Quantum management thinking and Chinese traditional culture empower each other
August 23, 2024 09:48 Source: "Chinese Social Sciences Journal" Issue 2962, August 23, 2024 Author: Xi Jing [USA] Danah Zohar Cai Jiani

 1911,The book "Principles of Scientific Management" by American management scientist Frederick Winslow Taylor is published。This represents the formation of scientific management ideas,Opened up the source of scientific management theory,Also regarded as one of the symbols of the birth of modern management。Taylor was deeply influenced by Newton’s physics ideas,Think of the business as a well-designed machine,Believe that the value of management is to enable enterprises to carry out certain tasks under the command of a unified control center、Predictable orbital precision,To ensure the highest efficiency and maximum benefits。Over the past 100 years,Although management theory has gone through the stage of scientific management from efficiency-oriented to the stage of behavioral science that focuses on behavior and relationships,To emphasize humanistic and organizational learning、Innovation、The contemporary scientific management stage of change,But its underlying logic is still the instrumental rationality since the era of scientific management。This can be seen from the frequent use of words such as “competition”, “possession” and “growth” in management textbooks。However,With the advent of the VUCA era,The internal and external environments in which enterprises operate are becoming increasingly unpredictable,With "plan、Organization、Control、Traditional management theory, in which “leadership” is the basic function, is also facing more and more challenges。

At the same time,In the field of natural sciences,Quantum physics will make people understand the universe、The understanding of the material world has been brought to a new level from the mechanical design theory,That is, things in the universe are full of ambiguity and uncertainty,Showing each other that I am in you、I have your “entangled state”。This world view is highly consistent with the complex environment faced by enterprises,Provides important inspiration for the transformation of management。Danah Zohar, who has an interdisciplinary academic background, is the founder of quantum management theory。Zohar received degrees in physics and philosophy from MIT,Afterwards received a degree in philosophy from Harvard University、Master's Degree in Religion and Psychology。She has published books such as "Quantum Self", "Quantum Leader", "Reshaping the Corporate Brain: Using New Science to Rethink How We Organize and Lead Organizations",Has been hailed as “one of the greatest management thinkers in the world today” by the Financial Times。

Zohar visited China for the first time in 2014,Everywhere I go I am told that the idea of ​​quantum management is very “Chinese”。After reading Chinese cultural classics such as "Tao Te Ching" and "Great Learning",Zohar began to systematically study the relationship between traditional Chinese culture and quantum management。Recently,The team of Professor Xi Jing from the School of Management of Guangdong University of Technology conducted an interview with Zohar,Discussed the logic of mutual confirmation between quantum management theory and Chinese traditional culture,And the development space of both in the fields of practical application and academic research。

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Xi Jing:Quantum science and traditional Chinese culture seem to have no intersection: one is science produced in the laboratory,One is thinking and insights from direct experience;One is a popular trendy topic,One is the crystallization of the wisdom of ancient sages that has been passed down for thousands of years。What do you think the two have in common?Why is there such a connection?

  Zohar:The essence of quantum management is,From quantum physics to the universe、Refining new cognitive models from scientific discoveries about the world、Ideological principles,And apply it to the management and operation of enterprises。Almost all new cognitive models underlying quantum science can find corresponding discussions in Chinese culture。

The uncertainty principle proposed by German theoretical physicist Werner Karl Heisenberg is one of the core theories of quantum physics。This principle challenges the certainty and predictability emphasized by Newtonian classical physics,It also subverts people’s worldview based on simplicity and stability,So that people have to escape from complexity、Understanding the world from a dynamic and changing perspective。From the perspective of Chinese traditional culture,Uncertainty has long been considered an inherent feature of the universe。The "Tao Te Ching" written more than 2,500 years ago begins with the words "Tao can be Tao",Very Taoist”,As a product of ancient civilization,The "Book of Changes" itself is a guide on how to deal with environmental changes,Promote adaptability in the face of uncertainty。

