Oct 13, 2008 | ISBN 9781576756171
“Makes a compelling argument that applying principles of complex, adaptive systems at work leads to high-performance organizations and that Open Space Technology is an expression of this phenomenon in action—a wonderfully engaging and insightful contribution to the leadership literature!”
—Dr. Arthur L. Jue, Director, Global Organization and Talent Development, Oracle Corporation, and coauthor of Leadership Moments: Turning Points That Changed Lives and Organizations
“Shows us why almost everything we think we know about planning, organizing, directing, and controlling is wrong…and what we need to do instead.“
—Rodney Plimpton, PhD, former Senior Vice President, Human Resources, American Electric Power
“The current economic downturn has focused business discourse on efficiency, measuring systems, downsizing, and other linear top-down measures, but Owen draws from decades of his grassroot experience to prove that passion, responsibility, and self-organizing are the main ingredients of long-term performance.’
—Sari Stenfors, PhD, Associate Director, Scandinavian Consortium for Organizational Research, Stanford University
“With characteristic humility Harrison has issued an invitation for authentic leaders to recognize the true nature of how effective organizations work. We have only to decide whether we try to convince ourselves we are still in control or get on the board and become a `wave rider’"
—Phelim McDermott, Co-Artistic Director, Improbable theatre company, London
Preface
Introduction Wave Rider
Part I: Preparation for Wave Riding
Chapter 1: The Holy Grail: Superior Performance
Chapter 2: High Performance Systems Defined
Chapter 3: Getting from Here to There
Chapter 4: The Anomalies
Chapter 5: The Open Space Experiment
Chapter 6: Self Organization: The Key to High Performance Systems?
Chapter 7: How Do We Deal with the Pain?
Chapter 8: A Spanner in the Works
Part II The Wave Rider’s Guide to the Future
Chapter 9: Becoming a Wave Rider: Care and Feeding of Self Organizing Systems
Chapter 10: Step One – Do your Homework before you Start
Chapter 11: Step Two – Extend an Invitation
Chapter 12: Step Three – Come to The Circle
Chapter 13: Step Four – Welcome Passion, Responsibility and Authentic Leadership
Chapter 14: Step Five – Remember the Four Principles
Chapter 15: Step Six – Observe the Law of Two Feet
Chapter 16: Step Seven – Keep Grief Working
Chapter 17: Step Eight – Formalize the System
Chapter 18: A Day in the Life of. . .
Conclusion
Index
About the Author
