Organizational Development: A Manual for Managers and ... - FPDL

Picture 10. The games we play.
The games may happen, and in fact are taking place, among any subjects – individuals, groups, or
organizations. The basic principles are the same. To ensure the survival and success of the
organization, a manager should control all the games that the organization plays with other
organizations, with clients or partners in its environment, and which individuals in organizations
play among themselves.
Playing games is fun, but may cost a lot. The uncertainty and unpredictability of the future is
always present. To be able to react to a new and unexpected change in circumstances any subject
needs to be free of restrictions that playing games may impose on it. It needs to be free, and wants
to be free, even more so in a less predictable or new environment. This is the instinct of freedom.
To be your own master is very nice. However, when others are also free - from your influence – it
is definitely risky. It does not allow control over their behaviour in a way that would bring better
results to you. It does not even allow you to predict their behaviour and make your own
corresponding choices. That is very risky. It is much better for anyone if he is free, but with others
depending on him. That would be ideal. Many used to strive for this and still yearn for this.
Total freedom for everyone is a disaster, because nobody takes others into account or coordinates
his behaviour with others. At the end of the days, it very much complicates survival of an entity as
a whole and for every element taken individually.
Total interdependence and inter-predictability is also bad, because stochastic nature is always
present and its unpredictable moves may make a totally controlled arrangement absurd. The
arrangement may need to be changed immediately, but not be able to do so. Once more, this is
also bad for survival, both for the entity and for everyone in it.
Those who love freedom most of all are ‘heroes’, because they change the world. That is very
romantic, providing there is somebody – a conservator who is able to keep the world in order. The
latter is very practical. Both are needed. Heroes are needed for a while, when the time for change
is approaching. Conservators are needed for the longer term, before the next change is inevitable.
‘Heroes’ use their power to force others to change the given order. Conservators use their power
to eliminate ‘heroes’ in order to keep things in order. This is a good example of co-operation.
Nature is extremely inventive.
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