To understand the overlap, it is important to have a picture of how the three critical dimensions of social interaction that SYMLOG measures are displayed.
SYMLOG is a field theory, and one way results from SYMLOG measurements are displayed visually is in a "field" diagram. It is a field of unifying and polarizing forces that influence behavior. The "field" encompasses the major characteristics of social interaction, and, as such, each area within the field has specific meanings attributed to it.
Study the PDF "Traits often used to describe effective and ineffective leaders" for a moment, to become familiar with words typically used to describe effective and ineffective leaders, or individuals with whom you interact.
This diagram uses the same words that were randomly displayed, but have now been grouped according to the dimensions that SYMLOG measures. Note three different font sizes are used in all the groupings. The x-axis, labeled P-N, measures relationship to others, whether group or individually oriented. The y-axis, labeled F-B, measures relationship to external authority and whether accepting or rejecting.
The three font sizes are used to depict the third dimension: if the characteristic noted is generally experienced as dominant, submissive, or in between (neither dominant nor submissive).
An example diagram containing images of famous people will further aid in understanding the different characteristics associated with the evaluative space.
They describe and label, but do not integrate findings. They deal primarily, if not exclusively, with characteristics associated with the upper right hand quadrant of the SYMLOG space.
Descriptive models can provide good information to respondents about their personality, preferences, styles, decision-making processes, and the like. Since they lack a measurement system, however, or underlying theoretical basis (field theory in the case of SYMLOG), these instruments fail in some critical respects.
Most of the models describe characteristics associated with the PF part of the space, and deal, at best, with conflict in the F to P direction. This is the classic polarization between the concern for task (F) and the concern for people (P).
The diagram below indicates the four quadrants of SYMLOG, the general area covered by many of these models (a little larger than the PF quadrant alone). While this shaded PF area encompasses orientations that most people desire to be perceived, what they rate as most effective in social interaction, what is desired in the future, and where they rate those they have known as most effective leaders, many individuals are rated by others as showing value-orientations that are not in this PF area.
Each circle represents the rating of a co-worker made at the request of a boss or co-worker attending a leadership workshop.
You will note how many of the circles fall outside of the PF quadrant. How can models that do not take into account these other value-orientation deal effectively with these individuals?
A SYMLOG diagnostic provides feedback on all areas of relevant behavior or perceived values in interaction.
