OK, I'm late on this one. . .hope my comments are still pertinent.
>>> what are the best options for systemic change when you
>>> don't have adequate time to promote buy-in?
> This question suggests to me a fundamental misuse of "systemic".
> Leaving aside the specific of "the need for buy in", how can we think it
> possible to have systemic change without taking the time that it takes
> to do what is required? Isn't time a major component of a system? Is
> there any way around "what is required" by a system if it is in fact
> required?
Time is a component of a system -- but the question of how long it should,
or could, take a system to change is another matter. My response,
hopefully, will weave into one message, ideas from the thread on Ends and
Means and this thread, Root Cause.
If we're committed to achieving a specific "end" and the system is
prohibiting our achievement, then shouldn't the system be changed or
replaced by a new one? If so, the question how long should it take to make
systemic changes? I believe that when a group of people are committed to
achieving a specific end that they can make rapid changes to a system, or
rapidly replace an ineffective system. The question isn't about how long
it will take -- it can be done very fast -- the question is how committed
is the group to achieving the end?
This brings to my mind a flock of birds, and how they can instantly,
simultaneously, and unitedly change direction in flight. It is phenomenal
. . . elegant! I believe that systemic changes often imply a "change in
the course of direction" usually because they system is not achieving a
desired result. If we could only learn to be as united and committed as a
flock of birds, what power we'd have!
Again, time doesn't seem to be the issue -- commitment is the issue, and
seems to determine how fast systemic changes can be made. And the degree
to which people value things other than a desired result -- such as
protecting their position, acquiring power, etc. -- is the degree to which
the process of making systemic changes slows down.
Any thoughts?
--Benjamin B. Compton ("Ben") | email: bcompton@novell.com Novell GroupWare Technical Engineer | fax: (801) 222-6991
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>