Passion and Responsibility based Governance Model: Dynamic Self-Governance (Sociocracy) Workshop

Sun Sep 6 20:39:19 PDT 2009

I'd be happy to explain more about Dynamic Governance/Sociocracy.

I've read part of the book, (We the People, co-authored by John Buck and
Sharon Villines) and 2 articles, experienced an hour talk at a local  
bookstore,
and had a few conversations with John Buck, who'll be giving the  
workshop in
September. John's passion for Sociocracy brought him to the  
Netherlands and
lead him to learn Dutch so that he could learn about Sociocracy where  
it was
born in it's modern form.

So I'll tell you what I do know and invite others who have knowledge  
of the
process/practice to add their knowledge too. Ultimately, the more I  
understand
it, the more it draws me in.

It's been described as Democracy 2.0 and from what I've gathered so  
far the
difference between the democracy practiced in much of the western  
world and the
Sociocratic model is that Democracy is rule by majority and Sociocracy  
is rule by
society.

The idea of a sociocracy, a self-governing society, dates from the  
early nineteenth
century when the French philosopher Auguste Comte (1798–1857)  
advocated a
society based on a balance of scientific method and humanism. But it's  
Gerard
Endenburg of the Netherlands who is the modern day founder of  
Sociocracy. He
began his experiments with it 40 years ago within his company Endenberg
Elektrotechniek because he wanted to test it's limits within  
capitalism. And they
work brilliantly together. And now it's being used in many countries  
around the world
in businesses, non-profits, schools, intentional communities, etc.  
It's fascinating!

Sociocracy is another tool that holds space and allows organizations  
and communities
to be run using servant leadership as it's model.

One way to describe it being a model to practice servant leadership in  
an organization/community, comes out of the game "Rock, Paper,  
Scissors." When you play
that game each of the three possibilities can end up as both leader or  
follower. Paper
covers rock, rock breaks scissors, and scissors cuts paper. It's a  
Circular Hierarchy.
That's what servant leadership is, the practice of circular hierarchy.  
It's the dance of
leader and follower. Dynamic Governance uses that same principle.

In any sociocratic organization there are a series of Decision Circles  
interlocking
with the Circles above and below through Double-Link representation.

Circles are organized around specific interests or defined purpose or  
aim. You are a
continuous member of the circle that connects to your passion/purpose.  
This could be
the marketing department, the management team, the community members  
interested
in park beautification, etc.

Circle meetings are run through a process where each topic (proposed  
at the last
meeting or proposed prior to the meeting) is presented by the sponsor  
or group facilitator. There is a comment round where each person is  
asked to give their opinion/thoughts
about the proposal and the opportunity to voice a paramount objection  
to the proposal.
In essence a paramount objection is based on a reasoned statement  
about how the
proposal goes against the defined purpose/aim of the group circle or  
would prohibit
the group from carrying out their purpose. If no paramount objection  
is raised, if necessary
the proposal is modified, then reviewed again, and adopted.

John Buck describes the system like driving a car to the grocery  
store. You're free to drive
the car to the grocery anytime you wish unless the car has a paramount  
objection. The paramount objection from the car would arise when the  
car needed oil or gas to run
properly. Without the provision for oil and gas for the car being  
built into the system, the purpose cannot be met. The measures are  
like the instruments on the car telling you
whether you have the input needed to achieve your purpose. Again, a  
paramount
objection is raised if the Circle's purpose is inhibited by the  
proposal.

So like OS, each topic is proposed by someone in the circle not given  
as a top-down
order (unlike OS, the Marketplace/agenda is created before the  
meeting). Like OS each
topic has space for everyone to comment, but does not need the group  
to agree, only
to not object. It's a consent model, not consensus. So, like OS action  
rounds, if someone
has passion for an initiative they propose it and those interested in  
joining/aiding the
proposal contribute, and those who don't have interest, simply do not  
need to be involved,
but consent (their dis-interest does not need to bring down the energy  
of those passionate about a proposal).

Each proposal, once implemented is measured for it's results, using  
either profit, or other
measures such as persons served in the case of a non-profit. The  
continual Leading (forwarding a proposal), Doing (implementing),  
Measuring model.

In each Circle there is one member of the Circle who also belongs to  
the Circle above.
In the Circle above there are two members who sat in the Circle below,  
one from the
Circle in conversation and one from the Circle below who represents  
their own Circle's
interest and ideas in the Circle above. ~ if this sounds confusing see  
this diagram from
the NVC (non-Violent Communication) website:

http://www.cnvc.org/en/node/4714

NVC has adopted Sociocracy as their governing model.

