Page 52 - The Resilient Organization

Parts More Resilient than the Whole 39

Ford, and Chrysler while seeking to build its business after World War II,
rose to become the world’s largest car manufacturer (before losing its way
in 2009). Nokia rose to the world’s largest mobile phone maker from near
bankruptcy in the late 1980s. Similarly, Apple has been on the run after
having had a difficult time in the 1990s.
According to the toughness logic, resilience is a matter of experiencing
hardship, which may have led to diminished expectations and increased
self-confidence for survival. It is about making do with very little (and thriv-
ing on resource scarcity). The Finns, having lived through and survived as
a nation a number of wars with their much bigger Eastern neighbor, know
toughness. The Winter War of 1939 to 1940, which the Finns fought
against the invading Soviets, is an example of tenacity against all odds. Sisu,
the Finnish word for tenacity, means not giving up—no matter what. (It
is often said that Finns know how to deal with hardship but are rather
baffled by success, which they suspect poses a subtle threat to the ability to
stay clear-minded.) Hardship develops character, they say.

The Third Etiology of Resilience

Experience of Hardship (Diminished Expectations
Increased Determination) Resilience (or Lack Thereof)

The “Summary of the Logics That Contribute to Resilience” sidebar
shows the characteristics of the competitive, institutional, and survival logics.

SUMMARY OF THE LOGICS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO RESILIENCE

Competitive Logics
Value creation
Collaboration
Dominance
Institutional Logics
Heritage or promise: Stand for something.
Legitimacy
Ability to wreak havoc (too big to fail)

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