Mitroff (2005)
Management >
Crisis Management >
Lectures > Independent Research >
Mitroff's book >The
effects of abnormal crises > Defence
mechanisms > Victim and villain >
Complexity >
4 styles of thinking > Assumptions
Assumptions
The four types of thinking demonstrates types of assumptions about
the world. The root of our problems in crises is that we live by
outmoded assumptions about how to deal with abnormal situations.
Outmoded assumptions include:
- A problem is stated precisely and unambiguously
- The best language for stating problems is mathematics and
statistics
- All complex problems can be broken down into a set of simpler
problems, "atoms"
- These atoms are owned by different disciplines, which all exist
within a strict hierarchy
- There is only one right answer to the problem
- The problem will be resolved forever and not come back
Counter assumptions include:
- When problems arise they are highly ambiguous and are difficult
to extract from a situation
- There is no one best language to define the problem; mathematics
is far too restricted
- The problem is not decomposable; it must be treated as a whole
- Disciplines do not "own" different parts of the problem. The
solution is as holistic as the problem
- There can be multiple solutions to the problem
- Problems do not remain solved indefinitely and can come back in
a number of forms
The moral of the story so far is that the nature of truth is
constructed by humans. Mitroff refers to it as the "management of
truth".
Structured problems
Four views of crises
Crisis tool kit
Controlled Paranoia
General Motors - outdated responses to crises
Needed action
A well-designed organisation
Spirituality
Benetton-Turkey
Corporate emotional intelligence
CM and betrayal
Myths
Additional myths
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