The Next Next Common Sense
consultants connect personal aspirations with firm objectives, creating mutually reinforcing development paths. These tension reconciliation approaches transform complexity fron- tiers from overwhelming challenges to navigable domains, enabling orga- nizations to maintain coherence while embracing the inherent contradic- tions of complex systems. “We’ve come a long way from the strategic planning approaches we learned early in our careers,” reflects a seasoned executive. “Remember those five-year plans with detailed projections and quarterly milestones?” “Useful fiction at best,” her colleague responds. “But what haven’t changed are the fundamental questions: How do we create value? How do we adapt to changing conditions? How do we bring people together toward shared purpose?” Organizations that develop these capabilities aren’t just surviving complexity—they’re harnessing it as a source of innovation, resilience, and competitive advantage. They’re creating coherence not through sim- plification or control but through shared purpose, guiding principles, and adaptive learning. Conclusion The complexity frontiers we’ve explored represent both challenges and opportunities. Organizations that develop the capabilities to navigate these frontiers will not merely survive but thrive in the decades ahead. The next common sense recognizes that complexity is not a problem to be solved but a reality to be embraced. Rather than seeking to eliminate complexity through simplistic solutions, effective organizations develop the capacity to navigate complexity through coherence, adaptability, and learning. As you face the complexity frontiers relevant to your organization, consider how the principles and approaches explored throughout this book might apply:
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