One fascinating aspect of Sociocracy is that one could propose to run  
the circle wholly
as a rotating autocracy, or majority rule, or in Open Space. And as  
long as there were
no paramount objections, the proposal would take affect. What an open  
way to govern
- with anything possible.

What does everyone think?

with grace and love,

Zelle

Zelle Nelson
Know Place Like Home • Engaging the Soul at Work • State of Grace Document
www.knowplacelikehome.com
www.engagingthesoulatwork.com
www.stateofgracedocument.com
zelle at knowplacelikehome.com

work/home: (001) 828.693.0802
mobile: (001) 847.951.7030
Isle of Skye
2021 Greenville Hwy
Flat Rock, NC 28731
USA

On Sep 2, 2009, at 7:14 AM, Harrison Owen wrote:

> Sounds interesting. Why not tell us about it?
>
> Harrison
>
> Harrison Owen
> 189 Beaucaire Ave
> Camden, ME 04843
> 207-763-3261 (Summer)
> 301-365-2093 (Winter)
> Website www.openspaceworld.com
> Personal Website www.ho-image.com
> OSLIST To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
>
>
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of  
> Zelle Nelson
> Sent: Tuesday, September 01, 2009 8:33 PM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: Passion and Responsibility based Governance Model: Dynamic  
> Self-Governance (Sociocracy) Workshop
>
> Hello ~
>
> Maureen McCarthy and I have come across a fascinating governance  
> process that is built on:
>
> • Passion and responsibility for each member of the organization,  
> government body, non-profit, family, etc.
> • Double-linked, overlapping circles of interest/responsibilities
> • "Law of Two Feet" and Marketplace like action-based decision  
> making process in circle
> • Continual "Leading, Doing, Measuring" cycle of improvement
>
> Dynamic Self-Governance (Sociocracy) has it's modern day origins in  
> the Netherlands and is now used across all types of organization  
> with great success.
>
> We're co-sponsoring a Workshop coming up, September 18-20 near  
> Asheville, NC USA, where you can learn about how this process works.
>
> To find out more about Dynamic Self-Governance (Sociocracy): http://governancealive.com/
>
> or Read the book: We the People Consenting to a Deeper Democracy by  
> John Buck and Sharon Villines: http://www.sociocracy.info/book.html
>
> or Attend the Workshop (see the flyer: http://maureenandzelle.com/sociocracy.htm) 
> ; and/or read more below:
>
> DYNAMIC GOVERNANCE WORKSHOP
>
>
> Dynamic Self-Governance, also known as Sociocracy, is a cutting edge  
> system of running organizations that uses systems and chaos  
> theories. Organizations and communities using this model are  
> flexible, efficient, inclusive, resilient, sustainable, creative and  
> fun. Dynamic Self-Governance maximizes efficiency and equality and  
> is being adopted by communities, businesses and nonprofits.
>
> A two day training on dynamic governance is now offered in  
> Asheville, NC. More information is provided below.
>
> DATES & TIME - Weekend Workshop
> Friday, September 18 at 7:00—9:00 pm
> Saturday, September 19 at 9:00 am—5:00 pm
> Sunday, September 20 at 9:00 am—5:00 pm
>
> PLACE
> Highland Lake - The LakeHouse Lodge & Spa
> 447 Lily Pad Lane
> Flat Rock, NC 28731
> 828-693-5070
> www.highlandlake.com
>
> REGISTRATION
> Call or email:
> 800-870-2092
> contact at governancealive.com
>
> PRICE
> Workshop Fee: $200
> Lunch: $10/day (optional)
> Lodging: $125 per night at The LakeHouse Lodge & Spa
>
> Please forward this information to all interested individuals,  
> reserve your seat early, and let us know if you have any questions.
> ~~~~~
>
> We can see many cross-over and synergistic opportunities to combine  
> Open Space, Dynamic Governance, and other tools like the State of  
> Grace Document and Appreciative Inquiry in an organization based on  
> passion and responsibility. We'd love to have you join us!
>
> with grace and love,
>
> Zelle
>
> Zelle Nelson
> Know Place Like Home • Engaging the Soul at Work • State of Grace  
> Document
> www.knowplacelikehome.com
> www.engagingthesoulatwork.com
> www.stateofgracedocument.com
> zelle at knowplacelikehome.com
>
> work/home: (001) 828.693.0802
> mobile: (001) 847.951.7030
> Isle of Skye
> 2021 Greenville Hwy
> Flat Rock, NC 28731
> USA
>
> * * ========================================================== 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 
>  * * ========================================================== 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

*
*
==========================================================
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/20090906/69b38f7d/attachment-0016.htm>