Danish physicist Niel Henrik David Bohr’s principle of complementarity is another cornerstone of quantum physics。There is wave-particle duality in the quantum world,That is, matter may have the characteristics of both waves and particles。This cannot be explained in "either-or" logic or "mutually exclusive" logic,Because under this kind of logic,Nothing can be both "this" and the opposite "that" at the same time,Like both black and white,Both true and false,Wait。The principle of complementarity emphasizes the importance of observation methods and means,Provides a new logical framework for understanding wave-particle duality。It suggests that the wave-like and particle-like properties of matter may be dynamic movements、Two aspects of the cyclic process;We cannot observe wave properties and particle properties at the same time,Specific attributes must be selectively observed through different ways and means。This is similar to the Chinese concepts of "Yin" and "Yang"。“Yin” and “Yang” are the two extremes of things,They complement each other、Mutual support,Constitute a dynamically evolving whole。No "ugly",It can’t be said to be “beautiful”;Nothing "bad",It can’t be called “good”。This is what Lao Tzu calls “opposites complement each other”。

Quantum physics also believes that,As questioner、Observer、Experimenter’s Human,Not separated from the observed object,Instead, he participated in the creation of the universe together with the observed object,Is an integral part of the universe。When our behavior is consistent with the laws of nature,We can thrive。This coincides with the ancient Chinese principle of "harmony between man and nature"。

 These are just some examples of the similarities between quantum science bet365 Play online games and traditional Chinese culture,are some of the many similarities between the two。I just finished writing a book on this topic, China’s Quantum Management: LAO Tzu and bet365 best casino games Confucius Meet Heisenberg (tentative title)。The book involves a lot of comparisons between quantum science and traditional Chinese culture,Explains the reason why the two are closely related。Early quantum physicists,Such as Heisenberg and Bohr,It has indeed been beneficially influenced by Chinese traditional culture。Ancient Chinese sages made important contributions to the revolutionary quantum physics of the 20th century。

  Xi Jing:The reason why quantum physics and traditional Chinese culture have so many similarities,The fundamental reason should be that they are all revealing the same real world。When they approach the same goal from different directions of science and philosophy,We will eventually meet each other one day。Quantum management transfers the principles of quantum science to social and management scenarios,Promoted the encounter between the two。As the pioneer of quantum management,The quantum organization you proposed、What quantum physics theories are mainly inspired by theories such as quantum leadership?

  Zohar:The main basis for my discussion of organizational issues lies in the self-organizing properties of natural living systems。In other words,The development and evolution of nature、Eternal life is dominated by internal forces、According to its own logic、Achieved in the process of continuous interaction with the external environment。In fact,Complexity science has discovered,Applying any kind of external interference or control to such a system,Will immediately destroy the system’s self-organizing ability,The system will lose its vitality and ability to evolve。This natural self-organizing system resists external control。

Inspired by this organic worldview rooted in quantum physics and complexity science,I regard enterprises as organizations with quantum characteristics,They should be viewed as living systems rather than machines,It is a self-organizing system。This is why quantum organization theory advocates bottom-up self-management,Instead of top-down control。

I also mentioned quantum leadership theory。In Quantum Organization,A leader is first and foremost a self-organized and self-driven person,He is responsible for himself、Responsible for others,And hope that companies and employees can self-organize as much as possible。This is exactly the same as the Confucian view of leadership。It believes that leaders should be educated、High moral character、Integrity、Altruistic,With the goal of improving the lives of others。This is because,The quantum world is entangled with each other,Once interactions occur between several particles,It will never be possible to completely disconnect again,No matter how far apart they are, they will affect each other,Thus having integrity。The same is true in reality,We live in an intertwined world,Everything is interconnected,No part of the system can grow alone,Unless all parts of the system grow together。

  Chinese culture helps understand quantum thinking

Xi Jing:Quantum entanglement、Physical theories such as wave-particle duality are profound and obscure,Ordinary managers may be intimidated by quantum management theories based on them,How do you think we should learn effectively、Applied Quantum Management Theory?

 Zohar:Although Western scientists in the 20th century conducted the first experiments that truly discovered modern quantum physics,And devised equations for conducting further experiments,But most people still think to this day,Understanding quantum physics is “impossible”,Because it is "illogical" and "counter-intuitive"。But quantum management is not the application of quantum physics to business management,Use quantum thinking instead,Using quantum thinking to understand the objective world。Therefore,Managers do not need to understand quantum physics,It is important to understand the basic principles,Including accepting uncertainty、Think in terms of “both/and” rather than “either/or”,Also be able to apply the concept of self-organization。Understanding quantum physics is not a prerequisite for management,It is not directly related to management practice。

