
Chapter VII—Application: The Rollercoaster of Change 289
Tool #51 The Natural Life Cycle
Application of Natural Cycles of Change
As systems, we pass through phases or cycles: birth, growth, maturity, decline, death (or
renewal). Nothing lives forever, but you can use strategic planning/thinking to get ahead of the
power curve. Just remember that solutions to complex problems take time and need to be
appropriate for your place on the life cycle.
Chaos is also part of this decline and, believe it or not, is a natural stage in evolution. Just keep
it moving you forward into renewal—not death.
Normal Life Cycle
Development-Rollout-Effectiveness-Decline-Ren ...