Dr Ilfryn Price wrote:
> Carol, a neat summary of reality and a good question
>
> > Today business is forced to make change in a very narrow
> >timeframe, working only with the top 20% and dragging many of the rest
> >"kicking and screaming". While this might be a bit of hyperbole, the
> >question is, what are the best options for systemic change when you
> >don't have adequate time to promote buy-in?
>
> I suspect much of this change stuff spends too much time on 'buy-in'
> within the system and not enough outside the system. I suspect most human
> systems are pretty adept at evolving to new circumstances. If some-one
> [which means management in today's current reality] can create a
> sufficient shift in the rules the rest follows [especially if it is
> supported and maybe that's an essential bit].
>
> The most vivid example I ever heard was of the new CEO who dynamited the
> old HQ building and sent everyone a video of the event. It signalled that
> the old world had changed and when I heard the example had lead to the
> ninth record quarter in a row.
>
> I am not advocating violence, or manufactured crises nor pushing dynamite
> as a meta recipe. I am saying find a way to puncture, dramatically if
> possible, the equilibrium of a limiting pattern then manage the emergence
> of a new one. There are probably hundreds of ways to do it from dynamite
> to office moves to Julie's whole system conferences to charismatic leaders
> [WHATEVER WE MEAN BY THAT] speaking differently.
>
> What I am saying is that to change a complex systemyou must shift the
> pattern [or memome] that enables it.
Thanks for the dose of reality. Some things just ARE... Although I do a
lot of work in helping people recognize what behaviors help/inhibit what
tasks, I recognize clearly that there are no formulae. We all need help
to stay on track...which you have provided. In some cases we need General
Patton to say, "This is the way it is. I need your help. Let's get to
work!"
Carol Sager, Sager Educational Enterprises
Critical Linkages II Newsletter
21 Wallis Road, Chestnut Hill, MA 02167
V(617)469-9644;Fx(617)469-9639;sagerent@world.std.com
--Carol Sager <sagerent@world.std.com>
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>