Self-organizing systems

[Virginia]

Regardless of the wording, of self organizing, identifying, learning or
otherwise, opening a space for people to evolve, grow and create means they
must feel safety to do so - knowing what the boundary in which they are safe
to act within - otherwise they often end up being hurt or discriminated
against or otherwise trampled. Boundaries within, open space tech. opens the
gateway to be within them - it is so like a garden - we have weeds when
there is not intervention - things get overgrown by the dominant species -
when one tends to their garden -it is not self organizing, it is organizing
with love and care within a boundary (note that a garden is actually defined
as a space with a boundary.....).

By the way, one of the reasons I rarely offer my thoughts is because the
givens are not set on this list therefore I do not feel always safe to
expose what I truly think- I recently have heard that the list is not only
archived but also offered in strings on a website - it is not that I
disagree these things can be done - just don't do it without letting those
who contribute (or even lurk...) know  - it changes the rules without us
gnowing, or growing - Even we should remember to: show up and be present
(here I am), TELL THE TRUTH, follow what has HEART and meaning and Let it
go.
Thanks Virginia
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Charles Holloway <learnshops at THRESHOLDS.COM>
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
Date: Monday, September 06, 1999 10:31 PM
Subject: Re: Self-organizing systems


>Becoming a learning organization is an interim step, I believe, enroute to
>becoming a living organization.  This is why the concept of self-organizing
>is such an important one when considering open space (from a systems view).
>
>With the advent of enabling technology that allows complex systems (like
>organizations) begin to develop an electronic memory, and the myriad neural
>pathways that have grown through the increasing intra/inter-nets and other
>communications media, "living" organizations are quite possible.
>
>I'm not sure why "inviting" or "identifying" could be considered as
>evolutionary steps beyond the capacity for a system to learn.  They
>certainly can describe desirable characteristics of a living organization.
>
>Creating new cultures for these organizations (perhaps culture developed
>through and around Open Space...characterized by "inviting" and
>"identifying") becomes at once the great challenge and the great
>opportunity.  There is no surprise to me why so many involved in
>facilitating cultural change within complex organizations look to creating
>more flexible, adaptive organizations centered around autonomous yet
>connected people.
>
>regards,
>
>Doc
>------------------
>"A mind once stretched by a great idea or new understanding will never
fully
>return to its original dimensions." William James
>
>Richard Charles Holloway -
>P.O. Box 2361, Olympia, WA 98507 USA Telephone 253.539.4014 or 206.568.7730
>Thresholds <http://www.thresholds.com>
>Meeting Masters <http://www.thresholds.com/masters.html>