The concept of self-organization originated in the early years of cybernetics when scientists began to construct mathematical models representing the logic inherent in neural networks. Experiments demonstrated that chaotic behavior always came to order and did so in a relatively short period of time. In a crisis, the organization comes alive. Hostile and resistant employees become transformed into excited, enthused, and energized people. They take charge, initiative is shown, they work together, new ideas are born and used.
People work long hours in extreme heat, cold, and wind.
They take great physical risks to serve their customers and do so without serious accidents. Their identity is built around their ability to respond to crisis. At the same time, management wanted to reduce the budget by millions of dollars. The employees redesigned the department without consultants. All participated in the redesign of jobs, departments, and supervision.