REPLY Society Strategy Development (SD7091)

[SDMAIL Bill Braun]

Posted by  Bill Braun <bbraun at hlthsys.com>

Jay redirects us with, "When we have a clear picture of the desired 
future for the Society and the field of system dynamics, then there 
could be a concrete discussion of how to achieve that future."

I suspect, without knowing for sure, that we are focused on what we 
want, rather than on what might be. If that is correct, we are are 
locked into a mental model (albeit a very expansive one). I opine there 
are more "what" and "why" questions that would be useful to ask.

- What are the future possibilities that would transform SD, and inspire 
each of us?
- What are the possibilities for community amongst us?
- What is the value that will cause people to turn to us for help?
- What is the larger system of which we are a part, and what role of 
function might we play in it?
- What are the possibilities that span the dichotomies of:
    - academic / practitioner
    - theory / application
    - social policy / business
    - abstract problems / concrete problems
    - problem focus / system encompassing

Some of these, if not all, may be greeted with, "asked, and answered." 
All the more reason to ask them (and other  possibilities questions) 
again with a fresh view of what might be rather than what we want.

Sticking with such questions is difficult - we are problem identifiers 
and solvers, and generally inclined to think in terms of solutions. Such 
solution-based thinking locks us into trying for a better version of the 
past and makes "focusing on the kind of future that we desire to create 
(Forrester)" difficult. I opine nonetheless that without such a 
conversation we will only experience a very long run for an 
unsatisfyingly short slide.


Scharmer ("Theory U", 2007, Society for Organizational Learning, Figure 
2.7, page 42, [very similar graphic here] 
<http://www.ottoscharmer.com/>) suggests that we benefit from 
identifying when we are stuck in Downloading patterns of the past and 
connecting directly to Performing ("Achieving results through practices, 
infrastructures").

Downloading                Performing
Suspending   [Open Mind]   Embodying
Redirecting  [Open Heart]  Enacting
Letting Go   [Open Will]   Letting Come
              Presencing

Pushing down the left side of the "U" from Downloading is Suspending 
(Seeing with fresh eyes) as a dimension of Open Mind, then Redirecting 
(Sensing from the field) as a dimension of an Open Heart, then Letting 
Go, as a dimension of Open Will, then reaching the base of the "U" at 
Presencing, (Connecting to the source, asking "Who is my self?" and 
"What is my work?" [for SDS, "Who are we?" and, "What is our work?"]).

Emerging from the base of the "U" pushing up the right side, Letting 
Come corresponds to Letting Go, Enacting (Crystallizing vision and 
intention) corresponds to Redirecting, Embodying (Prototyping, 
co-creating strategic microcosms) corresponds to Suspending, reaching 
the top of the right side of the "U" at Performing.
We can go directly from Downloading to Performing (which I interpret to 
be trying to have a better version of the past), or we can follow the 
"U" progressively through Suspending, Redirecting, Letting Go, 
Presencing, Letting Come, Enacting, and Embodying to reach Performing.

Theories abound, this is but one. I find it compelling for the road map 
it offers for finding the uncommon future within us.


Bill Braun
Posted by  Bill Braun <bbraun at hlthsys.com>
posting date  Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:18:16 -0400