The Catalyst Perspectives Group
Inter-Specific Relationships: An Overview
The Premise
There is a wide variety of interactions and relationships among the living things in any particular habitat. The forms and functions expressed by each species in its niche are optimally suited for those circumstances and reflects the myriad of its relationships with the other species that share its ecosystem. These relationships vary from conditions that favor both species to circumstances where one species benefits to the detriment of the other.
Arguably, the perspective and potential insights offered by understanding these interspecific relationships is the most straightforward and requires no "analogy adjustments" because every organization exists within a comparable suite of interrelationships with other organizations. Similarly, the challenges and opportunities inherent in these interwoven organizational relationships varies in terms of how direct and consequential the impacts may be. Does your organization understand and leverage the opportunities available to it within its organizational ecosystem?
The Process
The essays in this section will consider:
- Citius. Altius. Fortius. --- Competition is when individuals or populations compete for the same resource, and can occur within or between species. There are a myriad of adaptations in form and function that enable organisms to minimize the potential impacts of competition. Too often organizations respond to potential competition as though it is the olympics and resources are expended as though the only acceptable outcome is to be faster, higher and stronger. Has your organization calibrated its competitive competencies to create the optimum blend of avoidance and successful competitive engagements?
- What big teeth you have? The better to eat you! --- Predation is when one animal, the predator, eats another one, the prey. Herbivory, is when a herbivore feeds on all or part of a photosynthetic organism (e.g., plant or algae). An important difference between herbivory and predation is that herbivory does not always lead to the death of the individual. Conveniently, the two forms of consumption in living things (i.e., predation and herbivory) reflect the two conditions and outcomes for organizations in terms of the relationship they have with the resource they "consume" for energy. Regardless which of these two forms of consumption are employed, the predator or herbivore must have adaptations to detect, capture and, ultimately, digest that which it consumes. How effectively is your organization in acquiring the resources it needs to survive?
- Game over? --- Whether
- We're in this together. --- Whether
- Whatever works for you. It doesn't matter to me. --- Whether
- Stop! Thief! --- Whether
Citius. Altius. Fortius.
The Premise
A: Resources, space or shelter, and mates.
Q: What are examples of things for which there may be a competitive relationship?
Competition is when individuals or populations compete for the same resource, and can occur within or between species. To be a significant selective pressure, the resource being competed for must be in limited supply. There are a myriad of adaptations in form and function that enable organisms to minimize the potential impacts of competition. It was long thought that competition was the driving force of community structure. However it is now understood that all type of interspecific relationships, along with their indirect effects and the variation of responses within and between species, are what shape ecosystems.
Too often organizations respond to potential competition as though it is the olympics and resources are expended as though the only acceptable outcome is to be faster, higher and stronger. And yet, a more thoughtful consideration of competitive relationships reveals that far more frequently, the adaptations that arise enable coexistence by avoiding competitive consequences that might otherwise be detrimental. Has your organization calibrated its competitive competencies to create the optimum blend of avoidance and successful competitive engagements?
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.
What big teeth you have? The better to eat you!
The Premise
A: Predation and Herbivory.
Q: What are the terms used to describe when one organisms consumes another as a source of energy?
Predation is when one animal, the predator, eats another one, the prey. . Evolutionary adaptations for predators includes form and function to detect (e.g., olfactory, visual or aural acuity), capture (e.g., tentacles, teeth, claws, stingers or poison, quick and agile bodies, camouflage, coloration, tools, tactics & behaviors) and ultimately digest its prey. Herbivory, is when a herbivore feeds on all or part of a photosynthetic organism (e.g., plant or algae). An important difference between herbivory and predation is that herbivory does not always lead to the death of the individual.
Conveniently, the two forms of consumption in living things (i.e., predation and herbivory) reflect the two conditions and outcomes for organizations in terms of the relationship they have with the resource they "consume" for energy. For organizations, the most common form is herbivory. That is, the resource is consumed and energy (aka money) is realized but, the individual remains...to provide energy again. But, predation does occur and an organization may consume another and extract the energy from the prey such that the prey does not survive. Regardless which of these two forms of consumption are employed, the predator or herbivore must have adaptations to detect, capture and, ultimately, digest that which it consumes. How effectively is your organization in acquiring the resources it needs to survive?
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.
Game over?
The Premise
A: Remove diseased, old, or injured individuals, reduce over-exploitation of prey's food resources and select for superior adaptations of form and function
Q: What are benefits to the prey species of being preyed upon.
In a predator/prey relationship, the outcome of the engagement may be fatal to the individual but, provide some benefit to the prey species. To "avoid" being the individual that is consumed, prey species have evolved a variety of defenses including behavioral, morphological, physiological, mechanical, life-history synchrony and chemical defenses to avoid "predation" and ending up being eaten and killed. By contrast, the plant being consumed can evolutionarily and literally, "live" with being the consumptive consequences of an engagement with a herbivore.
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.
We're in this together
The Premise
A: The
Q: What are
If your organization is a single person operation...there are many functions that you must perform. Or, figure out how you can do without. How's that going for you? Do you have the right balance or are you carrying too big a load?
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.
Whatever works for you. It doesn't matter to me
The Premise
A: The
Q: What are
If customers can’t find it, it doesn’t exist. Clearly list and describe the services you offer. Also, be sure to showcase a premium service.
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.
Stop! Thief!
The Premise
A: The
Q: What are
If customers can’t find it, it doesn’t exist. Clearly list and describe the services you offer. Also, be sure to showcase a premium service.
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.