Contents
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Time1 |
Emergent Sub-Outcome at Each Point in Time |
Now |
Emergent OutcomesAn Emergent Outcome is not a goal or a sensory-based outcome. (A sensory-based outcome can be specifically planned for or is seen as the solution to a problem). An Emergent Outcome is a conceptual outcome the nature of which is known to some degree but the exact form of which is not. In this sense an Emergent Outcome is a "generative structure". It is a quality in the way action is carried out, something that you get through the doing. It may be a vantage point, something like wisdom or savoir faire.Words which describe Emergent Outcomes may be on a Happy-Sad continuum and often end with "ful": lustfull, useful, merciful, forceful, zestful, helpful, grateful, meaningful, joyfull, successful, careful, mournful, beautiful, graceful, wasteful, peaceful, hopeful, mindful, dutiful, boastful, thoughtful, wonderful, bountiful, colorful, hateful, aweful, fullsome, fullblooded. Emergence gives direction (and inspiration) to the outcome regardless of the degree to which the ideal is attained. To understand better how an Emergent Outcome differs from a sensory-based outcome, consider how it occurs in the midst of the following: Emergence is the second stage in a three-stage process. Outcomes emerge at this stage for which preparations were made during the first stage (Immanence). In the third stage (Transcendence) these outcomes dissipate or deteriorate or transform into something else. Finally, this may become raw material feeding back into the stage of Immanence for a new cycle. This macro-cosmic, three-stage process has interesting parallels with Setup-Upset-SetDown.
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TranscendenceTranscendence takes the process into its final stage.For example, the results of the garden eventually are eaten and digested (perhaps fueling and inspiring other activities, such as planning the next garden) or it decomposes into contituent elements which are useful for other things. While the Trancendent stage may seem like the end of the process, it actually is the beginning of what comes next.
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ImmanenceIf you can't go for a particular Emergent Outcome directly, you can nevertheless increase the probability of it occuring by doing certain things. A lot of effort may be required before conditions are prepared. The role of these efforts may not be understood in advance. Carrying out these efforts necessarily reduces the probability of some outcomes while increasing the probability of others.The thinking, feeling and doing during Immanence has the nature of Emiting non-specifically with regard to emergent qualities, Transmitting with greater specificity, and Communicating with more specific intention. See Emit-Transmit-Communicate. For example, in having a garden, preparations and the proper sequencing of events are essential to develop the potential for a harvest to emerge. The real work of getting a good harvest is done in the stage of Immanence. (It would be a serious error in cause and effect to infer that the harvest comes simply from completing just one of the many steps.)
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EmergenceAn Emergent Outcome emerges from bits of sensory evidence combined with processing - it cannot be verified in advance just how it will turn out. The Emergent Outcome may be desired in advance but, because of the complexity in getting there, it may be impossible to move towards it directly, or to envision clearly the steps required to get there. The Emergent Outcome is but one stage in the midst of a longer process.For example, when you have a garden ready to harvest, it didn't simply emerge from a bunch of seeds thrown around.
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Basic Exercises1. To get the feel of what an Emergent Outcome is, take an example of something you accomplished over a period of time. Then step backwards through time from this outcome, all the way to when you first began to move towards this outcome. Recount the identifiable steps along the way.2. Now consider the steps you identified and note how they may have caused changes in direction, or predisposed what happened next. Also note which possibilities, options or alternatives were implicitly or explicitly selected or ruled out along the way. 3. Track backwards (as above) a negative Emergent Outcome. Note the degree to which the history of how it emerged is as clear or clearer than the positive example you did before. Note also how events are organized time-wise. 4. Take a global Emergent Outcome that you have now or have had, such as happiness, peacefulness, fulfillment, etc. Identify where you are in the overall process. Then track backwards from now, identifying the stages leading to where you are now. 5. Take some favorite words which describe Emergent Outcomes (such as happy, fulfilled, successful, joyful, etc.). Ask yourself the following questions: - How would you have a ___ life? - Do you have a ___ life? - What does a ___ life have in it? - What about a ___ life is thrilling? 6. Use grids of other models (e.g., Thinking-Feeling-Doing gridded with What-How-Why) to explore an Emergent Outcome.
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Optimizing Exercise |
Related Models
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SetUp-Upset-SetDown |
Emit-Transmit-Communicate |
Motivation/Evaluation Triangle |
Worse case |
100% Ideal |
75% |
50% |
25% |
Same as now |
Finally |
Time6 |
Time3 |
Time4 |
Time5 |
Time2 |
Optimizing an Emergent Outcome |