Biotensegrity
- Ade McCormack
- Jul 30
- 1 min read
Updated: Aug 10
What is Biotensegrity?
Biotensegrity is the structural principle by which living systems maintain their integrity through a dynamic balance of tension and compression. Rather than relying on rigid structures, they continuously distribute forces across interconnected components, enabling them to adapt, recover and move efficiently.
Although organisations do not exhibit biotensegrity in the literal sense, the concept provides a useful metaphor for organisational design. Traditional organisations, with their emphasis on rigid hierarchies and processes, often lack the flexibility to adapt quickly to change. Intelligent organisations, by contrast, are designed to distribute decision-making, information and responsibility, making them more adaptive and less vulnerable to disruption.