Category: Getting it done

How do we implement democracy in our daily lives? What can we learn about getting it done?

Holacracy, Zappos, Forbes

An article by George Anders on Zappos in Forbes appeared this week. Anders writes about “innovation, careers and unforgettable personalities” for Forbes Magazine and formerly for the Wall Street Journal, two of the most respected and long-lived business sources. I honestly never thought I would see Holacracy, Zappos, Forbes in the same sentence. Kudos to Brian. This is one of the more sensible articles on the Zappos adoption of Holacracy, less sensationalistic though Anders characterizes… Read More . . . “Holacracy, Zappos, Forbes”

Zappos Goes Democratic

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

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... More 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.… Read More . . . “Outside Experts on the Board of Directors”

Producing Organization: The 27 Block Chart

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”

Homeowner Association Boards (HOA)

A blog post on the tyranny of homeowners association boards sparked a chord of frustration and disdain in me this morning. The blog post was by Jonathan Nettler, “The Tyranny of America’s Homeowners Associations,” on the Planitizen website, “a public-interest information exchange for the urban planning, design, and development community.” Nettler’s post selectively quotes a post by Kaid Benfield, “Coercion by Contract: How Homeowners Associations Stifle Expression, Sustainablity” on the Natural Resources Defense Council site… Read More . . . “Homeowner Association Boards (HOA)”

Is Voting Meaningless?

Multiple lines of people waiting to vote. This post is not intended to discourage voting. It only addresses the fact that our votes are not as powerful as they are often portrayed by political parties. The peer-to-peer election process is not about voting. It is designed to identify the best available person to do the job. Those with the most reliable information about the job and about the people qualified to do it are responsible for nominating and electing the best person.… Read More . . . “Is Voting Meaningless?”