[OSList] From linkedin today

Peggy Holman peggy at peggyholman.com
Thu Jan 9 21:03:34 PST 2014


I have a different response to Christine’s question:
>  if we want to keep the system healthy and alive, what should  we do ?”

I’d say take responsibility for what you love.

A system exists through the interactions among its diverse agents. Some of those agents, whether in an organism or in an organization, attend to the system’s health. Think of the role of kidneys for flushing out toxins. In human systems, people, rather than cells, organize stuff. You could argue that hierarchies are an overcompensation of a system that ultimately leaves unflushed toxicity in its wake, sometimes killing off the organization. Or at least making it function in less optimal ways. 

As David said, as we come to understand principles of self-organizing, we’re better equipped to do stuff that is congruent with natural patterns. I think current trends towards network forms of organizing are a promising experiment in a system’s agents working with those natural principles. Sort of a permaculture for human systems.


Christine, to your questions about size:
> But then how do you do with very large systems ? Or does it mean that any system that is too large to come regularly together as a whole is oversized ? should split into several smaller systems to keep its good health


Important questions. I suspect as we learn more about how networks function, the answers to your questions will get clearer. I can only speculate. I can imagine people meeting on behalf of the whole in transparent ways that are open to anyone who cares to show up. And if overwhelming numbers want to be there, perhaps intersecting circles come into play.  Layers of wholeness exist in systems. So those who feel called to convene on behalf of the whole take responsibility for it. And connect with others who share in that sort of stewarding function. Holding it all lightly and not working too hard, of course. :-) 

Just mulling…


Peggy



_________________________________
Peggy Holman
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Twitter: @peggyholman

15347 SE 49th Place
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On Jan 9, 2014, at 5:00 PM, David Osborne <dosborne at change-fusion.com> wrote:

