Chaos Management Case Study

- Google Case -

- Buse Asnuk (070140512)
- Mustafa Genc (070140508)

1. What is chaos theory?

According to Wendy H. Mason(referenceforbusiness.com), “Chaos theory is a scientific principle describing the unpredictability of the systems. This theory was explored and recognized during the mid-to-late 1980. Its premise is that systems sometimes reside in chaos, generating energy, demand etc. without any predictability or direction. These complex systems may be weather patterns, ecosystems, water flows, anatomical functions, managerial functions, cooperations or organizations. While these systems's chaotic behavior may appear random at first, chaotic systems can be defined by a mathematical formulas, and they are not without order or

The company hired smart engineers and managers, promoted the most brilliant into leadership positions and then pretty much left them alone to let them do their best. The assumption of headquarters was that hired staff should be enough smart and would figure it out or ask questions if they needed help. In fact, this management type has so much common diciplines and ideas with chaos management. As it is illustrated below, in Laissez-Faire management styles, team decision making and taking levels and flexibility is higher than autocratic management types relatively. As verywell.com site says, “Laissez-faire leadership is not always ideal in situations where group members have lack of the knowledge or experience to complete tasks and make decisions properly . This style of leadership has been linked to negative outcomes including poor job performance, low leader effectiveness, and less group satisfaction.”This facts not directly related with Google or such companies who identified themselves as chaotic managerial firms, and also became succesful. This website also tells that, “For example, Some people are not good at setting their own deadlines, managing their own projects and solving problems on their own. In such situations, projects can

verywell.com says that “Some leaders might even take advantage of this style as a way to avoid personal responsibility for the group's failures. When goals are not met, the leader can then blame members of the team for not completing tasks or living up to expectations. The opposite of this situation for low level employees is also exist. Since the leader seems unconcerned with what is happening, followers sometimes pick up on this and express less care and concern for the project.” Another problem Is that in some situations, the laissez-faire style or chaos management leads to poorly defined roles within the group. Since team members receive little guidance, they might not really be sure about their role within the group and what they are supposed to be doing with their time. How ever, all these aspects can be prevented by proper decisions of headquarters of Google or etc. such as hiring right employers for right positions or sharing the vision with fellows