Weick’s Clock, a Semiotic for Organising
In our continuing discussion of Weick we can now explore one of Weick’s semiotics, a clock for visualising ‘commensurate complexity’. This is based on Thorngate’s postulate, that it is impossible for a theory of social behaviour to be simultaneously: general, accurate and simple.
In order to understand this, Weick uses the logic and graphic of an analogue clock, to highlight a problem. He argues that as we sweep the clock and sit in various positions between these three virtues that we enter into a dialectic between each. Weick’s clock is below (p.36. The Social Psychology of Organising).
The idea of the semiotic is to demonstrate that whatever position one holds in theorising about social behaviour, one cannot hold to all three virtues at once.
Weick then proceeds to discuss the nature of inquiry that results from theorising and discusses the instability of holding to any one of the three virtues that should be only considered in dialectic together (https://safetyrisk.net/the-dialectic-of-weick-free-workshops/).
This inter-dependence and intra-dependence is critical in understanding what Weick calls (p. 26, 27, 64) the ‘madness’ and ‘theatrics’ of organising.
In this section of his book he talks about six strategies for thinking about theorising, these are:
- Know what you’re
- Acknowledge trade-offs.
- Think “ing.”
- Mutate
- Incorporate
- Evoke mini-theories.
In this section Weick discusses the need to think in and through aphorisms with a clear link back to the grook of Hein (https://safetyrisk.net/weicks-grook-and-the-authority-power-myth/). He states:
The interesting characteristic of aphorisms is that knowledge is distilled rather than deduced, and that it has a developing character much like interpretations in context.
This stands in stark contrast to the assertions of ‘science’ and the myths of objectivity and ‘laws’ (p. 40).
For many in safety who have only read portions of Weick, much of his philosophy will be unknown.
This will be unpacked in our free workshop series on Weick and HROing to be undertaken in June, you can register for them here: admin@spor.com.au.
Registrations close on 9 May. The group is limited to 40.
Prof. Robert Long
Latest posts by Prof. Robert Long (see all)
- Weick’s Social Collectivism - June 15, 2026
- Do You Care Enough to Blame in Safety? - June 14, 2026
- Slogan Seduction and Safety Beliefs - June 13, 2026
- Weick and Organisational Sensemaking - June 12, 2026
- Safety Beliefs – Free Workshop July - June 10, 2026