Wouldn't we learn something if we compiled some of the characteristics of
attempts that didn't work? For example, common underlying pre-conditions
that made success difficult in a particular type of organization or
industry (to use the burger/taco flipping analogy from recent postings)?
If others are interested, I'm willing to serve as sub-moderator for such a
conversation, and would post a summary of the knowledge gleaned. It seems
to me that story-telling is a powerful way to learn (remembering Ben
Compton's (?was it you, Ben) metaphor of the campfire from some months
ago. But let me make some suggestions for guidelines:
1. Organizations involved may be named, or not, depending on the writer's
sense of the ethics of the situation; and we'll ask Rick to keep an eye of
this to avoid public shaming or gross characterization.
2. When telling a story, identify whether the original impetus to begin
LO work came from an executive-level leader; a lower-level LO
practitioner; or an outside consultant. I have a hunch we may find some
clusters of characteristics here.
3. Give us as succinct a description of the situation before intervention
as possible, followed by a few examples of what happened (or didn't!).
4. Give us your (the writer's) sense of what worked and didn't, and why,
including pre-existing conditions, unexpected snafu's, etc.
5. Pose any questions that emerge from your story-telling.
And if I loaded this suggestion with too many unexplored assumptions, then
by all means, let's explore them.
Any takers?
Malcolm Burson
--"Malcolm Burson" <mooney@MAINE.MAINE.EDU>
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>