Human SystemsArchitecture

Human Systems Architecture · Lesson 4 of 4

The Evidence: Behavior and Outcome

Behavior is the evidence of the structure. Daily behaviors of leaders and employees are the only reliable readout of whether the foundation, pillars and mortar exist.

The roof is the outcome: a consciously competent organization — high performing, values-driven, consistently fulfilling its mission and improving lives.

Consciously competent means you know what you are doing and why it works, so you can teach it, repeat it, and repair it.

Why it matters

If you want to audit a culture, do not read the poster. Watch what happens in the ninety seconds after someone makes a mistake.

In practice

  • A leader says 'speak up' and then thanks the person who publicly disagreed with them.
  • An organization measures the behaviors it claims to value in performance reviews.

Your reflection

What behavior, repeated by everyone in your organization, would prove the values are real? Are you doing it?

Knowledge check

What does 'behavior is the evidence of the structure' mean?

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The Mortar: The Structural CompoundCourse overview