In response to LO15244
As I reply a couple of days after first reading this posting I have the
benefit of reading other replies as well.
When I first read Simon's message I felt angry. I felt angry because I
believe that Teams are important and Simon was not describing a world I
recognised. I see lots of organisation, lots of groups of people needing
to work together. Very few individuals working in the way that he
describes having much power and influence.
On more sober and intentionally positive reflection, [a pause is often a
wonderful thing] I built on my original view and added others.
My initial reaction was too hasty and tended to only look at one side of
the picture.
I agree that today's world is becoming more unorganised, decisions often
need to be taken quickly, management by committee generally does not work
well.
AND
working one ones own, only joining together when essential, forming
virtual teams ONLY suits certain people and situations.
If I have no experience of working with other people then I will lack [in
my view as certain as night follows day] the skills in working effectively
with others when it suddenly becomes necessary.
If I am not someone who is comfortable doing 'my own thing' then I need an
organisation of some sort. THis scenario clearly fits many people. It may
be changing and only slowly. To this extent the willingness of people to
adapt will limit the speed of change.
The business world is made up of many different organisations. Some small,
nimble and fleet of foot. Some large, flexible and fleet of action. Others
large and rather staid. Provided they have the appropriate structure and
style to suit the situation that they find themselves in things will be
OK.
Simon's comments about needing small virtual teams only applies [in my
view and experience] in certain situations.
His approach will be as wrong in many settings as his proposition that
having to get everyones agreement to decisions will be wrong in others.
At the very general level I believe that there is a change in style and
approach. We find that increasingly people need to be able to work in
teams that come together for a short time and then break up. THat people
need to be capable of operating on their own and getting the best from
people around them who are not a part of a formal team.
For this to be effective everyone needs the skills necessary to do this.
It does not happen my chance or natural skills. I believe that Simon's
proposition that we do not have time to get together to find out things
about each other is profoundly misplaced. If, because I do not have some
understanding of a person, their style and the best way of working with
them the chances are [no completely certain] I will not be effective with
you. TO find these things out takes some time. It pays back in spades,
very quickly, over the series of interactions.
I hope that I have not painted an opposite view to Simon's. although fear
that's how it might seem.
I believe that he takes too narrow a views of the changes we encounter. He
seems to be implying a monochrome view and I belief things exist in
technicolour and we must be capable of dealing with that.
Best wishes
Ian Saunders
Transition Partnerships - Harnessing change for business advantage
tpians@cix.compulink.co.uk
--tpians@cix.co.uk (Ian Saunders)
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>