>
>Date: Tue, 2 Feb 1999 14:01:40 -0500
>From: "John L. Naman" <naman+@PITT.EDU>
>Subject: Re: whole group agreement
>
>Where is it written that the whole group must agree on what is expected as an
>outcome or be clear about the direction we are heading?
E. Kirby Warren, Columbia, U. (various)
Also Prof. Emeritus A. Wayne Wymore, U of Arizona (paper showing that if
goals are consistent across a system, then optimizing a subsystem does NOT
suboptimize the system). Sorry, do not have the citation but try
<
awwymore@yahoo.com>
+ The neighborhood syndrome - or the propagation of participation.
International Society for Systems Research, (1989) 362-374, Edinburgh
+ Unity is strength - or corruption! Cybernetics and Systems (1988)
153-163 Vienna
+ Social entropy, enthalpy, exergy and disergy in examples. IAMM
Conference Proceedings (1987) 84-90, St Louis
Related is the excellent little book, "The Evolution of Cooperation" by
Robert Axelrod,Axelrod, Basic Books 1984
>For a very market responsive organization, isn't it possible that a group
>need only agree on process, how things are done, and let the outcomes and
>direction take care of
>themselves?
Watch out for duality of solution. Sometimes the "process uber alles"
approach gives you an Edsel -- or the Internal Revenue Service. Who was it
that cautioned "The means does not justify the ends?"
>Does lack of agreement about outcomes and clear directions automatically insure
>failure (survival, standard of living)? Is agreement a necessary, but not
>sufficient, condition for success?
If you believe the stories about living on the edge of chaos, then some
diversity of viewpoint and disagreement is healthy. How much? Not too
much on Values, little more on Intent, more on Strategy, less on
Directions, less on specific Goals, Roles and Responsibilities, and very
little on Milestones and Action Items and other output (and trust-building)
items.
In addition to the above citations, the paper, "Spreadthink, Explaining
Ineffective Groups" by Prof. John Warfield, GMU, in Systems Research, v12,
n1, pp. 5-14, 1995, gives an interesting metric for assessing the degree of
agreement in a workgroup (and when to adjourn).
Regards,
Jack Ring
32712 N. 70th St., Snottsdale, AZ 85262-7143
sendmail:
jring@amug.org
602-488-4615, Cell) 602.369.4615, Fax)602-488-4616
Better make your New Year's Eve reservations early.