Today I read a Chinese article about Chaordic from Google Reader. One guy post the article on his blog.
Complex-M is one of my favorite reading sector. I bought several books on this issue. I also like Peter Senge’s Learning organization. But I know the item Chaordic today, so I search English information and want to learn more.
1. Amazon: Birth of the Chaordic Age
Birth of the Chaordic Age is a compelling manifesto for the future, embedded within the intriguing story of a personal odyssey. An engaging narrator, Dee Hock is the man who first conceived of a global system for the electronic exchange of value, becoming the founder and CEO of VISA International. He looks critically at today’s environment of command-and-control institutions and sees organizations that are falling apart, failing to achieve their own purposes let alone addressing the diversity and complexity of society as a whole. The solution, Hock claims, lies in transforming our notion of organization; in embracing the belief that the chaos of competition and the order of cooperation can and do coexist, succeed, even thrive; and in welcoming in the chaordic age.
The underlying tenets of Hock’s ideas are well illustrated by the incredible story of the birth of VISA International, an organization formed on chaordic principles that now links in excess of 20,000 financial institutions, 14 million merchants, and 600 million consumers in 220 countries. Hock deplores an age where ingenuity and effort are wasted on circumventing the rules and regulations of insular, hierarchical bureaucracies. In a bold-type subtext interspersed throughout the book, he examines how this situation is stunting our potential as individuals and communities and contemplates what can be changed. This rumination is propelled onward by “Old Monkey Mind” (Hock’s own thoughts). Though the technique allows the reader to engage in stimulating mental discovery along with the author, its New Age spiritual tone is sometimes a bit saccharine. His insights, however, are clear and provocative. In the Chaordic Age, he contends, “success will depend less on rote and more on reason; less on the authority of the few and more on the judgment of many; less on compulsion and more on motivation; less on external control of people and more on internal discipline.” Hear, hear. –S. Ketchum
2. Wikipedia: Dee Hock
Dee Hock is the founder and former CEO of the VISA credit card association. In 1968 Hock convinced Bank of America to give up ownership and control of their BankAmericard credit card program. The new company, called National BankAmerica, was a non-stock membership corporation equally owned by its member banks. The name was changed to VISA in 1976.
He was inducted into the Business Hall of Fame in 1991, and the Money magazine hall of fame in 1992.
He then became the founder and coordinating director of the Chaordic Alliance, the purpose of which was to develop, disseminate and implement new concepts of organization. The Chaordic Alliance later changed its name to Chaordic Commons, and, in mid-2005, Dee Hock broke all ties with the organization.
3. SEC：VISA IPO prospectus, FORM S-4
DATED JUNE 22, 2007, SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
PROXY STATEMENT—PROSPECTUS
RESTRUCTURING PROPOSED—YOUR CONSIDERATION IS IMPORTANT
Dear Member:
The boards of directors of Visa International Service Association, Visa U.S.A. Inc., Visa Europe Limited and Visa Canada Association have approved a restructuring agreement that contemplates a series of transactions by which Visa International, Visa U.S.A. and Visa Canada will become subsidiaries of a Delaware stock corporation, Visa Inc. The boards of directors of each of Visa International, Visa U.S.A. and Visa Canada recommend that its members vote to approve the restructuring proposal. The restructuring agreement contemplates that Visa Europe will not become a subsidiary of Visa Inc., but a stockholder of Visa Inc. and will enter into a series of contractual relationships that will govern its relationship with Visa Inc.
We believe the restructuring will enable us to compete more effectively and better serve our customers. We also believe the restructuring will streamline decision making, facilitate business growth and enhance our ability to coordinate business on a global basis, while preserving our existing competitive advantages, such as strong local market relationships, expertise and execution. In addition, we believe that the restructuring will enable us to facilitate a common, global approach, where appropriate, to the legal, regulatory and competitive issues arising in today’s marketplace, while also presenting an opportunity to increase operational efficiency.
