Interesting that you bring this up. The more I have been reading - just general
info like newspapers etc. - the more it seems that al-Qaeda is a thoroughly
contemporary creation - trans-national, flat org structure, dispersed,
multi-sourced, cellular nature. I'm no expert, but it reminds me of Internet
structure. So it is another demonstration of self-organization. I suppose
self-organization can be used for many kinds of intent - benign or malignant.
Same as cell growth in natural systems; normal healthy growth and
differentiation, or cancerous growth.
The other thing that seems to be a possibility is a cult-like nature, centred
around a charismatic leader. Cult features (as noted by an ex al-Qaeda member)
are exclusive focus on the group, giving up all other interests ("you forget
everything; your family, your business...."). So it may be self-organizing in
structure, but its focus and intent is closed. The only good news is that most
cults (which can be found in every country and religion!) eventually die out.
Is this because the universe is essentially expanding, creating ever more
openness...?
So I wouldn't call it a open space organization, as a primary intent of Open
Space is to open up possibilities, diversity, difference. Self-organizing, yes.
Open, no.
Thanks for bringing it forward.
Meg Salter
MegaSpace Consulting
416/486-6660
[email protected]
www.megaspaceconsulting.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Chris Corrigan
To: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2001 1:19 PM
Subject: Fighting Open Space Organizations
I am dumbfounded by this article:
http://www.stratfor.com/home/0109272330.htm
It describes Al-Qaeda as, essentially, an Open Space Organization, running on
passion, responsibility and so on. There may be some things that aren't OS
about it at all, but the channeling of passion and responsibility and the
diffusion of purpose, leadership and action is striking.
Since I have read this I have been struck by watching large governments and
armies (by their nature NOT OS orgs) struggle with how to undo this "network."
I have been looking especially for references in the media to the darker arts
of espionage and black operations against Al-Qaeda and others, the ones that
Rumsfeld said we may never know the success of. I suspect that the US and the
UK are meeting innovation with innovation, but we may never know how.
So I pose the questions, separate and apart from the ethical considerations
of the work of Al-Qaeda, which I find repulsive:
a.. What can we learn from the way this organization has been structured
and the way it operates?
b.. Would an organization with global reach organized around a purpose of a
"higher good" stand a chance of being as successful as Al-Qaeda has been in
achieving it's objectives?
c.. What kind of invitation for good could create the kind of passion in
people that causes them to choose to so fully devote themselves to a cause that
they would be willing to die for it?
d.. For the countries that are at war against Al-Qaeda, what kind of
thinking and organizing is going to be successful in defeating this network?
Is it possible for governments to fight an group organized this way?
I'd be interested in what folks think on this.
Chris
--
CHRIS CORRIGAN
Consultation - Facilitation
Open Space Technology
http://www.chriscorrigan.com
[email protected]
RR 1 E-3
1172 Miller Road
Bowen Island, BC
Canada, V0N 1G0
phone (604) 947-9236
fax (604) 947-9238
