197
Improvisional Patterns According to Stark (2012)
Stark (2012) further expands on Borchers’ equation (2000, 2001, 2008) using the ‘pattern language of
music’ as a process of organisation in the field of improvisation. For improvisation in organisation and
social systems, Stark developed a protracted version of Borchers’ equation that includes an additional
step in the process: ‘con’ - the consequences from the challenge. Consequently Stark’s explanation of
each pattern (p) is as follows:
• A typical organisational or systemic challenge (nc);
• A set of forces (f) which have an impact on;
• The specific settings (s) and time dynamics (t);
• One or more solutions (sol);
• Examples (e) of the patterns; and
• The consequences for the challenge (con).
The patterns then represent and create a set of relationships that prove to be viable solutions for the
challenges presented, but that also create new patterns and relationships while performed based on the
forces they display. Stark’s equation systematically put order to these relationships. The patterns
therefore can be the key to understanding the organisation’s deep levels, the ‘unknown’ of modern and
complex organisational and social cultures. According to Stark, the ‘improvisional patterns’ therefore
bear the built-in dynamics of repetitive principles combined with solutions, and includes extreme variable timeframes that are similar to fractals (Stark, 2012, p. 92).
Both Borchers and Stark’s work is built on the foundation of pattern languages initiated by
Alexander et al. (1977). Although A Pattern Language (1977) sets out the 253 patterns of building,
and does not describe the mathematical thinking behind the patterns, the initial calculations in The
Synthesis of Form (1964) and the later work The Nature of Order (2001–2005a, b) by Alexander
include and explain the formulation of the patterns in A Pattern Language, and also formulate the
concept of ‘wholeness’.
References
Alexander, C. (1964). Notes on the Synthesis of Form. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Alexander, C., Ishikawa, S., Silverstein, M., Jacobson, M., Fiksdahl-King, I., & Angel, S. (1977). A
pattern language: Towns, buildings, construction. New York: Oxford University Press.
Alexander, C. (2001–2005a). The nature of order - an essay on the art of building and the nature of the
universe, book one: The phenomenon of Life. Berkeley, CA: The Center for Environmental Structure.
Alexander, C. (2001–2005b). The nature of order - An essay on the art of building and the nature of
the universe, book two: The process of creating life. Berkeley, CA: The Center for Environmental
Structure.
Borchers, J. (2000). A pattern approach to interaction design. In Proceedings of the ACM DIS 2000 international conference on designing interactive systems, August 17–19 (pp. 1–10). New York: ACM.
Borchers, J. (2001). A pattern approach to interaction design. AI & Society, 15 (4), 359–376. London:
Springer-Verlag London Limited.
Borchers, J. (2008). A pattern approach to interaction design. In P.G. Satinder (Ed.), Cognition, communication and interaction: Transdisciplinary perspectives on interactive technology (pp. 114–129)
London: Springer-Verlag.
Stark, W. (2012). Tacit knowledge and innovation patterns for communities and social systems. In
H. B. Neis (Ed.), Generative process, patterns, and the urban challenge. (pp. 89–95). Oregon:
PUARL ARUS Press.
Appendix 2
Improvisional Patterns According to Stark (2012)
Stark (2012) further expands on Borchers’ equation (2000, 2001, 2008) using the ‘pattern language of
music’ as a process of organisation in the field of improvisation. For improvisation in organisation and
social systems, Stark developed a protracted version of Borchers’ equation that includes an additional
step in the process: ‘con’ - the consequences from the challenge. Consequently Stark’s explanation of
each pattern (p) is as follows:
• A typical organisational or systemic challenge (nc);
• A set of forces (f) which have an impact on;
• The specific settings (s) and time dynamics (t);
• One or more solutions (sol);
• Examples (e) of the patterns; and
• The consequences for the challenge (con).
The patterns then represent and create a set of relationships that prove to be viable solutions for the
challenges presented, but that also create new patterns and relationships while performed based on the
forces they display. Stark’s equation systematically put order to these relationships. The patterns
therefore can be the key to understanding the organisation’s deep levels, the ‘unknown’ of modern and
complex organisational and social cultures. According to Stark, the ‘improvisional patterns’ therefore
bear the built-in dynamics of repetitive principles combined with solutions, and includes extreme variable timeframes that are similar to fractals (Stark, 2012, p. 92).
Both Borchers and Stark’s work is built on the foundation of pattern languages initiated by
Alexander et al. (1977). Although A Pattern Language (1977) sets out the 253 patterns of building,
and does not describe the mathematical thinking behind the patterns, the initial calculations in The
Synthesis of Form (1964) and the later work The Nature of Order (2001–2005a, b) by Alexander
include and explain the formulation of the patterns in A Pattern Language, and also formulate the
concept of ‘wholeness’.
References
Alexander, C. (1964). Notes on the Synthesis of Form. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Alexander, C., Ishikawa, S., Silverstein, M., Jacobson, M., Fiksdahl-King, I., & Angel, S. (1977). A
pattern language: Towns, buildings, construction. New York: Oxford University Press.
Alexander, C. (2001–2005a). The nature of order - an essay on the art of building and the nature of the
universe, book one: The phenomenon of Life. Berkeley, CA: The Center for Environmental Structure.
Alexander, C. (2001–2005b). The nature of order - An essay on the art of building and the nature of
the universe, book two: The process of creating life. Berkeley, CA: The Center for Environmental
Structure.
Borchers, J. (2000). A pattern approach to interaction design. In Proceedings of the ACM DIS 2000 international conference on designing interactive systems, August 17–19 (pp. 1–10). New York: ACM.
Borchers, J. (2001). A pattern approach to interaction design. AI & Society, 15 (4), 359–376. London:
Springer-Verlag London Limited.
Borchers, J. (2008). A pattern approach to interaction design. In P.G. Satinder (Ed.), Cognition, communication and interaction: Transdisciplinary perspectives on interactive technology (pp. 114–129)
London: Springer-Verlag.
Stark, W. (2012). Tacit knowledge and innovation patterns for communities and social systems. In
H. B. Neis (Ed.), Generative process, patterns, and the urban challenge. (pp. 89–95). Oregon:
PUARL ARUS Press.
Appendix 2