In the book reinventing organisations, Frederic Laloux recounts the history of how people have worked together in organisations.

He proposed different paradigms, each with their own colour and characteristics.

Red

The metaphor of the wolf pack is useful when describing the red paradigm as people would organise into tribes with a powerful leader who inspires fear with the group's enemies and compliance within the group. This paradigm is most useful in Chaos where the powerful leader might be the only reason the group survives.

The breakthrough ideas command authority where a leader sets a direction and people follow allowing them to work towards a common goal and the division of labour where people specialise in a specific type of work that benefits the overall group

The main limitation for red organisations is that they are shortsighted which is required to survive the chaos

Guiding Metaphor: Wolf Pack

Defining Characteristic: Powerful Leader

Breakthrough Ideas: Command Authority and division of labour

Example organisations: Mafia, street gangs and tribal militia

Limitation: Shortsightedness

Amber

{color:red} bla {color} doesn't work

These organisations evolved as organisations in Red which are fear-based were not able to have long term success. Amber emerged as hierarchical patterns (Roman Army or Catholic Church) enabled the focus on long term goals which is only possible with stable leadership. A strict hierarchical structure leads to stability and exerts control over lower levels of the hierarchy.

Guiding Metaphor: Army

Defining Characteristic: Strict Hierarchical Structure

Breakthrough Ideas: Long term, Strong Processes, Formal Roles

Example organisations: Public Schools (USA), Governments, Traditional Churches

Limitation: