PS - I love the real case examples many thanks. David
*David R. Osborne* Organization and Leadership Development 6402 Arlington Blvd., Suite 1120, Falls Church, VA 22042 703-939-1777 | dosbo...@change-fusion.com | change-fusion.com On Fri, Jun 21, 2019 at 6:39 AM Daniel Mezick via OSList < oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote: > <smiley face here> > > I'm glad you find it useful, interesting etc. > > Every day worldwide, "Agile" is forced. All in the name of self-management > and so on. You can imagine the results, and the harm to people. Here is one > of the stories: > > > > https://web.archive.org/web/20190313181520/https://thetech.com/2016/02/11/istfeature-v136-n3 > > IS&T is attempting to apply the agile approach to the entire organization. > “Agile organizations,” Charles wrote in a February email, “need empowered > leadership at the individual and team levels — that means less management > and more fluidity.” > > The sweeping transformation that is currently underway at MIT’s > Information Systems and Technology office is one that is unprecedented in > its scope and backlash from employees. > This has resulted in roughly 20 percent of nearly 300 staff members > leaving since February, instead of the average 8 or 9 percent annual > turnover. The reorganization stands out in several ways. Many longtime > employees have resigned — by the estimate of a former employee, Laura > Baldwin ’89, more than 700 years of experience have been lost from people > parting ways. A number of those employees have been MIT alumni. > > > See also: https://twitter.com/DanielMezick/status/880124938467913729 > > > > > *Daniel Mezick* > Phone: 203 915 7248 > Bio & Contact Info: http://www.DanielMezick.com > Latest Book: http://www.InvitingLeadership.com > > Business Agility Leadership event May 14-15 Boston: > The Open Leadership Symposium <https://openleadershipnetwork.com> > > > > On Jun 21, 2019, at 6:28 AM, Royle, Karl via OSList < > oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote: > > Thanks for sharing this, having just read holocracy... it’s good to know > that these things always need adaption to cultures... > > The point about power and mandating is also very interesting. > > Best Karl > > Sent by iPhone > Karl Royle > Head of Enterprise and Commercial Development > > Faculty of Education Health and Wellbeing > University of Wolverhampton > 01902323006 > 07815416698 > @karlroyle. On Twitter > Karlr61 Skype > > > On 21 Jun 2019, at 11:09, Daniel Mezick via OSList < > oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote: > > Hi Jake, > > There are many failed examples of "mandated self organization." You can > imagine the success rate of such an approach. > > Now, the Agile industry is pretty good at selling this "mandated self > organization" stuff. But I'm getting ahead of the story... > > Most of the failure stories do not make it out into the wild. But the > insiders do whisper about them. To friends and colleagues. In dinner > discussions at conferences. And so on... > > > > The Mandate of Holacracy at Zappos > > > In 2013-14, Zappos mandated a way of working called 'holacracy.' The idea > was, I think, to encourage more self-organization. More good outcomes. I'm > sure the intentions were good at the time... > > But there were big problems by late 2013. > > By 2014, the "mandate of holacracy for self-organization at Zappos" was in > big trouble, even as the press was celebrating 'holacracy' at Zappos as the > future of work, the shining example, the path forward in the new world of > work. > > But there were