What is a self-organizing group?

If you’re familiar with this subject, let me know what it means for you. Today, for me, a self-organizing group is a collective whose members are surprised and delighted by what they become and do together. These collectives create themselves and contain members who...

Why do self-organizing groups form?

In the 25 groups I’ve studied and been part of so far, here are the reasons mentioned for group formation. To: Change the way the organization plans and designs its products (working across silo’d product teams instead of within silos) Help all of our kids...

Are there any personal attributes that the ideal self-organizing work group members should have or do they really embrace just about anybody?

An interviewer asked me this question last year—you can still find my response on the Web if you look for it. I’m still fairly satisfied with what I said to him, with one glaring exception. In my three-paragraph answer (good Lord, will I ever be able to say anything...