Reflecting on the OSI training comments I have read so far, some principles of living organisms come to my mind and developmental stages of such living organisms (or organizations). The following comments are crisp and may be not easy to understand but my intention is to just propose a framework and in further dialogue, we can together clarify, apply, and evolve what works and reject what doesn't. These thoughts came to me strongly and hence I am sharing them and look forward to your comments. Prasad
Stage 1: Development of the body. Development of senses and basic coordination of limbs and making meaning and feeling as one. ---Interpreting it in organization terms, creating the organizational structure (minimum structure necessary just to survive and feel as one), vision and clarity of purpose and intention. Why? Intention is what the organism can manifest as its own taking responsibility for the self. Vision gives us the direction to move and purpose tells us why. At this stage, all these only gather us together and move us as one and provide minimum structure to know whether we are on the path or not. Nothing more can be expected from the structure. If we want to elaborate the metaphor of organism---It is like skeletal structure for the body. How do you know whether the structure is too little or too much? If the organization is not able to function and is stuck in the initial stages, then the clarity of intention and structure are insufficient. If the organization is getting bogged down in conflict though the potential exists and the direction is clear, then the structure is too much and is limiting the growth of organism. Anne Stadler and I like to call this stage as the stage of emergence. Stage 2: In this stage, the living organism like human beings develop inner senses like mind and heart. It is about emotional growth that becomes important. Care, love and nurturing are the ways to grow the organism. Translation: Organizational culture evolves based on the principles and values that we practice and preach to each other. Those have to be cultivated through appreciation and acknowledgment rather than through negative feedback. Why? Negative feedback clarifies boundaries of what should not be done but never gives clarity on what is encouraged and what is the path. By supporting and appreciating what we like in what others do, we clarify the path in which we choose to walk. Culture develops in the direction that we walk ourselves. So second stage is the time for value clarification, policies and procedures and culture building for organizations. This stage we refer to as the stage of convergence. Stage 3: Once a child is about 4-5 years, the intellect begins to distinguish between symbols and can actually handle logic, symbolic representation and is ready to handle interpretation, ready to think for oneself. Similarly, organizations have to develop distinctions and their own unique strenghts and competencies. It is done by further clarification, acceptance of (and stretching beyond) the original intention at individual level. That means, each of us in OSI or list, should explore where we individually stop and go beyond the boundaries to take Open space to new levels and new breakthroughs. This is where we can use the power of the individual to grow the collective. This stage we call it the stage of divergence. Stage 4: In this stage, the living organism reexamines ones purpose, vision and takes stock of its current stage. In other words, it is about spirit and allowing oneself to let go of the ego and attachment to who or what it has been. That allows for re-emergence of the core. In this stage, as an organization, we reexamine the purpose, the vision and intentions. Many times, we have to clarify and set new purpose for our next stage and share what have gained with others. It may be appropriate for letting go of where we are and give it away for others to maintain and evolve the knowledge and we go to newer and higher purpose and vision. This stage completes the cycle and we go back to step one. and the cycle continues. Concluding, my sense is that this is the time for further clarification and move to second stage.