350
Global Warming, Global Action, Global Future.
350 is the red line for human beings, the most important number on the planet. The most recent science tells us that unless we can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million, we will cause huge and irreversible damage to the earth. But solutions exist. All around the world, a movement is building to take on the climate c ...learn more
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Created: Jul 15, 2008
Updated: Jun 02, 2009
Membership: Invitation Only
Semi-Private
We the People - Consenting to a Deeper Democracy
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We the People is a comprehensive presentation of the history, principles, and theory of sociocracy. It also includes "how to" information, reprints of historical texts, several guides to meeting processes, a glossary, and a bibliography. The second printing, with corrections, is now shipping.
For more information on Sociocracy...
Quick introduction & history: http://www.sociocracy.info/about.html
Comparison to Democracy: http://www.sociocracy.info/other/democracy.html
Global website of Sociocratic Centers (english): http://www.sociocracy.biz/
Wikipedia (quick reference), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociocracy
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART ONE: Why Organize Sociocratically?
Introduction: Revisiting Governance … 13
Chapter 1: Why We Need Another “-ocracy” by John Buck … 17
Chapter 2: Why We Need Another “-ocracy” by Sharon Villines … 25
Chapter 3: History of Sociocratic Governance … 31
PART TWO: The Science of Sociocratic Governance
Introduction: Rewiring Organizational Power … 51
Chapter 4: Inclusive Decision-Making … 55
Chapter 5: Developing Quality … 71
Chapter 6: Steering & Structure … 85
Chapter 7: New Leadership Strategies … 99
Chapter 8: Fair Compensation & Free Organizations … 109
PART THREE: How It Works
Introduction: Organizing Our Strengths … 123
Chapter 9: Circles & Implementation … 127
Chapter 10: Consent & Rounds … 135
Sara’s Story by Tena Meadows O’Rear … 143
Chapter 11: Electing People … 149
Chapter 12: Organizing Work … 155
Chapter 13: Money as Measurement … 167
Afterword: An Invitation to Share … 175
APPENDICES: Additional Resources
A. Sociocracy by Lester Ward … 181
B. Sociocracy: Democracy as It Might Be by Kees Boeke … 191
C. Rationale for a New Social Structure by Gerard Endenburg … 201
D. Sociocratic Centers & Consultants … 211
E. Operating Agreement and Bylaws for a Sociocratic Organization … 213
F. Guide for Circle Meetings … 229
G. Guide to the Implementation Process … 233
H. Guide for Logbooks … 235
I. Guide to Elections by Consent … 237
Glossary … 239
Bibliography … 253
Index … 263
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Illustrations 4.1, 5.1, 6.3, and 8.1 used with permission of the Sociocratisch Centrum; redrawn and digitized by Jason Forrest.
4.1 A Heating System Consents
4.2 Decision-Making Methods Used in Sociocratic Organizations
5.1 A Circle Meeting
5.2 Typical Topics for a Circle Meeting
5.3 Creating Organization
5.4 The Circular Process
6.1 Double Links Between Circles
6.2 Types of Steering
6.3 The Heavy Load on Autocratic Managers
6.4 Governance and Operational Structures in a Sociocratic Organization
7.1 Hierarchy and Bottom-archy
8.1 All in the Same Boat
8.2 Rights and Rewards of Stakeholders Compared
12.1 A 9-Block Chart
12.2 A 9-Block Chart for a Guest Room Service
Comments (1 - 2 of 2)
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The table of contents may make sociocracy seem dry, but it is fun and interesting:
in voting, there can be no fraud and people say good things about each other;
the organization owns itself and that demonstrates that organizations that are owned by shareholders are slaves;
it shows us what freedom really is because in order to learn how to work with this tool people have to develop: they have to create a safe environment for speaking the truth, they have to be proactive in influencing policy, they have to be differentiated to be able to hold onto themselves when there is peer pressure, and those who have the real power need to support it (This is mostly for organizations that aren't totally sociocratic).
All these are key to real freedom.
Sociocracy guarantees power equivalence, good decision-making, and other bottom lines beside profit maximization.
After forty years of practical use, there are approximately 200 companies, non-profits, schools, intentional communities, police departments, hospitals, and other organizations around the world that have used the methods and principles Endenburg developed.
I'm making a documentary about it. Check out my website at www.beyonddemocracythefilm.com
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John and Sharon's recent book “We the People” is arguably the most single informative resource on sociocratic principles and practices (complete with process diagrams, meeting guides, and examples of legal bylaws). The global sociocratic center [http://sociocracy.biz] also offers links to the original thought leaders (like Gerard Edinburg) who to this day are still advancing the designs for implementation at a larger scale.
I believe the organizational case for sociocracy is extremely compelling, Not only has it been proven in communities, NGO's, and corporations (even BIG ones like BP, Mars , Pfizer and Shell), it has also been fully implemented from top-to-bottom (legally) in many organizations worldwide!
How many other organizational systems have the capability to: (a) legally guarantee that social/environmental responsibility is equally paramount to investor returns; (b) legally guarantee that every worker in the company has a paramount voice in corporate governance & management at every level of scale throughout the organization; and (c) build self-organization and dynamic steering directly into the legal structure and management processes of the organization…?
Sociocracy has been evolving for over 150 years and is a proven system of governance. It truly offers an enlightened governance model for the sustainable future we are seeking. This book is a must read for anyone interested in contemporary governance and organizational systems!