[From Fred Nickols (2007.08.03.1008 ET)]
I've been asked to consider attending a conference (military folks) who are
focused on what they see as a requirement for a significant devolution in
autonomy (i.e., placing ever more responsibility for action and
decision-making in the hands of lower level folks in the hierarchy). My
intuitive reaction is to say no but I have this gnawing sense that they
could really profit from a good dose of PCT. I do think they need a
different model of individuals than those they have relied on in the past.
Anyway, in reviewing the site, I came across a reference to e-Coli. I know
there has been a lot of energy focused on e-coli on this list and I was
wondering if anyone knows anything about the reference cited. Here's a
snippet from the site in question:
"Operational structures and processes include a very wide variety of sensing
and signaling mechanisms. They range from the direct-a colonel orders a
captain to do something-to the implicit-a flower turns toward the sun.
Biological entities in particular often rely on implicit mechanisms. One of
the most famous is the mechanism used by E. coli bacteria to produce a
lactose digesting enzyme-but only when lactose is present in the
environment. The gene for the enzyme is encoded by a sequence of DNA
elements. The code for the enzyme is normally blocked from expression by a
molecule that attaches to the DNA. When present, lactose binds to the
molecule, pulling it off the DNA, thereby allowing the enzyme code to be
expressed. (See Carroll, Endless Forms Most Beautiful, pp 58 - 60 for an
extended description.) Given mechanisms with this degree of subtle elegance
(to sense is to decide), it is a significant challenge to provide a complete
description of the operational structures and processes of any organization
or system."
Regards,
Fred Nickols
Managing Principal
Distance Consulting
nickols@att.net
www.nickols.us
(740) 392-9427