[3] The Four Soils for Organizations
The Four Soils for Organizations is an adaptation of [3] The Four Soils — an interpretation of Jesus parable of the same name using the [3] David’s Bow form of [3] The Trinity, the third systems shape of the Semantic Ontology Framework (SOF). It adapts the idea of the soils to systems dynamics in the area of organizational alignment, strategy, and culture — all areas where the revelation of God in all its forms attempts to produce change and growth in human lives.
According to the Frame, the different soils stand for people in the following conditions:
Road-Compacted Soil
Low prime fails to reach critical mass.
Stuck in an under-sourced cycle, the
org experiences repeated trauma
that hardens it against any innovation
or intervention while enabling further
trauma.
[too alpha]
Rocky-Shallow Soil
Focuses on individual, aggregate, or corporate desire
and near or achievable success. Alpha and prime become
confused and org steers towards winning while avoiding real
challenges, shifting the burden to others. This creates many
more loosers that winners, but loosers are marginalized.
[too beta]
Weedy-Entangled Soil
Focuses on the environment and the response developed
by the organization. Beta and prime become confused and
the org sees mission as reinforcing norms, maintaining restraints
on “anti-social” behavior, and affirming normal/accepted approaches to
challenges.
[synthesizing]
Good-Open Soil
Open to allowing the maturity of the prime and
members by synthesizing strategy and culture
through participation. Simultaneously lifts up
the identity, desires, and situation of all members
and carries this towards an ultimate and
common purpose.
meet the situation while achieving a real and
reproducing aspirational identity.
According to the Mark version of the parable, its understanding is foundational to understanding all the parables:
He said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How will you understand all of the parables?
Mark 4:13 WEB
Presumably, this is because one’s understanding of the parable reveals one’s receptivity to the revelation encoded in all parables. Therefore, if one cannot understand this parable, it is likely that they are currently spiritually one of the “bad soils”.
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