In essence, case 3 is that of competing businesses that are forced to fit into a new entity. This is the case in which the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. My conversations and meetings around the world to date have shown me that we are all discussing to same issues and similar challenges. During this time I realised that we were all actually working towards to same goal of reducing kWhs, reducing Carbon Emissions and saving our planet. Since then I am currently working with other experts where we are providing our skills to projects and each part is becoming greater than the whole. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. This leaves the management having to deal with a new and larger company and without fully understanding parts of its business. ” A phrase attributed to Aristotle and misquoted by those seeking to understand one of the most mysterious properties of a system: Emergence. It also happens to be the case that more than 70% (some say even 80%) of mergers between companies fail. [11], J. C. Poynton (1987) SMUTS'S HOLISM AND EVOLUTION SIXTY YEARS ON, Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa, 46:3, 181-189, DOI:10.1080/00359198709520121. OED Online, Oxford University Press, September 2019, www.oed.com/view/Entry/87727. "holistic, adj." Over a period of a week I pulled together a small team of very close trustworthy assessors to work with me. Holism (from Greek ὅλος holos "all, whole, entire") is the idea that various systems (e.g. However, in common usage, "holism" usually refers to the idea that a whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Smuts originally used "holism" to refer to the tendency in nature to produce wholes from the ordered grouping of unit structures. Smuts originally used "holism" to refer to the tendency in nature to produce wholes from the ordered grouping of unit structures. This quote has obviously been around for many years but it is so true. Moreover, companies usually have a particular culture. But I believe you can take solutions from one art of the world and adapt them for another successfully. If this team focused on just making savings on kWh in these buildings consider how much savings could have been made. The term synergy comes from the Attic Greek word συνεργία synergia from synergos, συνεργός, meaning "working together". I really started to resonate with this quote. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. The exact meaning of "holism" depends on context. A new and less complex – more efficient, lean – company is formed, allowing for cost cuts, improving efficiency and profitability. In case 1, the whole is equal to the sum of the two components. When you Google this quote it is often associated to ‘Synergy’. In the cold light of day these assessors would be classed as my competitors, but as I have said before this is not the case. In order to deal with a more complex and larger company one would logically assume that more competency is needed to cope with the situation. When non-linearities kick in, things often assume a counter-intuitive connotation. This quote has obviously been around for many years but it is so true. ( Log Out / [7] In this sense, holism may also be called "holiatry". What does this mean? "wholism, n." OED Online, Oxford University Press, September 2019, www.oed.com/view/Entry/228738. I have never been shy of work but this was a big ask, because detail and back office work is critical. ( Log Out / Recommend to friends. Now, taking this all on board and understanding that the world is becoming smaller every day with technology. This case, in which the whole is less than the sum of the parts, is far less likely than case 3 but it is also the only one which has chances of survival. This case happens when we merge two banks that have totally different businesses, say a retail bank and an investment bank. I put together a very smart model to help this team deliver a consistent report based on the convention of the standards and delivered these assessments accurately and on time. This quote has obviously been around for many years but it is so true. If you want to discuss your energy reduction strategy book a call with Paul our energy expert. C(A+B) > C(A) + C(B) – occurrence 75%. Throughout the last 15 Years in business I have coined a phrase that ‘I do not have competitors’ and some of my closest business friends actually are energy consultants or they are in this industry. In 2019 I worked with a very large organisation and I was tasked to complete twenty energy assessments across the U.K. The bottom line is that merging complex systems, such as banks, corporations or IT systems, is a risky exercise, with a very high likelihood of failure. So, the next time you wish for the whole to be greater than the sum of the parts, be careful. For a team/group/organization to be successful, the team can’t consist of individuals working independently and without cohesion. Accessed 23 October 2019. When you … ( Log Out / In this sense, "holism" may also be spelled "wholism", and it may be contrasted with reductionism or atomism. Here are the possible outcomes: Case 1. Only yesterday I was in deep conversation with one part of the world where we were discussing challenges. [8] Several approaches are used by medical doctors, dietitians, and religious institutions, usually recommended based on an individual basis. The saying 'The whole is greater than the sum of the parts', has been attributed to Gestaltists and means that you cannot understand the parts of something to understand the thing as a whole. This is the case in which the complexity of the outcome is greater than the sum of the complexities of the components. I see some, if not all, of the principles of Gestalt therapy being used at Tigerland. Find out if you’re overpaying for your business utilities with a complimentary energy assessment. I feel privileged that I have had this opportunity. In fact I was asked the same question by another company at the same time. [6] One example is in the context of holistic medicine, "holism" refers to treating all aspects of a person's health, including psychological and societal factors, rather than only his/her physical conditions or symptoms. The converse of this quote, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts,” is what I believe is true in the case of teamwork. Friends Who Liked This Quote. Try, for example, finite rotations. Data to Structure – New Paradigms in System Monitoring, Follow Quantitative Complexity Management on WordPress.com. Change ), New Perspectives and Challenges for CAE in the 21-st Century, Systemic Risks and Large-Scale Complexity Analysis of Supply Chains, When the Whole is Greater than the Sum of the Parts, Complexity and the Importance of Structure. I always say that two years time I will retire, I actually started saying when I was 50 and I’m now 56. Such an operation would probably make little sense in the first place, but the conclusion is this: if you put together two components that don’t interact or compete with each other, or ignore each other, they can co-exist almost as if no merger took place. Our industry can make a massive difference to Climate Change and one persons vision could make a difference if only we are to adopt ‘Synergy’ and the saying “ The ‘Whole’ is greater than the ‘Sum’ of its parts , Aristotle”. Very few things in Nature follow laws that are linear. Merging forcefully companies with different corporate cultures never works. But the opposite happens – a greater problem is challenged with less competence. This quote has obviously been around for many years but it is so true. I have be influential with some big and very small energy initiatives and I don’t think this this will ever stop. The Sum of the Parts is Greater than the Whole. Read more quotes from Aristotle. [read my exploration into that topic] The phrase is also used to explain the importance of Synergy and the foundations of Gestalt theory. This is the case in which the complexity of the outcome is greater than the sum of the complexities of the components. Independent utility and energy management consultancy, Company Reg: 05524279 “The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. C(A+B) < C(A) + C(B) – occurrence 20%, Case 3. “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” ― Aristotle tags: synergy. In 2020 I’m dedicating my time and investments in growing such a team and a group of B2B Global Energy Experts, this platform will be combine training, the sharing of best practices, the sharing of knowledge and case studies that evidence that working together really works.