Success through Inattention in School Administration and Elsewhere

Abstract

Two ways of achieving success in social coordination or organization are examined: by unilateral or hierarchical controls and multilateral controls. The advantages of mutual adjustment as an alternative to central coordination are examined. Mutual adjustment occurs in diverse ways, such as through language creation, moral codes, biological self-selection, market systems, and politics. Examples of its operation in administration are reviewed. Despite the claims for mutual adjustment, it sometimes fails. Mutual adjustment as a theme in intellectual history is explored. Finally, inferences and implications are discussed. For example, since the great problem of social organization is no longer order, but getting results, mutual adjustment has advantages. It also is closely related to democracy and to the pursuit of social equality.