The Yala is a unique web application that provides a powerful new way to improve the performance of the growing number of complex relationships in business and community.
Complex relationships usually involve a large number of individuals, groups and organizations. Each party wants to achieve its own goals but is willing to work with others towards some overall objectives. The interconnected elements of such relationships have the capacity to change and learn from experience. Together, they develop a life of their own.
Complex relationships include:
- international enterprises,
- chains of suppliers and customers,
- major projects, acquisitions, joint ventures and outsourcing deals, and
- economic unions, multi-cultural nations, public-private partnerships.
They do not respond well to conventional management, top down and from the centre. Attempts to shock or coerce them have unintended and unwelcome consequences.
In this multifaceted and unpredictable world, a Yala can help a complex relationship to detect the unexpected earlier, better understand its potential, and remove, contain or rebound from its effects. A Yala leads to better decisions and more engaged participants in a broad range of situations.
It does this by focusing on a relatively few interfaces (points where different units and different organizations have to work together to get things done), making it safe to talk and seeking varied perspectives.
A Yala does not create a new organization but a new network of existing players, complementing not competing with present structures. A Yala looks at issues not only from above but also from below. It is less concerned with setting direction and more concerned that productive behavior thrives.
The primary change strategy of the Yala is straightforward. To improve the performance of a complex relationship, connect it to more of itself. Help the system learn about itself from itself.
Thus, the Yala is not just another web forum. It is a coherent architecture for thinking and learning. Its logical design aids communication:
- Trees show how local conversations flow into a global discourse.
- Roles and Permissions create a small world.
- Profile Properties let contributors look at feedback from different points of view.
- Graphical displays help contributors understand what drives behavior.