Gaia Organization

Name: Gaia Organization
ISBN: 9787111696209

况阳China Machine Press · ChinaNov 2025

3.5

Word count: 206K words
Chapters: 93
ISBN: 9787111696209

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Summary

Organizations possess a biological nature, a psychological nature, and a social nature—these are the three natures of an organization. Endowing an organization with these three natures gives it its first life. Giving it a second life means turning it into a Gaia organization composed of highly vibrant individuals and symbiotic relationships among organizations. Drawing on well-known companies such as Huawei, Alibaba, and ByteDance as principal case studies, this book probes the essence of organizations, exploring both the "why" at the level of fundamental nature and the "how" at the level of methodology. Readers will not only gain insight into the nature of organizations but also learn to build a Gaia organization that is full of vitality and capable of sustainable operation.

Editor's review

Gaia Organization is a forward-looking work of management literature. Drawing on his years of hands-on experience in organizational development at large technology companies, author Kuang Yang systematically explores how organizations can evolve toward more vital and adaptive forms in the VUCA era (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity). The book's core concept, "Gaia," derives from the earth goddess of Greek mythology, symbolizing that organizations should, like living systems, possess the capacity for self-regulation, symbiotic collaboration, and continuous evolution. Rather than dealing in abstract theory, the author combines rich real-world cases and methodologies to dissect the predicaments of traditional bureaucratic organizations and propose new principles of organizational design and management centered on activating individuals, empowering teams, and shaping ecosystems. For managers, HR practitioners, and readers concerned with the future of work amid the wave of digital transformation, the book's value lies in offering a coherent and actionable framework of thinking and practical tools that help readers understand how to build a "living" organization capable of responding to drastic external change while sparking internal innovation. Rigorous in argument and clear in logic, it combines strategic vision with concrete operational guidance, making it a solid and thought-provoking work in the field of organizational management in recent years.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Senior and mid-level managers in enterprises seeking organizational change and transformation
Professionals and researchers in human resources and organizational development
Entrepreneurs and team leaders interested in how platform-based and ecosystem-oriented organizations operate
Business school students and professionals who wish to understand future work models and management trends

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking simple, quick-fix management techniques or universal solutions
General workplace newcomers with no interest in organizational theory or systematic management frameworks

Reading tips

Read the first three chapters straight through to build an overall understanding of the core concept of the "Gaia organization" and its contemporary context.
As you read, compare the ideas with the actual state of your own organization and try to identify the challenges and opportunities the book describes.
For the specific methodologies and tools the book proposes, such as the "empowerment triangle model," choose one or two entry points for in-depth study and consider how they might be applied.

About the publisher

China Machine Press China · Founded in 1950

In addition to science and technology and professional publishing, the books in our catalog from China Machine Press also reflect a sustained focus on psychology, computing, management, finance and economics, and social sciences. In psychology, the catalog includes works by C. G. Jung and introductions to analytical psychology, as well as applied topics such as stress and health, and addiction and healing. In computing, it features Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (JavaScript Edition). Management and finance titles include Administrative Behavior (4th Edition), The Price of Inequality (Collector's Edition), and This Time Is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly (Commemorative Edition). In the philosophy and history of science, there is The Worldview: The Third Edition. Relevant authors include C. G. Jung, William McGuire, Sonu Shamdasani, and Gabor Maté. Public information is limited; the above summarizes the publisher's profile based solely on the books in our catalog.

