence. Think back to the systems thinking disciplines: personal mastery, shared vision, team learning, mental models, and systems thinking. Can you identify any simple rules within distributed intelligence that applies to human organizations? What might be some advantages of distributed intelligence vis-à-vis command and control leadership? 

To prepare for this Discussion, review the resources. 

Post an example of distributed intelligence in your selected organization. Then, explain how it might contribute to improving your organization or to your organization becoming a learning organization. Finally, explain any advantages of distributed intelligence for leading and managing the organization.

• Shirky, C. (2009). How social media can make history [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/clay_shirky_how_cellphones_twitter_facebook_can_make_history
  
  Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 16 minutes.
   
   
• Tapscott, D. (2012). Four principles for the open world [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/don_tapscott_four_principles_for_the_open_world_1

• Bonabeau, E., & Meyer, C. (2001). Swarm intelligence: A whole new way to think about business. Harvard Business Review, 107–114.
  Retrieved from the Walden Library databases. 
   
• Uhl-Bien, M., & Marion, R. (Eds.). (2008). Complexity leadership, part 1: Conceptual foundations. Charlotte, NC: Information Age.
  • Chapter 9, “Emergent Strategy Via Complexity Leadership: Using Complexity Science and Adaptive Tension to Build Distributed Intelligence” (pp. 225–268