Muddling Through

[Henri Lipmanowicz]

Because we all tend to forecast the future based on the present. So if it is
a mess now it will be a mess later.
Because chairing a meeting that is a mess makes the boss look bad.
Because presiding over a mess takes a lot of self-confidence, trust in
others and trust in the process.
Because what we have read and been told about innovation is fantasy.
Because managers prefer to hear about miracles.

Etc...

Henri

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Harrison
Owen
Sent: Friday, November 05, 2004 7:25 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Muddling Through

Chris wrote: Why is management that says it wants to innovate so afraid of
mess?

I guess that is pretty simple. Most managers are trained and paid to avoid
messes. Not too long ago (and maybe still) the shorthand answer to the
question: What is good management? -- was "Make the plan, manage to the
plan, and meet the plan." In short -- always be in control and never make a
mess. Your Mother wouldn't like it and neither will your Boss.

Harrison

Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, Maryland   20845
Phone 301-365-2093

Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com Open Space Institute
www.openspaceworld.org Personal website
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm
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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of chris
macrae
Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2004 1:46 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Muddling Through

Maybe I mis-worded what I was trying to say. Why is it we live in a world
where an organisation that asks for consultant or facilitation help expects
first a proposal that makes everything look neat and controllable rather
than one that says well the messes we will need to go through before we will
have a chance of knowing what next to do are:
...
I think I met a comfort in terms of confidence in understanding that mess is
the first step into any real innovation; ideally confidence to rip up crap
proposals of the sort that make innovation sound tidy and controllable
before you start...

Why is management that says it wants to innovate so afraid of mess?

Cheers
chris
----

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Harrison
Owen
Sent: 04 November 2004 18:03
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Muddling Through

Chris -- I think helping them to feel comfortable with the mess may be
wasted effort. I think a more productive approach might be to help them to
see there is no option -- and then get on with the business. Actually, I
think the very dis-comfort of the moment may be the most useful thing going
down just now.

Harrison

Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, Maryland   20845
Phone 301-365-2093

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