>From Manuel Manga's notes:
>We may be really be able to pull it off. depends on which paradigm
>we are standing in. ( mechanistic vs Living systems). but it
>depends if we are conscious or not conscious about it.
>give up predictable expectations. If, we take Emergence seriously,
>we give up control/predictable.
>We should focus on what the Living System wants/needs to
>connect itself.
>We take the human spirit in organizations and put it in a mechanistic
>structure and destroy people's dreams.
>Put contemplative into the phenomena of observation.
Does it have to be a dichotomy between the mechanistic-reductionist
paradigm and the holistic-expansionist paradigm? Do we have to "give up"
prediction and control to give ourselves to belonging in a living system?
Being human is both is it not?
The goal is to take the living human spirit put it in a much needed
inclusive hierarchy, not an exclusive alienating hierarchy, that does not
destroy people's dreams, while still pragmatically getting things
accomplished. Can both paradigms co-exist? I believe they do in the
Deming Inquiry system called the System of Profound Knowledge.
Dr. Deming's inquiry system of Profound Knowledge (Systems Thinking,
Reduction of variation, Psychology, and Theory of Knowledge) unites
holistic thinking (synthesis) with reductionist (analysis) into a living
dance. At the same time I'm reducing variation in current reality, I
possess a "profound" outside view that continually expands my capacity to
create the future. The purpose of leadership is to manage the creative
tension between the two paradigms, not advocate one at the expense of the
other.
David Steindl-Rast, In his book, Gratefulness the Heart of Prayer and his
tape Living in The Now, sheds some profound, yet common insight on this
creative tension. Contemplation joins meaning (vision) and purpose
(action). We simultaneously "give" ourselves to meaning while taking
control in purposeful action.
To be considered a system, a system must have an aim. The aim of the
Deming inquiry system is to manage contemplative tension between meaning
(vision) and purpose (action). Contemplation is an essential discipline of
profound knowledge. Contemplation joins meaning and purpose. If we allow
contemplative tension between meaning and purpose to snap, meaning would
fade out of any purpose we pursue. Understanding the "aim" of a system is
managing the contemplative tension between meaning and purpose.
Meaningless purpose is mere drudgery. Meaning is that which gives rest.
When we find meaning, we find rest and a sense of belongingness...the
essence of the human spirit.
The meaning you find in what you do will inevitably challenge you. It
will make you responsible. In order to achieve purpose we must be in
control. In a situation in which you experience deep meaning, you were
touched, moved, carried away. Unless you take control you won't achieve
your purpose, but unless you give yourself to being carried away, you
can't experience meaning and take joy in achieving your purpose. We must
manage creative tension between giving (meaning,vision) and taking control
in purposeful (action) to feel safe. We are all on a quest for certainty,
why else would we be participating in the LO list? However, we are all
also on a great adventure open to surprise. Deming said Management is
prediction and it must recognize knowledge is temporal in space and time.
I would say management is prediction with an openness to surprise.
Without theory there can be no learning. This is my theory. My mental
model is a Christian Mechanical Engineer, this may be why I see the
importance of both. In the body, the eye is no better than ear, they are
both part of the living system.
Have a Great Adventure!
Don Kerr
--"Kerr, Donald" <Donald.Kerr@usahq.unitedspacealliance.com>
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>