Theoretically, an organization is capable of maintaining a state of Predictable Success® indefinitely: unlike humans, organizational DNA does not have age into decline and decay.
The reality however, is that most organizations face a ‘gravitational pull’ away from the state of Predictable Success® – in either of two directions:
1. First, there can be a gravitational pull back toward Whitewater. This often happens with organizations that make a false start toward Predictable Success®, but which, for a variety of possible reasons, are unable to maintain the momentum to stay there.
2. Secondly, there is also a gravitational pull forward in the lifecycle, to the equivalent of old age and Decline
This pull toward Decline into ‘old age’ is usually caused by an over-emphasis on processes, policies and systems, which begins to strangle creativity and entrepreneurship in the organization, first transforming it into a slow-moving bureaucracy, and eventually, in an organizational form of osteoporosis, paralyzing the organization completely.
