The Need for Organisational Resilience - Chapter 1

have to develop a greater repository of methods with regards to where, when and how to

attack. Such flexibility would have to be exercised with speed, as a prolonged stand-off could

not be sustained.

Progressive (Achieving results)

Performance Optimisation (Improving and exploiting)

Adaptive Innovation (Imagining and creating)

Consistency (Goals, processes, routines)

Flexibility (Ideas, views, actions)

Mindful Action (Noticing and responding)

Preventative Control (Monitoring and complying)

Defensive (Protecting results)

Figure 1.5: German Resilience portfolio

Two distinctively different approaches of resilient organising opposed each other in

May/June 1940. These approaches manifested themselves as a result of the historical

lessons of WWI, as well as the need to be defensive or to be progressive. The need for

German progressiveness was rooted in the need to ‘surprise’ the Allies, as a traditional

attack was likely to lead to a standoff the Germans knew they could not sustain. The Allies

prepared to defend themselves with a rigid defensive approach that allowed only so many

scenarios.

[Text Box starts] De Jomini: Grand Tactics and Battles

Defensive Battles

1. To have communications to the front so as to make it easier to fall upon the enemy at a

favourable moment than it is for him to approach the line of battle.

2. To give the artillery maximum impact in defence.

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