Zappos Goes Democratic

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An article by Jena McGregor In her column, “On Leadership,” appeared in the Washington Post today on Brian Robertson’s contract with Zappo’s, “Zappos Says Goodbye to Bosses.” Zappos is owned by Amazon but runs independently and has long been known for its unusual employee-responsive culture. The unusual approach is called a “holacracy.” Developed by a former software entrepreneur, the idea is to replace the traditional corporate chain of command with a series of overlapping, self-governing… Read More . . . “Zappos Goes Democratic”

Outside Experts on the Board of Directors

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Residential communities customarily do not have board of directors members from outside the organization. Corporations normally do, but they may not be chosen by their ability to balance expertise. Non-profit organizationsThe Delibrative Democracy Consortium (DDC)u is an alliance o... and independent schools often choose board members based on their ability to raise money or influence government or foundation decision-makers. Balanced Expertise Balanced expertise on the board of directors steers the organization from multiple perspectives. Balance… Read More . . . “Outside Experts on the Board of Directors”

Meetings Are Not the Work

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We need to remind ourselves that meetings are not the work. Much work is done in meetings and they can be exhausting, but the focus of a meeting is action. Determining effective actions. Defining desired actions. Evaluating failed actions. Or bemoaning lack of action. Possible Sources of Confusion In several contexts lately it has become clear that many of us have drifted into confusing meetings with the work, and even as the substance of organizational… Read More . . . “Meetings Are Not the Work”

Are Your Meetings Content or Process?

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In several contexts lately the conversations about organizing sociocratically have drifted to the problem of confusing circle meetings with the work of the circle, and even circle meetings as focus of sociocracy. Evidence of this is that we discuss process and enforcing process without discussing the quality and application of decisions in our work. The questions are more often about officers and consent than evaluating the effect of recent policy decisions on operations, worker effectiveness,… Read More . . . “Are Your Meetings Content or Process?”

Producing Organization: The 27 Block Chart

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The process of producing organization, designing production, is aided by completing a 27-block chart. The diagram above is the ideal feedback model that illustrates a simple system. It shows the input of information or resources, A as the transformation of those resources, and the output. B is the feedback loop of information that can be used to correct the process or confirm that it is accomplishing the aim. The 27-Block Chart The link below is… Read More . . . “Producing Organization: The 27 Block Chart”

Three Principles of Sociocracy

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The numeral 3 in orange. Three Principles vs Four There were originally three principles of sociocracy: (1) Consent to policy decisions, (2) circles arranged in a circular hierarchyA round pyramid is the term used by Ricardo Semler in Maver... More to make policy decisions, and (3) double linking between circles. The election of people to roles and responsibilities was intended to be a part of the first principle of consent. Allocation of resources involves the allocation of human resources as… Read More . . . “Three Principles of Sociocracy”