On Wed, 8 Oct 1997, Michael Dalmaridis wrote:
> My name is Michael Dalmaridis and I am trying to research a question on
> the impact of learning organizations when its members are constantly
> changing.
I've been listening to this thread for a few days now and am wondering....
If we could assume that the members are coming and going due to the normal
life process of the organization, then why not further assume that the
coming and going is a result of the ever evolving vision. Rather than
wondering only how changing constituency effects the vision, we could
reflect on how the vision drives the constituency as well. (How vision
and constituency systemically feed back to one another.)
Fritjof Capra mentions the Daisyworld simulation run by Lovelock that
suggests that a system containing a multiplicity of species, and subjected
to an external stimulus, will adjust the composition and location of these
species (structure) thus maintaining its identity. The simulation also
suggests that if the life process is unimpeded, then the system may
undergo an evolutionary change in structure in response to external
stimulus.
What this suggests to me is that if there is connectedness within the
organization such that the members are able to converse, think, and dream
together, then a changing constituency is a sign of organizational health
and the vision is evolving as part of the life process. And further, when
the time arrives for the structure to make a radical jump (at the edge of
chaos), then if we take a deep breath and keep our hands off the levers,
the system will jump.
If life finds a way, then how can we allow our organizations to have life?
John
--John Dicus | jdicus@ourfuture.com CornerStone Consulting Associates | http://www.ourfuture.com Building Learning Communities Through-Whole System Change Consulting | Facilitation | Workshops | Seminars | Speaking 2761 Stiegler Road, Valley City OH 44280 800-773-8017 | 330-725-2728 (fax) **Experiences In Stewardship Gathering - Nov 2-5 **
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