Because we all tend to forecast the future based on the present. So if it is a mess now it will be a mess later. Because chairing a meeting that is a mess makes the boss look bad. Because presiding over a mess takes a lot of self-confidence, trust in others and trust in the process. Because what we have read and been told about innovation is fantasy. Because managers prefer to hear about miracles.
Etc... Henri -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of Harrison Owen Sent: Friday, November 05, 2004 7:25 AM To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Subject: Re: Muddling Through Chris wrote: Why is management that says it wants to innovate so afraid of mess? I guess that is pretty simple. Most managers are trained and paid to avoid messes. Not too long ago (and maybe still) the shorthand answer to the question: What is good management? -- was "Make the plan, manage to the plan, and meet the plan." In short -- always be in control and never make a mess. Your Mother wouldn't like it and neither will your Boss. Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, Maryland 20845 Phone 301-365-2093 Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org Personal website http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of chris macrae Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2004 1:46 PM To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Subject: Re: Muddling Through Maybe I mis-worded what I was trying to say. Why is it we live in a world where an organisation that asks for consultant or facilitation help expects first a proposal that makes everything look neat and controllable rather than one that says well the messes we will need to go through before we will have a chance of knowing what next to do are: ... I think I met a comfort in terms of confidence in understanding that mess is the first step into any real innovation; ideally confidence to rip up crap proposals of the sort that make innovation sound tidy and controllable before you start... Why is management that says it wants to innovate so afraid of mess? Cheers chris ---- -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of Harrison Owen Sent: 04 November 2004 18:03 To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Subject: Re: Muddling Through Chris -- I think helping them to feel comfortable with the mess may be wasted effort. I think a more productive approach might be to help them to see there is no option -- and then get on with the business. Actually, I think the very dis-comfort of the moment may be the most useful thing going down just now. Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, Maryland 20845 Phone 301-365-2093 * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
