Carol Sager wrote:
> Joey Chan wrote
>
> >I have read the current issue of The Economist(13th Feb) and there is a
> >new book "Rescuing Prometheus" talking about the effectiveness of the
> >systems approach. ...snip... However, the review had pointed out the
> >disappointment of the systems approach in applying to social problems
> >such as poverty, healthcare and crime. ..
>
> Roy Benford wrote
>
> > .. a major issue with systems thinking in the social area is that of
> >defining boundaries...Existing power structures will try to inforce
> >boundaries to preserve their power...The redrawing of boundaries is
> >likely to be a slow process as power is re-distributed in society.
> >Perhaps, the observer is expecting bigger and quicker improvements in the
> >area of social problems and not observing the slower pace of change.
>
> Building on what's been said and adding to it, I've attached parts of an
> interview I did with Ronald A. Heifetz (RAH), Director of the leadership
> education project at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government about
> his concept of "Leadership without easy answers." Your thoughts?
>
> Critical Linkages II Newsletter (CLIIN) -What's wrong with looking for
> leadership with easy answers?
I would go along with all of what Carol had cut from the Newsletter. It
has reminded me of initiatives that are taking place within schools within
the UK. There is an anti-bullying campaign (which is starting to spread
to the workplace). There are lessons in PHSE, teaching children about
looking after themselves, physically, pyschologically and socially. There
are plans to extend PHSE into teaching about responsibilities of
citizenship. All great stuff for our furture society and workplace.
I found Carol's clips somehat idealistic. Whereas we could expect some
people to change their view of the world particularly when it does not
negatively change their view of themselves. But can we really expect
people to change the view of the world to one that might put themselves in
a bad light? Do we have to wait for those people to pass through society
or do we challenge them? If we challenge, isn't the process going to be
painfull for them and as a consequence us as they fight the change?
Roy Benford
Fulmer, UK
--Roy Benford <roy@benford.demon.co.uk>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>