The Catalyst Perspectives Group
Trophic-Level: An Overview
The Premise
All organisms use a source of energy for their metabolic activities. The source of energy used by an organism defines its trophic level and is occupied by a group of organisms with a similar feeding mode. Trophic levels can be presented in a food chain that represent the flow of food energy and the feeding relationships between the different levels. Further, an ecological pyramid represents the biomass or the energy flow in an ecosystem and reflects the relationships across and within the levels. The base level starts with primary producers that can produce organic matter from inorganic matter. Subsequent levels are comprised of organisms that obtain organic matter directly by consumption and are known as consumers. The succession of trophic levels and interrelationships that occur in food chains within a given area produce more intricate trophic paths called a food web. This represents the feeding relationships of organisms within that ecosystem and shows how these relationships are linked together.
In an analogous manner, every organization needs "energy" to power their activities and operations. For organizations, this energy is provided by money. LIke the energy needed by an organism, there are comparable levels, intricate paths, different "feeding" modes and a wide variety of adaptive forms and functions that enable organizations to transform materials through their own value chain to produce products and/or deliver services that customers are willing to pay for. Are the practices and procedures for your organization properly aligned for your trophic level and providing your organization with sufficient financial wherewithal?
The Process
The essays in this section will consider:
- You are what you eat. --- It's simple. Producers produce and consumers consume. It's complicated. There is a seemingly limitless number of combinations of forms and functions that enable organisms to acquire the energy they need to survive. The circumstances for organizations are just as simple and also just as complex as they are for organisms. Is your organization properly positioned and performing effectively for the customers that you are best suited to serve?
- Woodchucks & Producers. --- The commercial notwithstanding, a woodchuck doesn't chuck wood. But, a Producer does produce! From a biological perspective, producers produce energy-rich glucose in the form of various carbohydrates. In the context of organizational evolution this remains the case as well. However, producer organizations are responsible for producing an additional critical component of organizational evolution. Is your organization a traditional or UBM-analogical producer?
- Food Chain and Food Webs. --- The conglomeration of the food chains of individual species in an area form the more intricate trophic paths and feeding relationships of organisms of the food web for that ecosystem. Ever organization has a web of relationships with their customers which are interwoven with the relationships others may have with those same customers. The supply chain and distribution channels are examples of two additional pathways that are part of the value chain for an organization. Does your organization understand and leverage the relationships within its value chain and organizational relationships-web?
- Smorgasbord or picky eater? --- There are two types of autotrophs which make their own food using either sunlight (aka photosynthesis) or chemicals. By contrast, there are many different types of food preferences among heterotrophs that get their food by consuming other organisms. How well is your organization optimizing the potential mix of its suppliers, partners and customers?
You are what you eat
The Premise
A: Producers, Primary Consumers, Secondary Consumers, and Tertiary Consumers
Q: What are the occupants of the trophic levels of an ecological pyramid called?
It starts when green plants (aka producers) use sunlight, through the process of photosynthesis, to transform carbon dioxide and water into energy-rich glucose. The glucose, in the form of various carbohydrates, makes up the tissues of the plant which are, in turn, eaten by herbivores (aka primary consumers). The transfer of energy continues up the ecological pyramid through secondary and tertiary consumers. Most of the energy embodied at each level is needed to enable those organisms to live. Only a small fraction can be transferred to the organisms in the next trophic level. Thus, the number of levels is limited. Natural selection has resulted in a community of organisms in a given area with an optimum mix of forms and functions to make full use of the energy available to flow through that community.
Analogous pyramids that represent the flow of money and materials of value highlight the important dynamics of relationships in shaping and sustaining organizational ecosystems. The position of an organization within the pyramid is determined by its form and function and the customer it is best adapted to engage. Is your organization properly positioned and performing effectively for the customers that you are best suited to serve?
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.
Woodchucks & Producers
The Premise
A: Food & Money
Q: What do producers produce that are consumed by others?
The commercial notwithstanding, a woodchuck doesn't chuck wood. But, a Producer does produce! Biological producers provide an essential function for all living things by using sunlight and inorganic materials to produce energy-rich carbohydrates and thusly forming the base of the ecological pyramid.
In a similar manner, there are producer organizations that provide food that sustains the living things who comprise organizations...and everyone else. But, organizational-evolution has created a second type of producer that is also a critical component of the organizational pyramid. These critical organizations (and the government) are the producers of financial instruments that are essential for organizations to survive. Is your organization a traditional or UBM-analogical producer or benefiting as much as you could from such a producer?
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.
Food Chain and Food Webs
The Premise
A: Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI), Consigned Purchase Inventory (CPI), ABC Inventory Classification, Kanban, CRM - Acquisition, Retention & Growth.
Q: What are best practices used to manage the supply chain and customer value-chain?
Organisms don't get to choose the food that they eat or the dynamics of inter-relationships they must navigate as they trod their chosen path. The form and functions they express are determined by their genes and the circumstances of their immediate setting. The good news for organisms is that evolution has chosen wisely and the organism should be well adapted for its conditions.
By contrast, organizations have at least the illusion of choice that they may opt to change the relationships they have with their suppliers and partners as well as the dynamics they establish in the relationships they have with their customers. Does your organization understand and leverage the relationships within its value chain and organizational relationships?
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.
Smorgasbord or picky eater?
The Premise
A: Avivore, Carnivore, Detritivore, Exudativore, Florivore, Folivore, Frugivore, Fungivore, Graminivore, Granivore, Herbivore, Insectivore, Invertivore, Molluscivore, Nectarivore, Ovivore, Palynivore, Phytoplanktonivore, Piscivore, Spongivore, Teuthophagore, and Vermivore.
Q: What are different types of feeding preferences displayed by heterotrophs?
Organisms feeding preferences vary widely. Omnivores are willing to eat both plants and other animals or insects and the relative contribution from each source varies depending on conditions. Conversely, there are a wide variety of different organisms that are very specialized in their food choice and have evolved highly adaptive forms and functions that enable them to exploit their unique food sources. Imagine a diet that is as much as 95% bones...hmmm, yum! That diet is both superbly specialized and uniquely suited to position this picky eater for success in the settings for which it has evolved across several continents!
To the extent that they may wish to be selective, organizations, when compared with organisms have the opportunity to adjust and even change their suppliers and potential customers. This does presuppose that the organization has the process-capabilities and organizational flexibility to align their operations to deliver the products and services desired by presumptive new customers. How well is your organization optimizing the potential mix of its suppliers, partners and customers?
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.