> Christine,
> 
>  I think the tendency toward coherence or fragmentation is the organizing principle. 
> 
> I see supporting coherence as a part of the process, not an organizing principle in itself. It's a choice, similar to the other individual and group choices that are a part of self-organization. 
> 
> Most of us here on the list serve choose to facilitate / host open space sessions. I'd suggest this choice usually leads to building coherence. So it is with other coherence supporting choices.The system may or may not do it itself.
> 
> Another way I would frame it is that organizations I frequently work in are stuck in patterns that they are dissatisfied or frustrated with. Think poor business results, customer satisfaction, work environment, employee engagement / satisfaction etc. Control is the great inhibitor of self-organization and often prevents new coherent patterns being able to emerge.  I find that I can often guide or make suggestions that enable these groups to tap into the power of organization to create new self-reinforcng patterns that they prefer. And my involvement and the choice to be open to my suggestions are all choices that are part of the self-organization. I'm suggesting that we / they that support coherence are also part of the self-organizing, not separate from it.
> 
> I don't mean to be cryptic in my above comments. I find myself continuing to build my own (and hopefully shared) language that describes self-organization. I loved the statement earlier in this exchange that compared self-organization to gravity. I do believe they are both laws that operate invisibly all the time. The point made was that understanding gravity is key to being able to fly to the moon. I think similarly the more we understand and can share the principles of self-organization, we can help humanity fly versus staying stuck in conflict and competition.Thus my continual search to find better ways of sharing and communicating.
> 
> I'm really enjoying tracking and participating in this dialogue and thanks to all that are contributing and listening/reading.
> 
> David
> 703-939-1777
> dosborne at change-fusion.com
> <image.png>
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Thu, Jan 9, 2014 at 4:47 PM, Christine <chris.alice.koehler at gmail.com> wrote: 
> Hi David
> 
> Very interesting, that makes sense to me. Does it mean that supporting coherence of the system as a whole should be an organizing principle ?
> But then Harrison will say I guess that it is not necessary, as self org. will take care of the system itself. 
> Then there is something that I don't understand about self-org. : if we want to keep the system healthy and alive, what should  we do ?  
> 
> Christine Koehler
> 06 13 28 71 38
> 
> 
> Le 9 janv. 2014 à 22:20, David Osborne < dosborne at change-fusion.com> a écrit : 
> 
>> I found the questions about how do you keep a system as a coherent whole fascinating. 
>> 
>> Part of the dance is the back and forth between coherence and fragmentation. Chaos offers both opportunity and threat, new life and death. Coherence leads to new life patterns emerging, fragmentation leads towards death and the cycle toward new life continues. In my experience there is lot's that can be done to reinforce, nurture and support coherence. Holding the space is one aspect. Drawing attention and building consensus around what is emerging is another, supporting parts of the system through conflict in a manner that continues to increase the likelihood of coherence is a third. There are many more...and those are some quick thoughts for now. All of this can and is done with in the context of self-organization and someone having the passion and taking the initiative to do it. The two are not mutually exclusive.
>> 
>> Cheers to all.
>> 
>> David 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Thu, Jan 9, 2014 at 4:06 PM, christine koehler <chris.alice.koehler at gmail.com> wrote: 
>> Peggy 
>> 
>> If I simplify what you say (and I apologize for it), I understand that  you say that what keep a self-organized system coherent as a whole is coming regularly together  as a whole, following our two feet to sessions called around we love, coming back as a whole, dispersing again for the evening. Of course I would tend to agree with that. But then how do you do with very large systems ? Or does it mean that any system that is too large to come regularly together as a whole is oversized ? should split into several smaller systems to keep its good health ? 
>> 
>> and what about decision making ? 
>> 
>> Christine 
>> 
>> 
>> On Thu, Jan 9, 2014 at 9:24 PM, Peggy Holman <peggy at peggyholman.com> wrote: 
>> I’d add to what Harrison is saying about what keeps a social system coherent without someone in charge. It’s something built into the practice of Open Space Technology: coming together as a whole, following our two feet to sessions called around we love, coming back as a whole, dispersing again for the evening. Like breathing. 
>> 
>> There’s a power in coming together to reflect that connects us, helps us see ourselves in context, creates a coherent sense of “us” that complements all of the “I’s”. So without the need to make decisions or come to consensus, I suspect that long-lived self-organizing social systems create a rhythm in which the whole (or a sufficient subset of it) comes together periodically.
>> 
>> As an example, a few years back, I learned of a group of African Americans that met informally for Saturday breakfast in Tacoma, Washington once a week for thirty-five years. This gathering became the backbone of the African American community in that city. It was the place to connect, to learn what was happening, to share ideas, to find partners, etc. No one in charge, just part of the rhythm of the community. And lots of activities emerged from it.
>> 
>> Peggy
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> __________________________________
