NegativeFeedbackLoops

According to science humans have just about as many brain cells as intestinal cells and the flow of information is for 20% from brain down to the intestines and for 80% upwards through the vagal nerves. This might make one wonder who is in charge, the brain or the intestines??

And except for my neurons, none of the cells that made up my body in early childhood, are still alive today now that I am nearing forty. I imagine a lot of storytelling by parts and cells in my body to make this "Self" happen, and my blood system and nervous system are the conduits for much of that. I am not always aware of these processes (yet) so some happen visibly and some happen invisibly to same conscious "Self".

In negative feedback loops we can compare management vision and value statements with substantial outcomes and operational behavior to provide us with (new) insights into system dynamics.

In most organizations, strategical functions mainly use PositiveFeedbackLoops, and hardly any negative feedback loops. In such systems we can often perceive a MadStakeholder and HeadlessBody interacting together. For example, where executive management is in a "Race to Oblivion" imagining infinity and beyond ...

... and the body can't keep up with the (changing) desires from so far far away.

Or, Oh Great Shock, when we can also identify ourselves as being a quite mad stakeholder with regard to a decent amount of problems users are experiencing. Embarrassing, regretful, and time to investigate our ShootingAndAimingStances.

-- NynkeEtkFokma, 2002