Replying to LO26231 --
Ray Evans Harrell "Magic Circ Op Rep Ens" <mcore@nyc.rr.com> wrote:
> Actually Senge uses some examples of learning organizations that do work.
> 1. is the musical ensemble. 2. A sports team that must constantly adapt
> Musical organizations must constantly adapt as a horizontal organization
> with a directing leader. The exception to this is the Orpheus Ensemble
> which is leaderless. The key is competence. It is crucial that people
> know their jobs and allow others to do theirs while fitting together in a
> unified whole. I still am not sure how a company that hires and fires
> The other key is education. Musicians, athletes and Indians are
> comfortable with the concept of a Master Teacher who has both the success
> and experience to guide the development of skill in a group of superior
> talents. In such a situation challenge is considered "white noise" that
> is unacceptable to the group that already has solved most of the problems
> and wishes now to deal with the issue of cohesion.
Ray,
I always revel in your contribution to this group. As an amateur
performer in orchestras as a youth and as the spouse and father of
musicians, I appreciate what you're saying, and I've sometimes used
musical ensembles as examples for business.
I also read the occasional "Harmony" (see http://www.soi.org/), where they
highlight breakthroughs specific orchestra organizations have made in
becoming LO's (or, more in their terms, in adopting advanced work
systems). If those breakthroughs are so noteworthy, I strongly suspect
it's because many orchestra organizations aren't LO's. The material I
read there indicates that many orchestra organizations are afflicted with
many of the same human challenges companies are. Many of those challenges
affect the non-musical aspects of their existence most directly, I admit.
Any comments on how these two views fit together or if they do?
> Today we pay more for Military Bands then we do for orchestras. I loved
> the bands and choruses when I was in the Army Chorus but there is no doubt
> why they are important to the military. Would that we would understand it
> in the term "Domestic Tranquility" found in the Preamble to the American
> Constitution. That bit of wisdom could put American identity and culture
> light years ahead of the current situation.
That is an important and not so obvious message. Thanks!
Bill
--Bill Harris 3217 102nd Place SE Facilitated Systems Everett, WA 98208 USA http://facilitatedsystems.com/ phone: +1 425 337-5541
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