DISRUPTION!

Rigids vs Flexibles

Organizational Adaptation & Punctuated Equilibrium — after Harrington (1999) & Beinhocker (2006)

This simulation reveals a paradox: the very traits that make leaders effective in stable times — deep expertise, unwavering conviction, consistent strategy — become fatal when the environment shifts. Watch as "Rigid" leaders rise to the top through sheer competence, then drag the whole organization down when the world changes under their feet.

Beinhocker's Key Insight

Harrington's devastating finding: the less frequent the transitions, the MORE dominant Rigids become, and the MORE catastrophic the eventual crash. Organizations that maintain a "reserve of Flexibles" — people who might seem less impressive in stable times — survive transitions with far less damage. This is the explore/exploit tradeoff in human form.

Simulation Controls

50%
80
0.10
0.10
100ms

Preset Experiments

A
Tick: 0  |  Stable for: 0 ticks  |  Switches: 0
0.00
Org Performance
50%
Rigid %
50%
Flexible %
LIVE
Simulation ready. Press Start to begin. Simulation ready. Press Start to begin.
What's Happening
Press Start to watch the organizational dynamics unfold. Rigids will lock into a strategy; Flexibles will adapt to the environment.
Adaptability
50
Experience Depth
0
Diversity
50
Vulnerability
0
Adaptation Score
--
Measures how quickly the organization recovers after each regime change. Lower is better.
Organizational Hierarchy
Coral agents are "Rigids" — they always play the same strategy. Teal agents are "Flexibles" — they adapt. Notice how the top fills up with Rigids during stable periods.
REGIME CHANGE
Rigid-A
Rigid-B
Flexible
Performance Over Time
Rigid Fraction by Level
Adaptation Cost at Regime Changes
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