big problems. Lots of resistance. I heard the whispers > through a friend on the inside, a person with access to the CEO. > > Through that friend, I quietly offered some help (I had some consulting > work inside the org previously,) and in Las Vegas a lunch meeting was > arranged with the CEO. > > I flew out there. I showed up with a file folder with some Open Space > stuff inside. We ate tacos. > > I talked to Tony, the CEO, and briefly explained OST. I took a few > questions. We had a nice lunch. > > The result was that, a couple weeks later, Tony did experiment with a very > brief OST of 2 hours at a Zappos all-hands meeting. No burning issue. No > proceedings, etc. > > That was it. No further follow-through. No follow-up calls. > > I did not chase the CEO. But after a few more weeks of silence, I did > write this: > > The Mandate of Holacracy at Zappos > https://newtechusa.net/the-mandate-of-holacracy-at-zappos/ > <https://url6.mailanyone.net/v1/?m=1heGTV-0007wu-4A&i=57e1b682&c=GYYsWhj9GJMaxmCqStUBHCeOk0YwbS4A95x4vnAwlwIMRV9ZViFViiQp1QwI8uPOk1gU313N8INHpP6x4UJxNC0OaGwZtLlZS5Diz867-g1Q3VVO9oMnaTaDdPIwkIXHjcSaTrkjgYBnO5mgMWRsOgIo_aHBCQTa71-UOn7EDmhPckmzNQzcniOv_h-shBce0tsSk6YAdXHYSnQqKq5su85GqZKGhnIYI_6M-Ua56uoP9vndQg-3uuB5bTPRRzgafvSvbuPRHmlm44rYuc4sCQ> > In case you have not heard, Zappos is rolling out a defined authority > distribution scheme called “holacracy”. > > The way everyone works will change. Every single employee will be forced > to comply with a set of rules they had no part in creating. > > At the time, the press was celebrating 'holacracy' at Zappos as the future > of work, the shining example, the path forward in the new world of work. > > Everyone in the press was applauding and citing what was going on at > Zappos as "the future of work." > > But there was A LOT of resistance to the mandate of 'holacracy' inside > Zappos. All of that resistance might have been easily processed positively > in Open Space, but the CEO did not select that option. > > Instead, he issued this ultimatum: > > ADOPT HOLACRACY OR LEAVE: > > https://www.fastcompany.com/3044417/zappos-ceo-tony-hsieh-adopt-holacracy-or-leave > <https://url6.mailanyone.net/v1/?m=1heGTV-0007wu-4A&i=57e1b682&c=LoiBhtu6xuWxrzd9L2TJ-PnDM31W_wp5CIV_Afj9-3UUSEcdpGWinDX2Yh-NqcXF4i2OJxHKEWCJEbhWSh_eHGj4hqHNdgBLAGaDtyCME6xZwYhD2ZJ3P_a4UnOiaQnfBehNRSGfR6S6G20dH55ZKxT19mHHhKwrbRJbQiRrpGj8pKS7APLCGcOlMAOChkfbRS8pTOebrjt_wG2fXW7NFszScuRQUuy9EjTSGmak_MkUp7X1i_HIJuFM4ZMXNTeiBDfjVsQkf_5RnhdiMIE7zG__KBWAL5hbolDId3MDdGI> > Last week, Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh sent his employees the following memo, > provided to *Fast Company* by Zappos. In it he offers his employees an > ultimatum: adopt Holacracy or quit. > > > Moral of Story: "Mandating self-organization" is misguided at best, and > profoundly harmful and deeply disrespectful to people at worst. And: > > 1. All systems are open > > 2. All systems are self-organizing > > 3. Open Space can help > > > I hope this story helps you Jake. This Google search leads to these > listings if you want to examine the story in detail: > > > https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=FqsMXdKZIoLktQXAzoOQBQ&q=holacracy+failure > <https://url6.mailanyone.net/v1/?m=1heGTV-0007wu-4A&i=57e1b682&c=im9KY631AbFtxj94Dxi0wo9FvzB_0QwFovhxgnZNALSedC4O1gkY0ekKuZLCM2ohZWuY0yc7FTVfJ3C2c4jbn8GUFiF450YAP05UqJxmIs_Lz3INx28QooVE7sBq8Dnqe4PYledHyBaF3prQfBcQDB-ZfJSL3P1hK7au6Bmd9HyyAUVPQJtp2VnEnvmoyQ8fsJKUbO1t9ESp2PSJb9-G_-JOYkfEpGHR_hhk-7Tw-IKEsvqbM2l-kerRLKCzpLCJjqzORDf-86oO9rWIr40X2gahAiKJLuy06eM9NfYn0YA> > > > > > <Screen