Sociology

A pattern is neither specific nor personal in any given organization. It is usually systematic, writes Barry in the second and revised edition of his unique book concerning organizational power and systems. This definitive book demonstrates that locating and understanding the patterns within an organization is a real mystery. Barry demonstrates how to go beyond the blindness of the system and the inability to understand patterns, with the sole goal of knowing system sight where people work and live together productively (Barry, 2007).

Barry begins with the issue of the human system creatures. The consciousness of human nature is shaped by the systems which comprise the human life. At home, work or just leisure, the evolution of the systems occurs in almost the same format in all organizations. There are people at the bottom, middle and at the top, with clients and customers who do interact with that specific system from the outside. Instead of viewing these systems as ego-centric and personal, the author sees them as just patterns of evolution (Barry, 2007). The paradox in the book is that once a system sight is created and understood clearly, the individuals find more personal encouragement or empowerment within that system.

 Barry possesses the rare skill of tackling an equally daunting subject, organizational behavior and the system, and also making the ideas easy to understand and grasp. Through analogy and storytelling, complex issues are transformed into human level, and they reflect the general themes discussed in the book. The Barrys story based method or format is ideal for creating pattern recognition in an organization, by engaging that method to develop the ideas in the book. When similar patterns develop based on the general system, instead of founding ideas on the motivations of individuals which is unknown, understanding and true systems sight will emerge.

For me, the power in Barrys book is its entrenched insight into the evolutional nature of an organization behavior, and similarities and commonly shared features in all systems. Barry presents more complex organizational systems and analysis in a neat and understandable format developed in form of a story. Without the books emphasis on recognizing and seeing systems, an individual can feel powerless and lost. By illustrating the patterns that frequently emerge in almost all organizations, the author demonstrates how to prevent misunderstanding, conflict and attributing conflicting motives to the rest of the members of an organization, and also how to emerge an empowered member of the given the system.

I highly recommend the book to any one who is willing to know and understand how systems evolve and how to understand the characteristics of such systems. By knowing how to view the system in all facets of a human life, the person can be in control of their individual actions in the system and therefore ending conflict and frustration.