How Harnessing Chaos Can Make Companies More Nimble

In this episode of Short Briefings on Long Term Thinking, Malcolm Borthwick interviews Gary Robinson about the concept of the chaordic organization, pioneered by Dee Hawke, the founder of Visa. Robinson explains that chaordic organizations blend chaos and order, emphasizing autonomy and innovation within a framework of shared purpose and principles. He contrasts this model with traditional hierarchical structures and illustrates its effectiveness using Amazon as a modern example, highlighting the "two pizza team" rule. The discussion also covers how Hawke transformed Visa by uniting competing banks under a common purpose and set of principles. Robinson emphasizes the importance of organizational structure and culture in investment decisions, noting Baillie Gifford's alignment with the chaordic model through its decentralized investment teams and strong sense of purpose.