Chrysalis is organized as a bottom-up organization in which as much power as possible is given to the teachers, families and students. One of the main inspirations for this organizational approach was Dee Hock. The following two articles give a great introduction to fascinating ideas.
Another inspiration was the following book.
Complexity: The Emerging Science at the Edge of Order and Chaos
by M. Mitchell Waldrop, 1992, Touchstone
This popular book's description of "emergent properties" helped fuel the vision within Chrysalis's charter. (Four quotes from the book included in our charter.) The book's subject matter helped strengthen our faith that Systems Thinking should be an important part of Chrysalis's curriculum.