Speakers: 

Jules Goddard, CEDEP Faculty, Fellow of London

Business School, Member of the Council of the Royal Institute of Philosophy and

author of recently published books on both philosophy and business

experimentation. 

Kate Chauviré, Director,

Academic Planning and Coordination, CEDEP 

One of the most important insights of philosophical evolutionary theory is that life

continuously throws up challenges and we must adapt. We are at our best and

most human when solving problems. Rather than following rules, obeying

instructions and sticking to what has worked in the past, modern workplaces

draw upon our capabilities most effectively when we are meeting critical challenges

creatively.

We rarely challenge organisational hierarchy and bureaucracy. But in times of crisis, the

rule book is thrown away. We ignore standard processes. Those who have the

skills to solve the problem come together spontaneously and informally. The

culture becomes one of constructive conversation amongst equals rather than a

formal meeting of bosses and subordinates. In other words, adhocracy replaces

autocracy with hugely beneficial consequences. The problem is solved.

 

Getting the balance right between spontaneity and structure or between informality and control is difficult. And many companies are too wrapped up in their conventions to see

things differently and try out alternative ways of working.


 

The workweek and

the workplace are human inventions. They are not part of nature. We do not have

to work from Monday to Friday in office settings in structured organisations

and have salaried jobs or paid employment. These are our inventions, and we

have chosen to work like this.


 

The Covid-19

pandemic has taught us that there are alternatives to the conventional

workplace, and it is time to reinvent corporate culture and the way we work.  

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