Shot 2019-06-21 at 5.53.32 AM.png> > > > > > *Daniel Mezick* > Phone: 203 915 7248 > Bio & Contact Info: http://www.DanielMezick.com > <https://url6.mailanyone.net/v1/?m=1heGTV-0007wu-4A&i=57e1b682&c=mFwP3ACWrQyggV0Y10oZbsYnpXJM5sG3y5ngA3guWUlLCY6ZO8psqJwpkz139XjYIriPibkZrcPWnIUM8jF-dMzd1KF6rpuvC9CQZrktUJ3MNdCP15PZrvj8diGTu7mEih8M3I8qe2H92-7vthxOzPr6okNTRE22wTmT2fDOCUayPYebW_3GSLXumvvBmjLooFwnnreLjPurhBjVjv-S-xm7z462Ttp_IHftoVw_pFE> > Latest Book: http://www.InvitingLeadership.com > <https://url6.mailanyone.net/v1/?m=1heGTV-0007wu-4A&i=57e1b682&c=iIBiTZbeYvUrXGLIl_23zyg5Nm250AcXT-3aOrWSmcgTQxEGmHGm_FoQV0DLpnJ1Jl5SFwtMUhrelS5fxDXUavCEZmvkLO9s1EK0RiVE6dkdZ3b2ZGQvFjJTfpp0bLk_Ev0UCVEqhl4NBwydnFs5yGpsAF5EIC5PPgC6s4XyuSUpO1JqICTtxwSVAb4lqFEw2dFL_yCpqySaBy8h_v-5-TW0VO6hjBiSrm1Q4zEVmYM> > > Business Agility Leadership event May 14-15 Boston: > The Open Leadership Symposium > <https://url6.mailanyone.net/v1/?m=1heGTV-0007wu-4A&i=57e1b682&c=HSMak-vtpan_bw4DDDvJU4M29xuqI49gjLCAILeigNXjG6M2x95I7TWj9Dyjbg1IM4EGT0QMLrmAFJ06vghERBsKjWUNmsveyF4e7WTuIVhPP8Nf5GP7yyX9B2SHpuTquxGHzcspUnTNRhhlyJyeQSYGADNK2_fbQq5_JWy_5Ob0WfyiOOVxGB4XWAqqRMqCTnUxcs_7hToiovcBjCPsZ1bEH7Exmdh99wIC3JuDyGY> > > > > On Jun 21, 2019, at 3:53 AM, Michael M Pannwitz via OSList < > oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> wrote: > > Dear Jake and you others, > > I am intriguing myself with your quest for pitfalls in regard to > "implement self-organization". > If it is assumed that "self-organization" is inherent in all groups, > organisations, systems and in all processes on this planet and in the > universe and has been since the Big Bang, it would not be necessary to > "implement self-organization". > In fact, attempting to "implement self-organization" could in itself be > the pitfall. This would jive with the notion that a sure fire way to impede > self-organization is to mess with it (that is, control it). > > Picking up on what Rob just wrote > "By definition self organisation occurs despite any efforts to make it > happen." > I suspect that > "Self-organisation is hampered by efforts to make it happen." > > I also wonder if it would be helpful to distinguish between > "self-organization" as we observe it everywhere around us (such as children > self-organizing their game on a playground or a butterfly unfolding from a > chrysalis or a break-out group in an os-event self-organizing their > activities) and the "force of selforganization". > > Assuming that the force of selforganzation is behind self-organization it > might be useful to focus on the "factors" that would support an environment > in which the force of selforganization can thrive, unfold... > > One of the stories we have is the development of OST itself. OST was > dreamt up originally as a way to organize a conference in a few hours > instead of a whole years work (a wonderful gift that was borne out of being > bored with working hard). After it kept working in various settings with a > vast minimum of pre-implemented structure, no panels, no speakers, only one > facilitator... his originator began wondering on why it was working. > > We know the rest of the story and have payed attention to the 5 or 6 or 7 > prerequisites that now have been tested in thousands of events which need > to be in place for the "force of selforganisation" to do its thing which we > then perceive as "self-organization". > > Its simple but not easy. > Is not facing that which seduces to twists, adulterations, creating > surrogate cocktails...? > > Greetings from Berlin > mmp > > > > > Am 21.06.2019 um 04:04 schrieb Juliane