Open Organizations

A brief overview by
Dr. Robert Batzinger, Computer Science Department

26 March 2021

Outline for
this session

  • Open organization
    • What is it?
    • Who works this way?
    • How does it help?
    • What is the next step?
  • Does being international matter?

Open Organization

Open Org

  • A community driven development to create solutions
  • Based on the behavior of open-source projects
  • Supporting resources: http://www.opensource.com

Key Principles

  • People join us because they want to.
  • Contribution is critical, but it’s not a quid pro quo.
  • The best ideas win regardless of who they come from.
  • Encourage and expect open, frank, and passionate debate

Complexity of organizations

Convential vs Open Organization

Traits of a leader of an open organization

  • Personal strength and confidence. Empowering others requires transparency

  • Patience. Development and community building takes time.

  • High EQ. Development is consistent.

  • A different mind-set. Invest in long term gains, building community

Steps ahead: points to development

  • Migrating from democracy to meritocracy
  • Encouraging debate to build on ideas
  • Provide meaningful and timely feedback
  • Focus on problem solving instead of politics

Gaining the balance

Balance

A Word about
Being Truly
International

Truly International

Hofstede Study on Culture in the Workplace

Hofstede' Book

  • Originally study of international employees within IBM
  • Looked how culture effected worker within the workplace
  • Expanded to look at more international settings

Hofstede's Six Dimensions of Culture

  • Power Distance Index: inequality that exist between those with power and those without
  • Individualism Versus Collectivism: strength of the ties between members of their community.
  • Masculinity Versus Femininity: distribution of roles between men and women
  • Uncertainty Avoidance Index: Ability to cope with risks and uncertainty
  • Long- Versus Short-Term Orientation: time horizon people
  • Indulgence Versus Restrain: gratification of people's own drives and emotions

Comparison of some ASEAN countries

Country Power Dist Individ Masculine Uncertain Avoid Long term Indulgence
Indonesia 78 14 46 48 62 38
Malaysia 104 26 50 36 41 57
Philippines 94 32 64 44 27 42
Singapore 74 20 48 8 72 46
Thailand 64 20 34 64 32 45
Vietnam 70 20 40 30 57 35

Comparison with other countries

Country Power Dist Individ Masculine Uncertain Avoid Long term Indulgence
Australia 64 90 61 57 21 71
Brazil 69 38 49 76 44 59
Japan 54 46 95 92 80 42
India 77 48 56 40 51 26
Pakistan 55 14 50 70 50 0
Thailand 64 20 34 64 32 45
USA 40 91 62 46 26 68