A Relational View of the Dynamics in Emergent Systems

[Deborah Hartmann]

How about adding "The Child" - the person who approaches this as a new 
and wondrous experience, injecting great joy into the experience for 
others. At RoCoCoCamp, these ranged between 1 and 80 years of age.

Peggy Holman wrote:
> During a recent gathering, I found myself looking at the dynamics of 
> emergence from an entirely new angle: the roles that are present.
>  
> Harrison provided us a great gift when he named the four principles 
> and law of being in Open Space.  I wonder if it might be useful to 
> know something about the roles that seem to be present when emergence 
> happens.
>  
> Below is my sense of those roles.  Some are no doubt more critical 
> than others; the list hasn't yet benefitted from the "one less thing 
> to do" treatment.  I have missed some that are critical?  Which are 
> truly vital and which are just interesting?
>  
> I'd love to know your thoughts.
>  
> appreciatively,
> Peggy
>  
> ***********************
>  
>
> A Relational View of the Dynamics in Emergent Systems
>
>  
>
> When emergence in social systems occurs, it results from a variety of 
> roles.  Should any of them be missing, the chance of coherence 
> converging into novelty -- of finding the simplicity on the other side 
> of complexity -- is unlikely. 
>
>  
>
> The roles may be played by one or a variety of people.  Sometimes they 
> are even aspects of the environment.  The ones we already know:
>
>  
>
> *Attractor* -- Someone(s) who ask a calling question, inviting the 
> system to come present.  We typically call this person the sponsor.
>
>  
>
> *Guide* -- Someone(s) provide hospitable space for the work.  
> Sometimes this includes a process that channels energy, other times, 
> it is simply ensuring the gentle structures for a nutrient environment 
> are present.  In group process work, this is the person identified as 
> the facilitator.
>
>  
>
> *The People of the System* -- these are the people who bring the 
> varied voices of the system.  The broader the definition of the 
> system, the more variety in the room.
>
>  
>
> *Disturber* -- This is something from outside the system (a person on 
> act of nature) that interrupts existing assumptions or patterns.  It 
> can also be someone/something from inside the system that is 
> differentiating itself in a way that interrupts the given assumptions 
> and patterns.
>
>  
>
> *Bridge/translator* -- someone who can provide a sufficient hook for 
> others in the system to connect with the disturbance/disturber.  
> Without this role, rather than creative use of the disturbance, it 
> will likely be resisted or rejected by the system's immune system.  
> These folks are active in the conversation, helping the rest of the 
> group connect with what the disturber is attempting to express.
>
>  
>
> *Edge worker *-- a easy to overlook and critical role!  Edge workers 
> are generally butterflies who hang at the margins.  When someone uses 
> their two feet to move because they're disturbed, an edge worker 
> listens, sees, and honors that participant.  Edge workers are gifted 
> at staying present to what is happening for the other person, artfully 
> reflecting back what they experience and in so doing, support that 
> participant to discover the nugget hidden in their dissonance.
>
>  
>
> *Organizer* -- once new insights start to emerge, someone(s) grasps 
> the threads and starts to weave them into a new story, one from which 
> action flows.
>
> * *
>
> *"Artists" bringing multiple modes of interaction* -- bringing 
> different forms of expression -- words, music, art, movement -- 
> matters.  It helps move beyond stuck places, engaging people on 
> different channels, which seems to amplify the effectiveness of the 
> interactions.
>
>  
>
>  
>
>  
>  
> ________________________________
> Peggy Holman
> The Open Circle Company
> 15347 SE 49th Place
> Bellevue, WA  98006
> (425) 746-6274
>  
> www.opencirclecompany.com <http://www.opencirclecompany.com>
>  
>
> For the new edition of The Change Handbook, go to:
> www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook 
> <http://www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook>
>  
> "An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get 
> burnt, is to become
> the fire".
>   -- Drew Dellinger
> * * ========================================================== 
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To 
> subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of 
> oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu: 
> http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about 
> OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist 

-- 

Deborah Hartmann
Agile Process Coach
deborah.hartmann.net
mobile: 416 996 4337

"Learn the principle, 
abide by the principle, and 
dissolve the principle." 
-- Bruce Lee


*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html

To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.openspacetech.org/pipermail/oslist-openspacetech.org/attachments/20070819/d17be6ac/attachment-0008.htm>