THE NATURAL SYSTEMS INSTITUTE

THE STRUCTURE OF THE ENCOMPASSING GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT

The Duplex Pyramids

LEVELS OF STRUCTURES IN NATURAL SYSTEMS

Levels of External Structures and Systems and Levels of Internal Structures and Processes are Integrated by the Inner Intentional Processes. 
These Three Are All Involved in Organization Restructuring.

by Edwin L. Young, PhD

EXTERNAL STRUCTURES AND SYSTEMS

1 Environment  2 Structure  3 Systems  4 Settings  5 Situations  6 Formal Roles  7 Dyads: The I and the Other 

Inner Intentional Processes

INTERNAL STRUCTURES AND PROCESSES

Maxim of Natural Systems

   Whether working with a large institution or organization or with an individual client in psychotherapy, Natural Systems considers both the past and future of the multidimensional interaction of external structures and systems with internal structures and processes. from global environments to local situations and from an individual's life history to their present feelings and intentions.

    For the Natural Systems approach, everything is interconnected and dealt with as the time is right from the institution's or client's points of view.

Mission of Natural Systems

    The mission of the Natural Systems Institute is to re-examine the nature and philosophy of the current structures, systems, and processes of our social services agencies, institutions, programs, and treatment, educational, and correctional methods in their historical context and to propose restructuring wherever those structures, systems, processes, or methods are no longer appropriate to contemporary cultural developments and therefore no longer serving their original, noble purposes.

Rationale and Strategy

    The rationale and methods to be used in working through these complex problems will be the philosophy and methods of Natural Systems.  The logo of Natural Systems is the 'Duplex Pyramids' which symbolizes the two perspectives of top down and bottom up.  The emphasis in this part of the over all Natural Systems approach is from the top down.  To restructure organizations to make them truly effective, and at the same time truly humane, requires considering all of the forces and factors involved and not just focusing on a  localized, immediate problem.  Even if a problem approached in this manner were to be successfully solved, the success would be ephemeral.  This is the familiar 'putting out fires' approach. 

    The Natural Systems approach takes longer and is much more demanding.  However, as you move through this program, each step of the way, gradually, problems are being genuinely and permanently solved.  Problems that periodically cropped up and were quickly doused, over and over again, now simply do not occur any more.  For this to happen, we must work from the top down in the most comprehensive sense and  must do the same for the approach from the bottom up.   Yet, while working from both perspectives toward the middle, Natural Systems level from each perspective be integrated in a comprehensive whole.   The end result is a not just a new, well functioning organization, but a truly new, enduring, humane culture. 

    In the end, what is most natural for humans is both more enduring and more successful for everyone and everything involved.

    For this part of the program, the emphasis is from the top down, beginning with the most encompassing environment.  Below are the levels we shall work through as we work toward the middle to meet the other approach which is working from the bottom up toward the middle. 

OUTLINE OF ORGANIZATION RESTRUCTURING

EXTERNAL STRUCTURES AND SYSTEMS

(Click on a title to go to the respective topic)

I.  ENCOMPASSING ENVIRONMENT

II.  STRUCTURE OF THE ORGANIZATION

III.  SYSTEMS WITHIN THE STRUCTURES

IV. SETTINGS WITHIN THE STRUCTURE AND SYSTEMS

V.   SITUATIONS OCCURRING WITHIN SETTINGS

VI.  FORMAL ROLE STRUCTURES

VII. DYADS:  "The I and The Other"

INNER PROCESSES MEDIATING BETWEEN THE EXTERNAL SYSTEMS AND INTERNAL SYSTEMS

INTERNAL STRUCTURES AND PROCESSES

ORGANIZATION RESTRUCTURING TRAINING PHILOSOPHY AND METHODS