Doğrusal Olmayan Dinamik Sistemler Karşısında Fraktal Örgüt Teorisi: Fraktal Kavramı Üzerinden Bir Literatür Araştırması/ Fractal Organization Theory in the Face of Nonlinear Dynamic Systems: A Literature Review on the Concept of Fractal

Öz

Bu çalışmada, örgütlerin doğrusal olmayan dinamik sistemler karşısında Fraktal Örgüt Teorisi’nin teorik temellerinin oluşturulmasına odaklanılmıştır. Gerek Türkiye, gerekse de yabancı literatürde fraktal kavramına farklı disiplinlerde sıkça atıf yapılmasına karşın, kavramın yönetim ve örgüt bilimine atıf yapılacak kadar yeterince araştırılmadığı görülmektedir. Diğer bir deyişle, literatürden ulaşılabildiği kadarıyla fraktal kavram üzerinden düşünülen Fraktal Örgüt Teorisi’nin tanımı dışında, bütünlük içerinde ayrıntılı bir şekilde çalışmalara konu edilmemiştir. Bu gerekçeler doğrultusunda çalışmada, özgünlük (açıklayıcı) ve yarar (uygulama) gibi boyutlara atıf yapılarak, fraktal kavramının örgüt bilimine evrilme sürecinin teorik dayanaklarını göstermek ve örgütlerin yaşamlarını sürekli kılmak için doğrusal olmayan sistemlere uyum sağlamada kullanılabilecek Fraktal Örgüt Teorisi’ni tanıtmak amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmanın odak kavramları olan fraktal, Fraktal Örgüt Teorisi Google Scholar elektronik veri tabanında aranmıştır. Literatürün genişliği bir sınır oluşturmuştur. Bundan dolayı teorik örnekleme yoluna gidilmiş, 65 kaynak çalışma kapsamında değerlendirilmiştir. Elde olunan bulgular, teorik arka plan, doğrusal olmayan dinamik bir sistem olarak fraktal kavramının çözümlenmesi ve doğrusal olmayan sistemler karşısında Fraktal Örgüt Teorisi gibi başlıkları altında sistematize edilerek çözümlemiştir. Öte yandan, gelecekte teorinin somut uygulamaları olabilecek fraktal girişim, fraktal şirket, fraktal fabrika, fraktal üretim gibi kavramlara şimdiden atıfta bulunulmuştur.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Fraktal
• fraktal örgüt teorisi
• kaos teorisi
• doğrusal olmayan sistemler
• örgüt

Doğrusal Olmayan Dinamik Sistemler Karşısında Fraktal Örgüt Teorisi: Fraktal Kavramı Üzerinden Bir Literatür Araştırması/ Fractal Organization Theory in the Face of Nonlinear Dynamic Systems: A Literature Review on the Concept of Fractal

Abstract

One of the main characteristics of the environment in which a modern organization operates is its high dynamism due to globalisation and rapid technological progress. However, organizations that want to survive in nonlinear (chaotic) systems with global competition for customers, capital, skilled workers, and other resources must be able to adapt quickly to environmental changes, including capitalizing on the opportunities presented by these changes (Bider et al., 2012). Originating from research in non-linear dynamical (chaotic) systems, fractals have proven to be powerful approaches for understanding and modelling the evolution and properties of landscapes and bedforms (Baas, 2002). In other words, the fractal concept has had a significant contribution and role in the study of objects and processes with partial and/or self-similarity (Ruzhitskaya et al., 2021). On the other hand, the comparison of biology with other sciences in organizational research is a new field when it comes to environmental and organizational adaptation. Despite the differences, it can be said that there are striking similarities in how the structure and structuring of organizations resemble biological organizms. This judgement holistically describes the complexity of organizations in fulfilling their responsibilities towards internal and external environments. For instance, the consequences of industrial revolutions are that complexity in organizations increases exponentially as networks of responsibility increase (Jaegler, 2018). Within the framework of these foundations, it can be said that a type of organization defined based on fractals has emerged (Wyrzykowska et al., 2024). Because it is based on the idea of linear relationships and cannot offer solutions by simplifying real life, traditional theories are ineffective in today's world (Berberoğlugil & Şatir, 2012). In this direction, it should be noted that in the traditional organizational understanding, the management hierarchy cannot benefit sufficiently from the knowledge accumulation of the employees due to the hierarchy. A fractal organizational structure that allows the rapid application of employees' knowledge in the face of changes or opportunities in the environment can increase the ability of the organization to adapt to its environment (Shoham & Hasgall, 2005). In other words, there is a need to introduce Fractal Organization Theory to understand and respond to the non-linear dynamic (chaotic) structure and behaviour of internal and external environments (West & Goldberger, 1987). In this study, with reference to dimensions such as originality (explanatory) and utility (application) (Corley & Gioia, 2011), the following two main objectives were identified. a) To show the theoretical underpinnings of the evolution of the fractal concept into organizational science. b) To introduce the Fractal Organization Theory that can be used to adapt to non-linear (chaotic) systems in order to sustain the life of organizations. The documents containing the concepts of Fractal, Fractal Organization Theory were searched in Google Scholar electronic database. It was seen that the main documents to be used within the scope of the study were in English. The breadth of the literature has created a limit. Therefore, theoretical sampling was used and literature searches were conducted to reach the theoretical maturity limit. As a result of the translation of the sources containing duplicate information, sources were translated into Turkish and evaluated within the scope of the study. Since fractal is an interdisciplinary concept in terms of its origin and fields of use, no date limitation and interdisciplinary distinction was made among the collected sources. In this direction, the theoretical framework was structured and Fractal Organization Theory was introduced together with its content in line with the evaluation of the fractal concept. As a result, this study demonstrates the theoretical foundations of the usability of the fractal concept in organisational science and introduces the Fractal Organisation Theory that can be used to adapt to non-linear (chaotic) systems for the survival of organisations. On the other hand, the conclusion of this study on the introduction of Fractal Organisation Theory through fractal evaluation in the face of non-linear dynamic (chaotic) systems is based on the methodology adopted and the evaluations obtained from the literature. Because the concept of fractal and the application of Fractal Organisation Theory to fractal business thinking have brought/will bring up some concepts such as fractal company, fractal factory, fractal production system. A holistic evaluation of the listed concepts based on the fractal concept has been made and discussed as a future orientation in the conclusion section

Keywords

• Fractal
• fractal organization theory
• chaos theory
• nonlinear systems
• organization

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