The US Army has a process called 'After Action Review' which is central to their efforts to be a learning and adapting organization.  The purpose of this process is to learn from history and not repeat the same mistakes- an important concept if you want to save lives on the battle field.  Please join me after the jump, this is going to get a little ... different...

 Three questions are asked of all team members involved in the action under review:

1. What happened?

2. Why do you think it happened?

3. What can we learn from what happened?

What is most important about this simple process is that every member of the team is included.  A tremendous amount of diverse data can be generated through this process, and that is a good thing.  More on this later.  

Science Can Build A Better Team!

The leading edge of organizational development study is being driven by the exploration of scientific concepts and theory. Science such as:

Quantum Mechanics (the theory of atoms and molecules, their structure and complex adaptive systems)

Chaos Theory (the study of nonlinear dynamics, where seemingly random events are actually predictable from simple deterministic equations) hint: remember McD'smath background

Biology (the science of life and of living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, and distribution)

These sciences are being explored to design better models for team/ organization structure and development.  As a key point of understanding in how these sciences can contribute to organizational design, you must realize that there are no independent entities at the quantum level.  Everything depends on relationships.  Teams can be thought of as webs of relationships. 

The point is critical, the most effective teams are successful regardless of control.  Relationships hold things together in quantum nature despite the appearance of chaos- the pattern is there even if it is not obvious.  When an extremely successful team encounters chaos on the field, and control is lost, the relationships that make up the team overcome and order persists, often resulting in victory. 

Order versus control is the basis of what separates old thinking on team models and the new concepts of team design.  Order canexist without control.  Teams led by dictators can only reach a certain level of sustained success.  Dictatorships work best when operating under a 'nothing changes' premise.  The instant something changes, the system collapses.  When you apply this model to football, you get the San Diego Chargers, a group of individually talented players that just tries to force their will on oponents without changing.  A different model is needed, one based on relationships, shared values, mutual trust, and inspiring vision.  Enter Josh McDaniels' Amoeba Broncos...

After the loss in Baltimore- The After Action Review

Coach McDaniels assigned the members of the team to answer the three questions they answer after every game, similar to what the US Army does as referenced above.  This time though it is from a completely different perspective- one of defeat (change.)  Again, everyone did their job and submitted their answers, compiling a massive amount of data to review.  This mass of data became overwhelming and put the team in a state of confusion.  

Ironically, as in quantum nature, this state of confusion or chaos is actually a good thing.  Adaptability and new ideas are born in this place.  The team evolves based on their embedded patterns from training and practice and the new information begins to assimilate into the existing patterns.  Order begins to prevail, just as in quantum nature.   

Because of the process above, there will be things that the Broncos will bring to the game on Monday that none of us have seen from the team before.  Much is made of the team's amazing 2nd half adjustments, and we can be assured of the same results on MNF. 

Coach McDaniels' Adaptive Relationship-Based Team Model

Josh McDaniels is unlike any other coach in the NFL.  He has a gift for identifying and assembling players who are capable of learning, being unselfish, and doing their jobs.  McDaniels has a strong math education, was raised to play and coach football and is as emotionally intelligent as they come.  Football is McDaniels' life.  He is on the cutting edge of the newest concepts in team design and development.