Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Refining concerns / needs in a timely way

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

On 8/2/03 11:35 AM, "Fred H Olson" <fholson [at] cohousing.org> wrote:

> The team meeting was reduced from 20 people taking 4 hours, to 3 people
> taking 10 minutes. All of the work that was being drug through in the team
> meeting was being done by individuals with their respective teams, in the
> specification by those individuals responsibility for a given area, and in
> the schedule; all by email and/or small groups as they deemed appropriate.

Sociocracy makes a distinction here that is helpful -- the traditional chain
of management and reporting is done the way your describe as reporting red
and yellow flag issues and taking short meetings between few people at
various levels.

Then there is another structure which is used for "policy decision making",
the overall decisions about direction and requirements to maintain quality
and achieve the goals of the group. This structure overlays the hierarchical
structure with all members being involved in these discussions. They
participate in circles with other workers who share similar responsibilities
and interests. EACH member has the power to object to a policy decision
although they must present a reasoned explanation for their objection.

These circles may only meet quarterly but they address the concerns of
everyone in relation to the values, mission, and goals of the organization.

This separation of the two functions allows both 'democracy' and efficiency
in just getting things done.

Sharon
-- 
Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org

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