One from many : VISA and the rise of the chaordic organization

The worldwide success of VISA International, Dee Hock asserts, is due to its chaordic structure: it is owned by 22,000 member banks, which both compete with each other for 750 million customers and must cooperate by honoring one another's $125 trillion in transactions annually across borders and currencies. "One From Many takes the never-before-told story of how that structure came into being, and updates it for today. The book also highlights Dee Hock's evolution from humble beginnings to an iconoclast who challenged the nature of traditional organizations and management. It is the story of an entrepreneur who created a new concept of organization, brought it into being, and led it to amazing success in less than a decade. Hock is a corporate statesman who continues to carry these ideas around the world. Lyrical, humorous, powerfully thoughtful, "One From Many tells how one man blended chaos and order in the unexpected realm of business. Revised edition of Hock's award-winning Birth of the Chaordic Age, updated throughout and featuring two new chapters • The only first-person account of the rise of VISA, the world's largest business enterprise--in 2004, VISAâ€TMs products were used by more than a billion people at 20 million locations in more than 150 countries • Hock, VISAâ€TMs founder, details the revolutionary "chaordic" organizational philosophy that was instrumental in VISAâ€TMs success Hock skillfully weaves together the story of VISA with his own remarkable life story and elaborates the visionary philosophy that allowed VISA to thrive. Hock calls his approach "chaordic"--simultaneously chaotic and orderly. Hock makes a compelling argument that this organizational philosophy is a more supple, responsive and creative alternative to mechanistic Industrial Age models, one more in tune with what we see in nature. One from Many--revised throughout from its original hardcover publication as The Birth of the Chaordic Age--includes two new chapters in which Hock reflects on his post-VISA experiences as an advocate for chaordic principles, and details some examples of chaordic principles in action: the Internet, World Weather Watch, Alcoholics Anonymous, and others. Lyrical, playful, philosophical, and straight from the heart, One From Many challenges us to change forever the way we think about money, organizations, leadership, management, the human spirit, and our relationship to the natural world. Far more than a riveting inside story of the creation of VISA—now the largest commercial enterprise on earth—One from Many is an absorbing story of personal and institutional transformation. Lyrical, profound, often humorous, it explores the ever-increasing change, complex societal problems, and failing institutions that confront us all. Dee Hock chronicles the emergence of a new form of organization that blends chaos and order, which may be critical to a livable future, and shows how it is emerging in such effective organizations as VISA, the Internet, World Weather Watch, and Alcoholics Anonymous. A beautiful blend of history, biography, and philosophy, One from Many not only challenges the way we think about organizations, management, and our relationship to the natural world, it's a rollicking fine story as well. Far more than a riveting inside story of the creation of VISAnow the largest commercial enterprise on earth One from Many is an absorbing story of personal and institutional transformation. Lyrical, profound, often humorous, it explores the ever-increasing change, complex societal problems, and failing institutions that confront us all. Dee Hock chronicles the emergence of a new form of organization that blends chaos and order, which may be critical to a livable future, and shows how it is emerging in such effective organizations as VISA, the Internet, World Weather Watch, and Alcoholics Anonymous. A beautiful blend of history, biography, and philosophy, One from Many not only challenges the way we think about organizations, management, and our relationship to the natural world, it's a rollicking fine story as well. Dee Hock's fascinating story of the creation of VISA was first told in "Birth of the Chaordic Age"; now, "One From Many" includes updated examples of today's most prominent chaordic organisations. "One From Many" makes a compelling case that all organisations are fundamentally based on flawed seventeenth century concepts that are no longer relevant to the vast systemic social and environmental problems we experience daily. He delineates a path to creating organisations that are based on chaordic principles - organisations that he believes can harmoniously blend chaos and order, competition and cooperation. "One From Many" is filled with concepts, ideas and philosophy that challenge our fundamental beliefs about money, organisations, leadership, management, the human spirit and our relationship to the natural world "Far more than an inside story of the creation of VISA - now the largest commercial enterprise on earth - One from Many is a story of personal and institutional transformation. Lyrical, profound, often humorous, it explores the ever-increasing change, complex societal problems, and failing institutions that confront us all."--Jacket Based on extensive research with hundreds of companies around the world and in every major field, this practical book shows how to draw the most useful ideas from frontline employees and, in the process, significantly improve the atmosphere--and success quotient--of any organization