BOOK NOTES: THE STARFISH AND THE SPIDER

Title

: The Starfish and the Spider – The unstoppable power of leaderless organizations.

Authors

: Ori Brafman and Rod A. Beckstrom

Publishers

: Portfolio Hardcover (October 5, 2006)

Personal notes and observations:

Some organizations are like spiders – several legs joined together by a head. If you chop off a legit dies, period. Other organizations however are like starfish, if you cut-off a leg, the starfish willgrow another one. In some species, a new starfish will even grow out of the amputated leg.

Principles of decentralization:

•1

major principle of decentralization: when attacked, a decentralized organization becomes even more open and decentralized.•2

major principle of decentralization: It is easy to mistake starfish for spiders.◦It is easy to overlook the power of a starfish – they look insignificant and weak ◦AA was formed by decentralizing the recovery from alcoholism away from thecentralized hands of the experts and towards peers.•3

major principle of decentralization: An open system has no central intelligence.◦Intelligence is spread throughout the system◦Knowledge is at the edges/fringes – where the action is.•4

major principle of decentralization: open systems easily change and mutate◦AA mutated into gaming and food addiction recovery•5

major principle of decentralization: a decentralized organization sneaks up on you.◦Decentralized systems can grow very quickly◦Explosive expansion◦Spiders = slow weaving of web, slowly amassing resources and expanding.

•6

major principle of decentralization: as industries decentralize, overall profitsdecrease.•7

major principle of decentralization: put people into an open system,and they'llautomatically want to contribute.◦Their contributions are remarkably accurate◦John Wimber: Everybody gets to play.•8

major principle of decentralization: when attacked, centralized organizations becomeeven more centralized.

How to identify a Starfish:

Ask the following questions:-1.Is there a person in charge?a.If you see a CEO, you are probably looking at a spider b.Pyramid structures rely on coercive command and control.c.Open systems are flat – no pyramid2.Are there headquarters?a.All spiders have headquarters b.Starfish do not depend on a physical locationc.The organization is spread across networks3.If you thump it on the head, will it die?a.If you chop-off a spider's head, it will die b.Starfish probably do not have a head to chop off.▪Zech 13:7 / Mark 14:27 – Strike the shepherd and the sheep will bescattered?4.Is there a clear division of roles?a.A department = a leg of a spider -each “leg” supports the spider b.Decentralized organization = anyone can do anything5.If you take-out a unit, is the organization harmed?a.Decentralized organization = units are autonomous▪Cut-off a unit > the unit becomes a new organization b.Centralized organization = every department is important▪Cut-off a spider's leg > mobility is seriously affected.6.Are knowledge / power concentrated or distributed?a.Spiders = knowledge/power > concentrated at the top b.Starfish = knowledge/power > spread throughout7.Is the organization flexible or rigid?a.Decentralized organizations = amorphous/fluid▪Power/knowledge are distributed so units can respond quickly tointernal/external forces.8.Can you count employees/participants?a.Usually impossible with starfish, only possible with spiders9.Are working groups funded by the organization, or are they self-fundeda.Starfish are almost always self-funded.

10.Do working groups communicate directly or through intermediaries?a.Spiders = information processed through HQ. b.Open systems = communication is direct between members

Decentralized organizations stand on five legs:

When all five legs are functioning, the starfish becomes an unstoppable force.•Leg No.1: Circles◦Autonomous◦Because of a lack of structure and hierarchy it is hard to maintain/enforce ruleswithin circles.▪Rather than rules, circles depend on norms.▪Norms become the backbone of the organization▪Norms = DNA/core values◦Self-enforcement of norms by members•Leg No. 2: The Catalyst◦Iron is a catalyst.Hydrogen + nitrogen = no bonding.If you add iron to themixture, they react and form ammonia (but ammonia has no iron)◦A catalyst = an element that initiates a reaction without fusing into it.◦Decentralized organizations: catalyst gets things done and then cedes tomembers▪Ownership/responsibility transferred to circle▪Catalyst = like an architect - Blueprint but no construction.▪See: Apostle Paul being a wise master builder (1 Cor. 3:10)•Leg No. 3: Ideology◦The glue that holds decentralized organizations together ◦Strong ideology = powerful movement•Leg No. 4:The Pre-existing Network ◦Almost all decentralized organizations that have made it big have been launchedon the back of a pre-existing platform.◦Decentralized networks provide circles and an empowered membership▪There is a high tolerance for innovation•Leg No. 5:The Champion (Evangelist)◦Relentless in promoting an idea◦Whereas catalysts are charismatic, champions take it tot he next level◦More like salesmen - enthusiastic/passionateThese 5 legs must operate together for maximum effectiveness:The catalyst is creating circles,tapping into an ideology whose time had come, drawing upon a pre-existing network and joining