>> Peggy Holman
>> Journalism that Matters
>> 15347 SE 49th Place
>> Bellevue, WA  98006
>> 425-746-6274
>> www.journalismthatmatters.org
>> www.peggyholman.com
>> Twitter: @peggyholman
>> JTM Twitter: @JTMStream
>> 
>> Enjoy the award winning  Engaging Emergence: Turning Upheaval into Opportunity 
>> Check out my series on what's emerging in the news & information ecosystem
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Jan 9, 2014, at 11:50 AM, Christine < chris.alice.koehler at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> Hi Harrison,
>>> 
>>> Thank you for your answer
>>> 
>>> What do you mean exactely with the law of 2 feet ?
>>> 
>>> Christine Koehler
>>> 06 13 28 71 38
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Le 9 janv. 2014 à 17:27, "Harrison Owen" < hhowen at verizon.net> a écrit : 
>>> 
>>>> I’m awake now (Thank you Michael). And Christine – to your questions and my thoughts.
>>>> 
>>>>  
>>>> “In a  self -organized system, how do you keep the organization coherent as a whole ?
>>>> 
>>>> How do you make decisions that concern the whole organization ?”
>>>> 
>>>>  
>>>> I think the simple answer may be, “You don’t (make decisions or maintain coherency). The System does – which is in a way the essence of self-organization. I think one way of understanding self organization is that it is the systemic response to a changing environment in order to maintain internal and external coherence... a complicated way of saying that the system wants to get along in the world in a positive fashion. Part of maintaining that systemic coherence is by making a whole bunch of decisions – none, or few, of which are made by a vote or executive dictate. A powerful mechanism in this regard is our old friend, “The Law of Two feet.” – I think.
>>>> 
>>>>  
>>>> ho
>>>> 
>>>>  
>>>>  
>>>> Harrison Owen
>>>> 
>>>> 7808 River Falls Dr.
>>>> 
>>>> Potomac, MD 20854
>>>> 
>>>> USA
>>>> 
>>>>  
>>>> 189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)
>>>> 
>>>> Camden, Maine 04843
>>>> 
>>>>  
>>>> Phone 301-365-2093
>>>> 
>>>> (summer)  207-763-3261
>>>> 
>>>>  
>>>> www.openspaceworld.com
>>>> 
>>>> www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)
>>>> 
>>>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of OSLIST Go to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>>>> 
>>>>  
>>>> From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of christine koehler
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, January 08, 2014 5:30 PM
>>>> To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
>>>> Subject: Re: [OSList] From linkedin today
>>>> 
>>>>  
>>>> 
>>>> Harrison,
>>>> 
>>>> In a  self -organized system, how do you keep the organization coherent as a whole ?
>>>> 
>>>> How do you make decisions that concern the whole organization ?
>>>> 
>>>> Christine
>>>> 
>>>>  
>>>> 
>>>> On Tue, Jan 7, 2014 at 8:27 PM, Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Paul – This piece from Zappos is interesting indeed. Though I must say I do wonder why the Zapposites feel it necessary to organize a self organizing system? As they say, “In a city, people and businesses are self-organizing.” I agree, and why not just follow the beaten path? Holarchy is a wonderful concept, and a good description of what I think I experience in a self organizing system. But why go for a knock-off when you can have the original? Just let (invite) the system to self organize. It will work better, and costs a lot less effort. As Stuart Kauffman might say, “order for free.”
>>>> 
>>>>  
>>>> 
>>>> Harrison
>>>> 
>>>>  
>>>> 
>>>> Harrison Owen
>>>> 
>>>> 7808 River Falls Dr.
>>>> 
>>>> Potomac, MD 20854
>>>> 
>>>> USA
>>>> 
>>>>  
>>>> 
>>>> 189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)
>>>> 
>>>> Camden, Maine 04843
>>>> 
>>>>  
>>>> 
>>>> Phone 301-365-2093
>>>> 
>>>> (summer)  207-763-3261
>>>> 
>>>>  
>>>> 
>>>> www.openspaceworld.com
>>>> 
>>>> www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)
>>>> 
>>>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of OSLIST Go to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>>>> 
>>>>  
>>>> 
>>>> From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Paul Nunesdea
>>>> Sent: Monday, January 06, 2014 4:51 PM
>>>> To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
>>>> Subject: [OSList] From linkedin today
>>>> 
>>>>  
>>>> 
>>>> Research shows that every time the size of a city doubles, innovation or productivity per resident increases by 15 percent. But when companies get bigger, innovation or productivity per employee generally goes down. So we're trying to figure out how to structure Zappos more like a city, and less like a bureaucratic corporation. In a city, people and businesses are self-organizing. We're trying to do the same thing by switching from a normal hierarchical structure to a system called Holacracy, which enables employees to act more like entrepreneurs and self-direct their work instead of reporting to a manager who tells them what to do.
>>>> 
>>>> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pam-ross/workplace-reinvention_b_4541805.html#!
>>>> 
>>>>  
>>>> 
>>>> From my iPad
>>>> 
>>>> 
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>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> --
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>  Executive Coach, Médiateur
>>>>  www.christine-koehler.fr
>>>>  Tel :  06 13 28 71 38
>>>>   Fax :    09  72  32 36  65
>>>> 
>>>>  
>>>> 
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>>  Executive Coach, Médiateur
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>> --
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>> David Osborne
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> www.change-fusion.com | dosborne at change-fusion.com | 703.939.1777
>> 
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