Centralized Vs Decentralized Hierarchies
This is the way nature has always worked, suffices to take a look at a bee hive, an ants colony, etc.
Humans, on the other hand, are the only creatures who have created centralized hierarchies, namely, bureaucracies, which, BTW, worked beautifully 200 years ago until the 1950s when the world began to experience turbulence and relevant uncertainties that rendered the centralized hierarchies not only inadequate but counterproductive by generating a vast array of pathological implications e.g., lack of responsibility, lack of commitment, lack of collaboration, lack of engagement, etc., etc., etc..
Now, with the advent of Blockchain, there is greater hope than ever for the development Decentralized Hierarchies since Blockchain is the epitome of a Decentralized Hierarchy.
First, we have to understand that hierarchy equals structure.
A hierarchy is the fundamental core of any structure that allows for its control, maintenance, and development, i.e., survival. Without it, there is no future.
Then, we have to know that there are are only two types of hierarchies:
- The typical restrictive & tropophobic Dominant Hierarchy i.e, Centralized Bureaucracy
- The still little known, enhancive & tropophilic Non-dominant Hierarchy i.e, Decentralized Participative Democracy.
The implications of these two options in terms of human behavior are profoundly different and will dictate the future of human kind as we know it.
When people work for the system (Centralized Dominant Hierarchy or Bureaucracy) the organization is, by default, ‘Variety-Decreasing’ where the range and level of behaviour of its people is restricted (i.e., goal-seeking, at best) and the negative pathological implications abound (e.g., lack of responsibility, lack of collaboration, lack of engagement, lack of leadership, etc.).
When the system works for the people (Decentralized Non-dominant Hierarchy or Participative Democracy) the organization is, by default, ‘Variety-Increasing’ where the range and level of behaviour of its elements is enhanced (i.e., ideal-seeking) and the synergies created are powerfully sustainable because the whole is greater than the sum of its parts!
A Toast To The Health Of Decentralized Hierarchies & Blockchain!
JC Wandemberg Ph.D.
President & Founder
Sustainable Systems International
About the author: Dr. Wandemberg is an international consultant and stocks trader, keynote speaker, published author, professor, and analyst of economic, environmental, social, managerial, marketing, and political issues. For the past 30 years Dr. Wandemberg has collaborated with corporations, communities, and organizations to integrate sustainability through self-transformation processes and Open Systems Design Principles, thus, catalyzing a Culture of Trust, Transparency, and Integrity.
