In reply to Roxanne Abbas: "Competition LO17771"
> Peter, I have come to believe that there is no "out there", that we are
> all inter-connected, across companies, across countries, across species,
> etc. When we compete with each other, i.e. operate in a win/lose model,
> we hurt ourselves as well as the other.
Thanks Roxanne, I must admit that this reply stopped me in my tracks and
hence my slowness at responding. From a systems perspective I can see how
this might be true. For example a company becomes more competitive,
survives in the marketplace, only to find that next year (week) they are
facing a new competitor that is even leaner and meaner, and that forces
another change. One person may view this from the perspective that this
competition has resulted in lower prices for me, therefore competition is
good. Another person may say because the new competitor is using cheap
labour, I've got to lower my wage bill somehow in order to compete, and
therefore, if I am the wager earner competition is bad. Then yes I can
see that competition does create this win/lose model. Also I can see that
Tragedy of the Commons situations are an extension of this model - i.e.
the individual benefits in the short term at the expense of everyone,
including themselves in the long term. However I have some difficulty in
imagining a real international alternative to free market competition in
business that would result in Win/Win outcomes, and which would not create
a kind of Big Brother state. Perhaps you could share your vision of how
this might work?
Kind regards
Peter
Peter H. Jones
Peopletronics Limited, PO Box 30 451, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
phj@actrix.gen.nz http://www.peopletronics.co.nz
Tel. 64 4 569 8875, Fax. 64 4 569 8881
--"Peter H. Jones" <phj@actrix.gen.nz>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>