Ralph Kilmann

The title of Ralph Kilman’s book suggests both the benefits and the challenges of attempting to read his work: he has produced an important and innovative look at the power of collaborative rather than hierarchical organizations while, at the same time, producing a work that is at times so complex that it’s far from easy to read and digest. At the heart of the book is an interesting comparison between a Newtonian, or mechanical, approach to our world and a quantum (relativistic) approach. Staying with this stimulating work that draws parallels between the thinking behind quantum physics and organizations which develop what he calls “quantum infrastructures” provides a convincing road map for developing collaborative, flexible, nonhierarchical structures—quantum organizations—that can produce positive results not easily achieved within more rigid and highly structured enterprises. A brief section on “enabling organizational success” near the end of the book (pp. 299-312) provides a nice starting point for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the overall complexity of Kilman’s work, and an extensive bibliography offers plenty of guidance for anyone wanting to further explore this level of collaboration.… (more)