Autopoietic Systems

An autopoietic system is a system that is capable of reproducing and sustaining itself.

Self. Creating.

The term, autopoiesis, was coined by two Chilean biologists in the 1970s, Humberto Maturana and Francisco Varela, to describe cellular activity that was resilient and regenerative – that which is holonic in nature.

This term is used in juxtaposition to allopoietic systems.

Other. Creating.

Production lines are a classic example of allopoietic systems, where what is created is other than who the creators are. Think a car factory.

In autopoietic systems, the creators are inherently part of what is created. Theirs is a creative self-reflection that integrates into a great whole.

Autopoietic systems are inherently vital and life-giving. Allopoietic systems are not.

When we think about building and sustaining supple, complex systems within organizations, the distinction between organic autopoietic and mechanistic allopoietic systems is helpful as we transition from a Cartesian Mindset to an Agile Mindset.

Our challenge, then, is to understand the nature of these systems. What we might call a self-awareness or self-consciousness – something that opens us up our mind's Hidden Potential.