Complexity and Values LO8239

ROY LYFORD-PIKE (71075.2421@CompuServe.COM)
01 Jul 96 13:33:43 EDT

Replying to LO8212 --

Ben Compton mentions he used OO to structure his values. His word "
structure" made me think of a hierarchy that I use often when we get into
new ground where we haven't verbalized our values:

(highest) BELIEFS (mental models?)

(higher) VALUES

(high) PRINCIPLES

BELIEFS are what we hold to be true about something.
VALUES are composites of beliefs which we are willing to live by.
PRINCIPLES are comprehensive guidance we follow to translate values into action
or standards.

I can go from lower to higher in this hierarchy with the words "
why/because" and can go down with the word " therefore" . Thus we can
bring our assumptions to the open and have them challenged, which the 5D
FB describes is essential for a LO:

For example:
VALUE: People should not get hurt working in a factory/office/lab
BELIEF:...Why? Because injuries cause pain and suffering, and can cost the
company and the employee dearly,
PRINCIPLE: ...therefore, every factory/office/lab shall have a Safety
Program in place to eliminate injuries which shall provide training,
adequate facilities, auditing, and corrective/disciplinary actions.

It is not as structured as OO but it is great in a mtg when someone states
a principle or value to ask "Why do you believe that?", "What action
should we take if we really value that?"

Roy Lyford-Pike
VP - Engineering and Development
SCM Chemicals
Baltimore, MD
71075.2421@compuserve.com

-- 

ROY LYFORD-PIKE <71075.2421@CompuServe.COM>

Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>