>>... The smart systems manager will always work to set in place checks
>>and balances to ensure that the power of an organization remains broadly
>>based and broadly accessible, so that power has a chance to avoid being
>>co-opted by an individual or a group.
>
>Interesting idea. How does the manager actually implement this? Through
>organization, policy, other methods?
Ah,there's the rub.
In my workplace/ministry setting, we are working to organize a community
based neighborhood association. We live in a low income neighborhood with
some problems, but with good assets in terms of housing stock,low crime
rate, etc. In a similar neighborhood in the city where I live, a
neighborhood association has been set up but has become dominated by only
a few voices. Our city is a HUD entitlement city, and so there is
significant money (800-900 thousdand dollars per year) available for those
who can get organized and get into position.
As we are assembling our group, I am mindful of that problem in the other
neighborhood. One approach I have been using in organizing the association
is to invite merchants, church leaders, school officials, and civic
leadership to the beginning meetings. We have been making bulk-mailings to
each household in the neighborhood, publicizing meetings so that everyone
can attend. The opening salvo has been to try and gain as broad a support
and interest base as possible.
The problem is and will be very simple-- only those who are interested
will become a part of this effort. I know, a Gump-ism <g>, but an
important point. In any organization, only those who are interested will
become involved. This is a self-selection mechanism that works to defeat
broad-based involvement. What I am hopeing to dso is build into the
fabric of this beginning time an awareness that whether or not it is
effective, we must expend effort and energy in making it possible for
anyone to be involved who wants to be. Once some things begin to happen,
more people will want to be involved. The association needs to agree that
the doors will be propped open so that at any time, any one can check in
(or out.)
Is that policy, structure, or prayer? I don't know-- bnut I am working to
get this sort of thing written into the bylaws we are composing for our
501(c)3 paperwork.
-- |-------------------------------------------| | Allen Gibson | | allen59@ramlink.net | | "Wherever you go, there you are!" | |-------------------------------------------| | "That's all I can say, really-- | | These things are true, and | | I've seen them for myself." | | Claudia Shear | |-------------------------------------------|