Whole Systems Change with Dynamic Facilitation & the

Wisdom Council

Nexus U

March 28, 2008

‘‘Choice-creating” where people…

• address a high-care problem• are creative, innovative and

collaborative• are authentic - drop their roles• seek a solution that works for all

Managed = BOX Self-organizing = Circle

•All is alive, in relationship and growing

•All is in change … with spontaneity

•Not only do we choose, but we also create

•The measuring process often impacts quality and integrity

•The process is crucial

•Follow the heart

•The universe is dead stuff— except “me”

•Causality accounts for all .. There is nothing new!

•There is no free will and no creativity

•All is measurable. We can use numbers to assess the quality of things

•The process doesn’t matter

•Follow the plan

There are two forms of change

Classical science New science

Objective reality— An independent observer assesses and manipulates “dead stuff.”

Reductive thinking—To understand we must take things apart. System = sum of parts.

Linear process—For something to be built there must be builder and a plan.

Extrinsic motivation (Physics)—An object needs a cause or it won’t change.

Control change—Set goals and achieve it by managing extrinsic forces. Don’t go backward!

Measurement—Manage change by determining measures and tracking progress.

Participative Reality— We are all part of one whole creating itself. Intent affects reality.

Living System —Each part co-creates a new whole. It’s meaning comes from the whole.

Emergence—There are spontaneous, non-linear shifts that lead to new, unpredictable properties.

Intrinsic Motivation (Biology)—”Things” grow and change from within … spontaneously.

Facilitate growth—Spark/support transformation and emergence.

Quantum uncertainty—Attempts to measure can impact the essence of things.

Classical science is a subset of quantum science

Science is evolving…

Two models of change / Two Paradigms of Thinking

self-organizing managed

“Managed change” is primary

Self-organizing change is primary

“Box” Paradigm Circle Paradigm

Meetings with different ways of thinking

Is authentic and cares deeply

Stays in role, is dispassionate

Ideal attendee …

solving the real issue, where all are happy

achieving predefined goalsSuccess is…

LESS… sometimesMORE… sometimesTime cost:

a win/win shift, or “co-sensus”

a decision, then commitment

The aim is to reach…

Is where all are authentic & creative

Is orderly and under control

A “good” meeting…

Is real (messy is ok)Is well-defined The issue…

Decision-making Choice-creating

CONCERNS

DATA

SOLUTIONS

1

2 4

3

Mission-building

PROBLEM-STATEMENTS

Trust-building

Innovation-building

Perception-building

“OF COURSE’s”

DynamicEnergy

Dynamic Facilitation Flow

ISSUES

Outcomes of Dynamic Facilitation

• People discover “the real issue”• People determine unanimous perspectives

(“co-sensus”)• People develop wisdom and clarity• Trust develops —a sense of “we”?• There are breakthrough solutions and shifts• People commit to specific answers

Detached

Tame

Impossible

High-care

II-Problem-solving

I-Decision-making

III-Creative thinking

IV-Choice-creating

(Dynamic Facilitation)

When to use Dynamic Facilitation?

“Wicked”

Range of issues

Relationship to the issue

Transforming the System…

Box System Circle System

Choice-creating conversations

What does it look like?

• System charters an ongoing process• Periodic DF-events• Randomly select participants from the system• DF group, they pick the agenda, communicate their story and

insights to the larger system• Engage the larger system in conversation and action• Track what emerges• Continue the process

Experiments are happening…

• Farm credit bank• Homeless people• City and regional• Coops• Schools• Government agencies• Other countries

Outcomes of the Wisdom Council

• Creates a continuous feedback mechanism• Identifies points of collective “agreement”• Catalyzes change• Empowers and inspires individual leadership

Additional Resources

• Jim Rough & Associates, Inc. - Dynamic Facilitation training, corporate and government agency facilitation and consulting (www.DynamicFacilitation.com)

• Center for Wise Democracy - application of Dynamic Facilitation and the Wisdom Council in the public sphere (www.WiseDemocracy.org)

• Our Community of Practice Blog - articles, stories, newsletters, etc. about Dynamic Facilitation and the Wisdom Council (http://blog.tobe.net)

• Dynamic Facilitation Manual & Reader - available online at www.diapraxis.com or for $15 purchase from Jim Rough & Associates