Follow on Google News News By Tag * Culture Management * Strategic Planning * Performance Management * Organizational Assessment * Coaching * More Tags... Industry News News By Location Country(s) Industry News
Follow on Google News |  Organizational Neanderthals versus Organizational Sapiens: The Role of Culture & Mindset in SuccessNeanderthals were once a formidable species of hominoid (human). Sapiens had a more complex brain consisting of five parts, including a large area for what the Spanish refer to as "planification" (planning) and another area for “innovation”.
The role of culture and mind set in competitive success A brief Analysis of Sapien Competitive Success over Neanderthals Neanderthals were once a formidable species of hominoid (human). They were typically larger and stronger (closer in strength to a Chimpanzee) than we are today. They had a brain of 1500 to 1600 cubic center meters, greater than that of some modern humans.[1] Although they has a large boney brow ridge and low forehead, and protruding face, they were not, as conventional stereotypes suggest, dimwitted. Neanderthals were successful for more than 200,000 years, but were in competition with Sapiens (the species of human that survives today) for food and territory. However, they were ultimately vanquished by the Sapiens. Literally, they were driven to the edge of Europe (Gibraltar) where they made their last stand, before disappearing and leaving only traces of their once dominant existence. In contrast with the Neanderthals, the Sapiens had a number of competitive advantages. Although brain size was comparable, it is now though that Sapiens were stronger in “symbolic thought.” There is now empirical evidence from caves found in Western France and Eastern Spain that Sapiens created art, including engravings, paintings, and sculptures.[ How the Sapiens Vanquished the Neanderthals So WHY did the Sapiens vanquish the Neanderthals? · Sapiens had a more complex brain. The brain consists of five parts, including a large area for what the Spanish refer to as "planification" · Neanderthals tended to live in small groups of about 10 people, while Sapiens lived in larger groups of 20 or more. This permitted a greater opportunity for specialization of functions within the groups. In the smaller Neanderthal groups, most people would have been required to do hunting and gathering. In the larger groups of Sapiens, people could specialize in tool making or even art. This permitted the development of greater in depth knowledge. Neanderthals had stone tools, but Sapiens has not only stone tools, but also tools made of bone and wood. For example, Sapiens developed a wooden tool that could increase the leverage of a hunter and permit a spear to be thrown accurately for a significantly longer distance than with “arm power” alone. · The type of planning skills required for cave art was significant. The location of the art needed to be selected carefully to avoid natural hazards such as water damage. Tools needed to be developed for the art method. In the case of painting, colors had to be mixed. The planning skills developed for art could be used for other purposes as well. · Bottom line: This led to a more conceptual and strategic mentality among the Sapiens than the Neanderthals. The Battle among Organizational Neanderthals and Organizational Sapiens Just as the there was a battle among our ancestors, there is currently a battle among the Organizational Neanderthals and Organizational Sapiens. The former value simplicity and eschew planning and other sophisticated managerial tools, and focus primarily upon “execution.” This logic is fine as long as nothing changes. However, changes in the environment require adaptation, and adaptation requires anticipation and preparation, or, in a word, “planning.” The Bottom Line: Greater Sophistication of Sapiens Mind Created Competitive Advantage Clearly the Sapien focus on planning, social organization, art, tool making and culture was not a frivolous waste of time. It might have been argued by a Neanderthal type that that the Sapiens should have been out hunting rather than creating pictures of the animals that were hunted. They were in fact developing their conceptual skills through each of these activities, and it is apparent that this difference that was the foundational capability that led ultimately to their success vis a vis the Neanderthals. The more sophisticated organizational Sapiens tend to focus not only on current results but upon building capabilities forth future, such as strategic planning skills and systems, culture management tools, and leadership development tool and capabilities. These things require abstract and systems thinking, which often is not comfortable for the organizational Neanderthals. Because the organizational Neanderthals do not feel comfortable doing such abstract things, they tend to dismiss their relevance and value. They prefer to do specific concrete thing like sales and product development. They eschew process as anathema. The bottom line: In the competition between organizational Sapiens and Neanderthals, the Sapiens will ultimate win, just as they did 30,000 years ago! ….. For information about culture management, leadership development and strategic planning, see: http://www.mgtsystems.com/ [1] Claudine Roland, PREHISTORY, MSM Publishing,2006, p13 [2] For example, see Jean-Michel Geneste, LASCAUX, Gallimard Decouverrtes, 2012. End
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Account Phone Number