Martina Roell (Structure & Process) > via OSList: > > Jake Yeager via OSList schrieb am 20.06.19 um 19:31: > > Hey everyone, > > Does anyone know of organizations that attempted to implement > self-organization but failed? If so, do you know some of the factors that > contributed to the failure? We hear about the successes, like Semco and > AES, but rarely about the failures. I'd like to understand better what the > pitfalls are and also what the success rate is. > > Hi Jake, > what do you mean by "implement self-organization"? > How would one go about doing that? > Best Regards, > Juliane. > > > -- > Michael M Pannwitz > Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany > ++49 - 30-772 8000 > mmpannw...@gmail.com > > > Check out the Open Space World Map presently showing 484 resident Open > Space Workers in 76 countries working in a total of 141 countries worldwide > www.openspaceworldmap.org > <https://url6.mailanyone.net/v1/?m=1heGTV-0007wu-4A&i=57e1b682&c=jWjKEHMNym2W4rsSDKawRWlfMZasoVFVbuigzBhZfvl_vZx-bT09EchXbtBWl1UMspbnCfvUhXKw2FsLrQefUPPVz3PdrC_bbHG4WiyiXEmZlq3fyBsjYfR-NRcZx4FZjMWPSzaLxli3Vts2pXXKIfVMUrBGdoO0NjmFJTMCHpNvQXHLT90xCZpvscmr275Gb9P20pnYcWPtVNDcfc7HolqDMsbX-DwgKZSz0TFeoIQ> > > At my publisher you find books and task cards on open space, most in > German, some in English, some as ebooks, some multilingual > https://www.westkreuz-verlag.de/de/Kommunikation > <https://url6.mailanyone.net/v1/?m=1heGTV-0007wu-4A&i=57e1b682&c=so6kE8-CUNivsVdd9dHO_jxLlPcDNwskrieFXWbBwo42-gXlT62biCpkPnmziA2-K5w0ANEYcYaWjXvGragyaAWFnPZHes5aVcui9RhlB7L5kg6n-U4JVSnxttxrUeg4__iY0c06pfARQb6CLrrOng2rD17vb_5MIPCjq8yTRfubkJQ-PZVLFi-ZQLViCCwxJerCM8pLpd9WjIBgxbsE5Wm1ZFLq80YBwh4SOPiO0mUMCA_9_q9QWH9VSarBRGgC> > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org > To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > <https://url6.mailanyone.net/v1/?m=1heGTV-0007wu-4A&i=57e1b682&c=ZjbsHoqQPfvapuiqPJTfP2bsRNzDO9bWpgo7fD5ovj_l5ygiGO6ciIosFoHeCPcwQyML2052NZ2agOFozKMN2WCvJMGLN0t60L3KKDsXQNIbjcXnF2BY1H2s7RmYDpszx3B6PsPWPEzytR_eAD92syv6HP6AGjNjdzom_-zA_7HFF5dyJ0DZvelKBxONI839y17Rk9SZ0hn1jVuspyNn_OFXrGTChi0_Y4Ttt4UlXHoV4NbxkGmjhbROHo0lT42RhJ9e1liS1EFn2rFLK4L0OA> > Past archives can be viewed here: > http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org > <https://url6.mailanyone.net/v1/?m=1heGTV-0007wu-4A&i=57e1b682&c=Du28BQQrYyUf6ypu9gbsUK3MSngGz2CBKiHJtvdnxVZuI5X4pv5_XuH_rjb97RVvpVm6lDRW1a5L9t2YvhheTnuhxPEImxP5IWQFjf7S_NXutBkuWG-DTD1JuhevLw-EBmp0usrk4fVlQB2Osr-p55Q6b698kg7btvaAouKj6c1Ru2azmSO_HTlOyW1mx1t6HiiY2etK6wsHrxg7miIFlU2qSIE6k4ao_PQUIyMc-ZydYPGnAqDa57JOSMHGNmnywY1lbzzRMV0IHrTwKZTgpw> > > > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org > To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > 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/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org > > <Screen Shot 2019-06-21 at 5.53.32 AM.png> > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org > To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > 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/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org > > > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org > To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > 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/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
_______________________________________________ OSList mailing list To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org 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/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org