Upon completion of the restructuring, Visa Europe, Visa Europe Services Inc., or VESI, and certain members of Visa International in the unincorporated regions of Visa Asia Pacific, or Visa AP, Visa Latin America and Caribbean, or Visa LAC, and Visa Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, or Visa CEMEA, and certain members of Visa U.S.A. and Visa Canada will receive common stock of Visa Inc. of a class that corresponds to the applicable Visa region with which each member is associated. The purpose of the issuance of these regional classes of common stock is to facilitate a re-balancing, or true-up, of the ownership of Visa Inc. prior to an initial public offering of Visa Inc.’s common stock. In the true-up, each regional class of common stock will be converted into a new class of Visa Inc.’s common stock, based upon a conversion ratio that is tied to the relative financial performance of the applicable region during a certain period prior to a proposed initial public offering.
Upon completion of the restructuring, and without giving effect to the true-up process, Visa Inc.’s outstanding capital stock (excluding shares held by subsidiaries of Visa Inc.) will be comprised of:
• 426,390,481 shares of class USA common stock representing 55.01% of Visa Inc.’s outstanding capital stock;
• 62,762,788 shares of class EU common stock (series I and series III) representing 8.10% of Visa Inc.’s outstanding capital stock;
• 27,904,464 shares of class EU common stock (series II) representing 3.60% of Visa Inc.’s outstanding capital stock;
• 22,034,685 shares of class Canada common stock representing 2.84% of Visa Inc.’s outstanding capital stock;
• 119,100,481 shares of class AP common stock representing 15.37% of Visa Inc.’s outstanding capital stock;
• 80,137,915 shares of class LAC common stock representing 10.34% of Visa Inc.’s outstanding capital stock; and
• 36,749,698 shares of class CEMEA common stock representing 4.74% of Visa Inc.’s outstanding capital stock.
4. Chaordic Commons website
Humanity today faces overwhelming challenge and unprecedented opportunity. Advances in technology are reshaping society, dissolving boundaries and fostering new patterns of communication, competition and cooperation among people around the world.
Every organization must adapt to an increasingly complex, knowledge-intensive, relationship-based world. Those willing to take risks lead change rather than resist it.
Every field of human activity - from health care, education and religion to economics, commerce and governance - is busy reinventing itself, to provide a new foundation for the future. Innovation and creativity are required, not optional.
What once was unimaginable - what we could only dream - may now be possible, if we can evolve organizations and institutions as dynamic and diverse as the emerging world of the 21st century. Organizations that are equitable, inclusive, flexible and resilient, based on our highest aspirations for ourselves, our children and all future generations.
In many different fields and diverse communities, people are working toward that end. Those involved in such efforts seek greater connection. The time is now right for individuals and institutions, around the world, to form and bring to life a more cohesive global network dedicated to transforming and strengthening our organizations and institutions, guided by our most deeply held democratic, ethical and spiritual values.
We call that network Terra Civitas, which loosely translates as “citizens of the Earth”. We envision Terra Civitas as an expanding cluster of self-organizing, participant-governed entities, called Commons, designed to be both independent and interrelated.
Together, the Terra Civitas Commons will comprise a multi-faceted web of collaborative learning, innovation and action. Individually, they will be fully self-governing, free to pursue their distinctive purpose in any way consistent with the shared purpose and principles.
Terra Civitas comes into being with creation of the Chaordic Commons, a 501c3 nonprofit organization which supersedes The Chaordic Alliance. The Chaordic Commons is open to all who subscribe to its purpose and principles in conducting the organization’s activities. Those who join are called Owning Members.
You are invited to help form the Chaordic Commons and breathe life into Terra Civitas. Its success will depend on the participation and support of a wide range of visionary, caring and committed individuals and organizations from every country, field and sector. Join us and help shape a continually evolving network of individuals and organizations dedicated to cultivating wisdom and transforming our organizations and institutions!
After the IPO, should VISA bring the some new stuff to Chaordic?