版权信息
作者简介
推荐语
推荐序组织发展的未来
序言看见盖亚
致谢
第一部分从组织到盖亚组织
第一章组织是什么
两种组织的迷思
组织隐喻
熵的引入
上一个台阶看问题
组织观的进化
第二章初识盖亚组织
关于盖亚
盖亚组织
第二部分解剖高活力组织
第三章组织的三性
部门墙效应
煤气灯效应
斯坦福监狱实验
组织的三重属性
第四章组织的生物性：自组织框架
人的生物性
组织也有生物性
蚂蚁的故事
蜜蜂的故事
涌现
自组织
第五章组织的生物性：网状组织
组织设计：客户导向的全功能型组织
人才设计：高流动的成熟人
第六章组织的生物性：远离舒适区的开放组织
红王后的故事
组织一定要远离舒适区
组织一定要开放
组织要能自我催化
华为和阿里巴巴是耗散结构吗
第七章组织的生物性：动态组织
规模要小
结构要扁平
管理层要流动
宽带人才结构
第八章组织的生物性：自组织实践
不太成功的自组织实践：美捷步公司
比较成功的自组织实践：维尔福公司
第九章组织的心理性：组织心智
典型组织心智
第十章组织的心理性：工作动机
动机图谱
华为的动机图谱
三个基本心理需求
基本心理需求与绩效使能
华为动机状态剖析
第十一章组织的社会性：群体动力
一则寓言故事的启示
搭便车效应与傻瓜效应
社会惰化与内在动机
群体绩效分布探析
群体动力
组织协同
团队建设的重要性
第十二章组织的社会性：组织文化
文化的三层结构
理念层
制度层
器物层
文化的评估
第十三章组织活力综述
第三部分解剖组织生态
第十四章组织生态
要素1：组织必须找到独特的生态位
要素2：组织的业务必须适度多元化
要素3：组织必须构建起清晰的价值大循环
要素4：组织必须不断扩大生存空间
第四部分盖亚组织
第十五章盖亚组织综合指数
第十六章盖亚组织原则
原则1：流程最小化，关系最大化
原则2：打开组织边界，让组织成为开放组织
原则3：把组织驱离安全港湾，让组织始终处于不进则退的爬坡状态
原则4：一支“会玩”的HR队伍对提升组织活力至关重要
原则5：破除固定周期，让组织随需而动
原则6：坚持培育员工的内在动机
原则7：组织要有灵魂
原则8：组织机制的设计必须围绕组织理念进行
原则9：给信仰一个停靠的港湾
原则10：组织要找到自己独特的生态位
原则11：从一棵大树到一片森林
原则12：大家好才是真的好
原则13：放眼全球
结语
参考文献

FAQ

How does this book differ from common books on organizational models such as Amoeba management or Holacracy?

This book does not simply introduce a particular organizational model; it starts from a more fundamental living-systems mindset and constructs a comprehensive theoretical framework for organizational adaptability, evolution, and ecosystem symbiosis. It integrates and moves beyond discussions of any single model, focusing instead on revealing the fundamental principles and capabilities organizations need to possess for the future.

Are the ideas in the book practically relevant to small and mid-sized teams or startups?

Highly relevant. The principles of agility, empowerment, and ecosystem collaboration emphasized by the "Gaia organization" are precisely what many small and mid-sized organizations rely on to survive and grow. The book's ideas on activating individuals, minimizing rules, and building networks of trust and collaboration offer directly applicable lessons for startups building a healthy, resilient organizational culture.

What is author Kuang Yang's background, and are his views trustworthy?

Author Kuang Yang has extensive hands-on experience, having been deeply involved in organizational development and transformation projects at leading domestic technology companies. This frontline practitioner background means the book's views are not purely academic deductions but stem from observation, practice, and reflection in a wealth of real business settings, giving them high credibility and practical reference value.

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About the author

况阳 Author

Kuang Yang is a Chinese author whose writing focuses mainly on management. Publicly available information about him is limited, and no clear records of his biography, education, or professional positions have been found. Four of his works are included in the catalog: OKR: The Goal-Management Tool Originating at Intel and Google, True OKR, Gaia Organization, and The Four Maps of Huawei's Strategic Success, all classified under management. Judging by their themes, he attends to goal-management methods, organizational design, and the formulation and execution of corporate strategy, and is skilled at turning abstract management ideas into operable practices through concrete frameworks and cases. His writing addresses managers and workplace readers, leans toward practical concerns, and stresses the connection between tools and execution, forming a relatively concentrated body of expression on OKR and organizational management.