Now here's the science bit!

Organic Development is a way of defining and understanding the behaviour of complex, adaptive organic systems and structures such as societies, economies, networks, businesses, the internet and more.

The theory pulls from many different strands of thought including complexity theory and chaos theory. It is based on two main principles:

1. Organic Development can only be applied to structures and networks that are developed by and inhabited by people, themselves organic beings. Any structure or network that has a human interface takes on the organic nature and characteristics of those who create, inhabit and interact with it. These systems are usually highly complex and subject to a myriad of external influences.

2. In order to be successful, such a system or structure must be able to adapt and change to survive. This kind of development is often spontaneous and usually  happens in a manner that is not expected or anticipated and nearly always generates unpredictable and unexpected end results. When this occurs, the system or structure can then be said to undergo autonomous organic development.

More general applications of this kind of theory can be seen at a macro economic level in free market capitalist economies, in autonomous organic processes such as Adam Smith’s hidden hand.

Using Gramsci’s theory of hegemony – the prevailing view of the dominant sections of a society, what is right or normal (or in a more business orientated sense, what is the leading brand or best manufacturer) has very little to do with rational scientific analysis or reasonable judgement but much more to do with the information, ideas and messages that one assimilates from the people and media around us.

If we understand this and apply this model, it becomes possible utilising modern technology to measure and model these complex networks. From this understanding, it is possible to improve their performance. We call this Organic Cultivation and it is the process and methodology that we apply to business.

Organic Development understand the complex organic systems behind businesses, public sector organisations, websites and marketplaces. We can therefore provide systems, structures, tools and functionality that maximise the natural potential of the organisation and facilitate efficiency and success.

We do this by providing connections between individuals and parts of organisations by utilising web based technology, developing new communications channels, optimising information dissemination and improving system functionality.

Got it?