Chinese people learn、It is indeed easier to apply quantum management,Because people may have difficulty understanding quantum theory,But he is familiar with traditional Chinese culture。As mentioned in my new book,There are essential differences between quantum thinking bet365 Play online games and traditional Chinese culture and traditional Western thinking。Western thinking is based on the physics theory proposed by Newton。Newton viewed the universe as a huge machine,Think it follows clear、OK、Operating in a predictable manner;Human beings are completely detached and privileged from nature and the universe,Nature is a resource for human development。Therefore,Most Westerners may have difficulty understanding the way quantum physics describes the world,When I introduce the concept of quantum management,They also tend to find it difficult to understand。However,I find traditional Chinese philosophy—such as the writings of Mencius and other Confucian doctrines—to be straightforward、Approachable,Use everyday language to explain the laws of the universe。Quantum physics uses scientific language,Talk about things like waves and particles,Ordinary readers may know very little about it。The opposite,Traditional Chinese cultural classics provide an easy-to-understand description of the universe we live in in everyday language,And pay special attention to how human daily life is connected with the wider universe,What role should humans play in this larger plan,To live a meaningful life。These are about how to be a good leader in daily life、The topics of good citizens and good people are familiar to people,And the content is so similar to quantum science。When I first came to China,People understand quickly、Appreciate my research,And gave me warm applause and recognition。Although I was just thinking about quantum principles,But maybe my understanding and Confucius、Mencius’s teachings are similar,This makes my research more easily understood by the Chinese public。

I believe,If Western managers could learn how to express Chinese culture in more accessible language,They may have an easier time understanding the principles of quantum management。

  Xi Jing:“The language expression of traditional Chinese culture can help Western managers to more easily understand the quantum management theory from the West”,This idea sounds amazing。What our team found,Before quantum management theory entered China,Some Chinese entrepreneurs have begun to improve their business management models in accordance with traditional cultural ideas。They emphasize improving self-cultivation、Respect employees,Emphasis on benefiting society and maintaining the sustainability of natural ecology,These management ideas are highly consistent with quantum management ideas。But,They encountered various resistances in the process of introducing traditional culture,Including employees and customers’ incomprehension。Some people think they are not doing their jobs properly、Engaging in feudal superstition,Some companies have experienced a temporary decline in performance。The emergence of quantum management theory provides a scientific basis for this innovative Chinese local management,Intensifies its legitimacy,Also contributes to the spread of Chinese traditional wisdom。It can be said,There is a positive mutual empowerment between the two。

  Zohar:The language of quantum science provides a modern thinking framework for discussing traditional Chinese thought,Can help readers resonate with ancient concepts。Example,When reading Chinese classics such as the "Book of Changes",You will find that it is full of dragons、Fortune、ancient language of concepts such as the Five Elements,Modern Western readers may not be able to relate。However,Expressing the same idea through the lens of quantum theory,You can use a brand new one、A scientifically based discourse system to explain Chinese traditional culture。

Scientific research activities and related results in the field of quantum physics have verified the Chinese’s long-standing description of the universe through experiments and equations。The Chinese thousands of years ago did not conduct experiments,I have never written an equation,They intuitively and think,Form an intuitive understanding of the universe。With the emergence of modern quantum physics,People discovered through experiments,The world does run the way the Chinese have always thought。This makes people realize,Chinese people’s understanding of the nature of reality is correct。Why ancient Chinese sages understood the truth of the universe thousands of years ago,This may be related to their brain nerve structure。I explain this in my new book。

 Similarities and Differences in Quantum Management Practices between East and West

Xi Jing:You have management consulting and practical experience in China and the West,Including serving Haier、Well-known companies like Shell。As far as your observation is concerned,East、What are the differences between Western companies in implementing quantum management?

 Zohar:Haier and some other Chinese companies are currently implementing quantum management,They tried this earlier。They are moving away from traditional pyramidal power structures and bureaucracy,Shift to employee empowerment,Let employees arrange their own work、Make your own decisions。Haier’s “Rentanheyi” management model is a typical example。It uses information technology,Let every employee face the user directly、Responsible for respective orders,Make your own decisions。The result is effective “de-management”,Better create customer value,And allow employees to realize their own value in the process of creating value for customers,Ultimately enabling Haier to remain competitive and achieve continuous innovation in a rapidly changing market environment。

In reality,I have also cooperated with Dahan Holding Group,Their management has distinctive quantum management characteristics,Including focusing on the role of grassroots employees、Focus on creating social value、Focus on employee growth。This method is becoming more and more widely used in China,Because it targets modern social situations,Can help us adapt to rapid social changes、The continuous development of new technologies and the uncertainty of today’s world。Chinese bet365 live casino games companies may find they can make this transition relatively easily,Because it conforms to the Chinese way of thinking。

