The Catalyst Perspectives Group
Homeostasis & Regulation: An Overview
The Premise
To function, cells need to have appropriate conditions and concentrations of diverse chemicals. Organisms must maintain internal conditions despite environmental changes. Organisms use multiple mechanisms to coordinate functions, respond to stimuli, and cope with environmental conditions. A key aspect of maintaining homeostasis is the development and replacement of cells when an organism grows and develops.
Organizations face a similar necessity to maintain a homeostatic state but, must do so with "cells" (aka employees) that are making decisions and taking actions that they perceive to be in their own self-interest. Just like a living thing replaces cells in a predefined manner, organizations must have a plan and process that ensures capable employees are in place when and as needed. Is your organization doing what must be done to enable its employees to perform optimally and produce the results needed?
The Process
The essays in this section will consider:
- Why are you sweating? --- Living things have a wide variety of processes to maintain body conditions for optimal performance. Many of these outcomes are so basic to life that evolution has resulted in the same mechanisms being expressed in a wide variety of different species. And yet, there are also species-specific circumstances that have lead to different regulatory adaptations. How effectively is your organization managing its cells?
- Is it cancer? --- Cancer is widespread in the animal kingdom; it affects molluscs, fish, reptiles, birds and mammals. Plants too are susceptible to the uncontrolled division of abnormal cells. Is your organization susceptible to the debilitating effects of an "abnormal cell"?
- Are your ready for apoptosis? --- Cell death occurs when a cell ceases to carry out its functions. Independent of disease, this is a natural process of old cells dying and being replaced by new ones. Does your organization have a planned and controlled process guiding growth and development that includes the replacement of employees as needed?
Why are you sweating?
The Premise
A: They pant.
Q: How do dogs regulate their body temperature?
Maintaining appropriate body temperature so that cells can function is only one condition that animals must regulate to survive. The evolutionary response to this need for regulation of body conditions includes autonomic & complementary feed-back mechanisms as well as behavioral adaptations.
A wide variety of operational, assessment and communications processes are essential for enabling an organization to function. In particular, organizations could not function if they lacked internal mechanisms for assessing and guiding employee performance.
How effectively is your organization managing its cells?
Readers' comments
Is the topic for this essay one that you are interested in? If yes, please let me know and I'll push it up the "to do" list and finish the essay for posting.
Of course, to make this a discussion, the reader (aka you) will need to offer your perspective. I'll add your comments directly to this section of the essay (or correct or edit other parts as needed). I'll take the liberty to edit lightly if appropriate and will include your contact information to encourage continued discussion.
Is it cancer?
The Premise
A: Cancer.
Q: What is the term used to describe the uncontrolled division and spread of abnormal cells in animals?
Cancer can be deadly for animals because the tumors and dysfunction caused by the abnormal cells can metastasize and spread to other parts of the body. Plants too are susceptible to the uncontrolled division and spread of abnormal cells but, it is not fatal because the rigid plant wall around each cell limits the spread of the abnormal condition.
A "toxic" employee in an organization can be as damaging and dangerous as an untreated cancer in the body of a living thing. The demeanor, behavior and actions of a toxic employee can alter these attributes in other team members and that can significantly impact organizational performance.
Is your organization susceptible to the debilitating effects of a toxic employee?
Readers' comments
Is the topic for this essay one that you are interested in? If yes, please let me know and I'll push it up the "to do" list and finish the essay for posting.
Of course, to make this a discussion, the reader (aka you) will need to offer your perspective. I'll add your comments directly to this section of the essay (or correct or edit other parts as needed). I'll take the liberty to edit lightly if appropriate and will include your contact information to encourage continued discussion.
Are your ready for apoptosis?
The Premise
A: Colon, Skin, Red Blood, Liver, or Fat.
Q: Which human body cells live: 3 days, 2-3 weeks, 4 months, 10-16 months, or 8 years
Apoptosis is the death of cells which occurs as a normal and controlled part of an organism's growth or development. In humans, with the exception of the, cerebral cortex neurons, every type of cell dies and is replaced. It may be more than an interesting evolutionary artifact but, the cerebral cortex is responsible for higher thought processes including speech and decision making.
There are many elements that organizations may have that enable them to manage the inevitable turn-over of employees. These approaches include but are not limited to: employee-recruitment, internships, apprenticeships, mentor-programs, job-sharing & flexing, recognition and incentive programs, career-planning and succession-planning.
Does your organization have a planned and controlled process guiding growth and development that includes the replacement of employees as needed?
Readers' comments
Is the topic for this essay one that you are interested in? If yes, please let me know and I'll push it up the "to do" list and finish the essay for posting.
Of course, to make this a discussion, the reader (aka you) will need to offer your perspective. I'll add your comments directly to this section of the essay (or correct or edit other parts as needed). I'll take the liberty to edit lightly if appropriate and will include your contact information to encourage continued discussion.