Self organization works by a combination of attractors and boundaries. Attractors are things that draw components of a system towards themselves (gravity wells, a pile of money left on the ground, an invitation). Boundaries (or constraints) are barriers that constrain the elements in a system (an atmosphere, the edges of an island, the number of syllables in a haiku)
Working together, attractors and boundaries define order where otherwise there is chaos. We can be intentional about some of these, but not all of them. Within complex systems, attractors and constraints create the conditions to enable emergence. What emerges isn’t always desirable and is never predictable, but it has the property of being new and different from any of the individual elements within the system. Self-organization is where we get new, previously unknown things from. Open Space is a beautiful way of working with these dynamics within the container of strategic work in organizations and communities. That’s about the shortest summary I can undertake about this stuff. :-) Chris > On Aug 31, 2015, at 1:40 PM, Daniel Mezick via OSList > <[email protected]> wrote: > > "Is it accurate to say that some self organizing happens by invitation and > some happens by coercion/force? " > > > Great question Lucas! > > > The [invitation] wall-poster you suggest feels wall-worthy to me, so long as > no one is obligated to examine it... or even look at it. > > > My turn to ask a question: What might a world "void of manipulation" and > "replete with invitation" actually look like? > > > Daniel > > > > On 8/31/15 9:57 AM, Lucas Cioffi via OSList wrote: >> Hi All, >> >> Is it accurate to say that some self organizing happens by invitation and >> some happens by coercion/force? >> >> For example, from the perspective of someone who lives outside of Iraq, the >> way the Ba'ath Party took charge of Iraq through a coup seems like an >> example of self-organizing by force to us, because we're outside the system >> of Iraq. I welcome some thoughts on this. >> >> Over the past few months (and working with Michael Herman for VOSonOS) I've >> seen that the spirit of invitation shouldn't end with the writing of the >> invitation, and instead it should be present throughout the open space. >> When someone posts a topic on the marketplace wall, they are inviting others >> to a conversation, not taking over a time slot (like having a coup and >> taking over a small country). >> >> When someone wants to be a "dictator" of their open space session, yes >> others can use their two feet and walk out, but that comes at a cost to the >> social fabric of the organization. A better outcome would be that the >> would-be dictator holds a welcoming space from the start. So I'd recommend >> that another sign worth posting on the wall near "Law of Two Feet" would be >> "Spirit of Invitation". I think it's wall-worthy, do you? >> >> Lucas Cioffi >> Founder, QiqoChat.com <http://qiqochat.com/> >> Charlottesville, VA >> Mobile: 917-528-1831 >> >> >> >> >> On Mon, Aug 31, 2015 at 5:07 AM, Paul Levy via OSList < >> <mailto:[email protected]>[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >> I think the clue lies in the wonderful word "self". >> >> We are the selves that organise. >> >> Beautiful. >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> OSList mailing list >> To post send emails to [email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]> >> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]> >> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: >> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >> <http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org> >> Past archives can be viewed here: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] >> <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]> > -- > Daniel Mezick, President > New Technology Solutions Inc. > (203) 915 7248 (cell) > Bio <http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/>. Blog <http://newtechusa.net/blog/>. > Twitter <http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/>. > Examine my new book: The Culture Game > <http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/>: Tools for the Agile > Manager. > Explore Agile Team Training > <http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/> and Coaching. > <http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-coaching/> > Explore the Agile Boston <http://newtechusa.net//user-groups/ma/>Community. > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to [email protected] > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > Past archives can be viewed here: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
_______________________________________________ OSList mailing list To post send emails to [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org Past archives can be viewed here: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