I used to work for the Volvo Group、Marks and Spencer、BT、Motorola Corporation、Philips Company、Norwich Associates Financial Services、Bank for International Settlements、Different companies such as BMW。Most Western companies still use the old way of operating,That is, the CEO has full control、Issue command,And communicate these orders down the chain of command。This is the standard operating method of Western enterprises that adhere to modern management concepts。However,Some emerging large technology companies,such as Amazon、Google,Currently adopting quantum management methods。These technology companies usually started as start-ups in the past 30 years,Their understanding of business is different from that of early-stage companies,They understand,Excessive control and bureaucracy are unnecessary。Our world is changing rapidly,Unforeseen events emerge in endlessly。Enterprises adopting quantum management,Frontline employees have the right to make immediate decisions。Facing public emergencies,Companies like Haier that implement quantum management can thrive,Good performance,Many traditional companies are facing challenges,The reason is that the decision-making chain is too long,Affects the agility to respond to environmental changes。

 Xi Jing:Quantum management theory has been incorporated into some classic management textbooks,For example, American scholar Stephen Robbins's "Organizational Behavior" introduced the quantum leadership theory;In China,Shandong University、Some scholars from Renmin University of China have conducted a series of studies。How do you evaluate the current academic research status of Chinese and Western scholars in quantum management?

  Zohar:Although I can hardly find research directly related to quantum management in Western countries,But researchers will express similar views from other perspectives。For example, distributed decision-making,That is, let more people in the enterprise make decisions, not just senior managers;Another example is paradoxical thinking,Encourage people to pay attention to the connections between things,Use the "both/and" method to analyze and solve problems。Although they did not mention quantum management or quantum science directly,But the ideas are similar。In China,Tsinghua University、Scholars from universities such as Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Peking University are researching and teaching quantum management,Some of them maintain a cooperative relationship with me。An issue that deserves great attention is,There are more and more studies based on or targeting Chinese traditional culture in the international academic community,I believe that management issues can be discussed from the perspective of quantum physics,will produce amazing theoretical innovations。

In the field of quantum management research,I think a lot of case studies are necessary。Because quantum management is not one-size-fits-all,Each company can customize it according to its own specific needs、Practice and business model tailor-made。Therefore,The more case studies,The deeper people understand the application of quantum management。In addition,Case studies can also reveal the different outcomes that different companies achieve through their unique management practices。I have specially Bet365 app download arranged a chapter in the new book to introduce relevant cases,Except Haier’s “Rendanheyi”,Also introduced the example of Jingshi Experimental School in Huizhou Daya Bay Economic and Technological Development Zone using quantum management ideas to educate students,And some examples of quantum leadership。

  Cai Jiani:You mentioned many well-known large enterprises that implement quantum management,But many small businesses may not understand quantum management yet。In your opinion,Is there anything that small businesses need to pay special attention to when adopting quantum management?

  Zohar:The size of the business does not matter,Because it can be based on the specific needs of the enterprise、Scale and resources to align quantum management practices。The basic principles that every company that implements quantum management should follow are,Employees should organize their own work to a large extent,Complete tasks independently,And have decision-making autonomy。The goal of managers is not to control them,Serve them instead。Following these principles does not require a large business,Businesses of all sizes can implement quantum management。

What needs to be noted is,The key to implementing quantum management is to nourish employees with respect。If the company wants employees to develop their potential,Use your own wisdom to make decisions、Ask a question、Explore and experiment,We need to create an environment,Let every employee be respected,Thus encouraging them to perform at their best、Make the greatest contribution。

  Cai Jiani:What advice do you have for young scholars conducting research on quantum management?

 Zohar:I suggest starting by studying Wang Yangming’s works。The philosophical ideas reflected in his numerous works are very consistent with the principles of quantum management。Example,He proposed the philosophy of “nothing outside the mind” and “no reason outside the mind”,Emphasizes the uncertainty of the interrelatedness and continuous dynamic changes between the subject and the object,Very consistent with wave-particle duality。

 (The author is a professor at the School of Management, Guangdong University of Technology;American scholar、Writer、The founder of quantum management theory;PhD candidate at Guangdong University of Technology School of Management)

Editor: Zhang Jing
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