243 General Discussion these adaptive spaces. The emergence can only occur if operational leaders act as bridges from the adaptive space into the operational system.49,50 This adaptive process is not hierarchical, but can occur at any level, and with any individual in any position. Thus, the adaptive space allows for entrepreneurial ideas to be advanced into the operational system, but it requires that agents within each leadership role possess certain attributes to make this process work. Figure 7.1 Complexity leadership framework (reproduced with permission from Elsevier) In accordance with CLT, COVID-19 was the external pressure that put the organization into disequilibrium, forcing it to be dynamic and transform into a state of novelty. Usually, in “normal” times, the “order” response is a counterforce for stability to push back any tension, but due to the urgency of the pandemic, what occurred, instead, is that adaptive spaces were created in which individuals both from the “entrepreneurial” and “operational” sides conflicted and connected. This conflict and connection was described in Chapters 5-6 as individuals, some for the first time in their employment, had to work together from different departments and divisions to create novel solutions, processes, or products, or conduct novel research within a limited time. By focusing on a common goal, they did not allow for their heterogeneity of roles, experiences, or ideas to separate them but used it creatively to meaningfully connect and create workable solutions to achieve the desired outcome. A key component of
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