Sociocracy or ”Dynamic Governance”

Frands Frydendal, Denmark

Ceramics Designer, Physical Therapist, Writer, Social Activist

● Ecovillage Movement (Denmark and Europe).

● Peace Associations.

● Associations for users and survivors of Psychiatry.

Email: frandswf@gmail.com

Common problems

● Ineffective, frustrating meetings.● Hierarchies, that accumulate power, reject

critical feed-back● Too many written rules to remember for old

members.● Too many unwritten rules to respect for new

members

● Rigidity. Conservatism.

Sociocracy

Dynamic Governance

A system of governance that:

1: Uses equivalence consent process to decide on policy and authority (inequality). Allows and defines qualified leadership.

2: Subdivides in semi-self-organizing circles

3: Consistently uses feed-back loops.

Invention and inspiration

Gerard Endenburg, dutchman.

Invented and developed sociocracy in 1960'es and onwards

Quaker consensus

Communication theory

Chaos theory

Modern cybernetics

Values

Harmony

Equivalence

Transparency

Efficiency

”Act, learn and respond” vs

”predict and control”

Perfection is the enemy of the good.

Sociocracy has

Process structure (consent)

Small groups (>40)

Circle structure

Systematic communication (double links)

Feedback Loops

Feedback Loops

Aim

Feed- Forward

Evaluate Plan

Lead Measure

Implement Do Feed back

The leading edge● A fair and participatory decision

making process● A clear statement of vision, mission

and aim (purpose, goal, objectives...?)● A clear definition of responsibility –

general and for each person.

How to create a common aim

● Vision: Look outward and into the future.

–What does the world look like, because of our work?

● Mission: Look towards ourselves.

–What is our work, to create this change?● Aim: What outcome do we want to deliver,

when – or first?

–Measurable

Sociocracy consent decision (as different from consensus)

At the time of decision, all decisions must include:

● Limited timeframe.

● Date for feed-back

● evaluation criteria.

Decision process: Formally structured debate.

Later, on time of evaluation: Evaluation primarily on criteria. Moderation.

Sociocracy consent

● Ask for objections, not for consensus. ● Objections must be paramount and argued.● Objections are welcomed as contributions to

improvement of proposal● Objections cannot block a proposal.● Emotional resistance is valid. ● Negotiate: ”How could we improve the

proposal to satisfy your objection?”

Consent decision – proposal

● Present proposal

● Clarifying questions. Proposer answers to each.

● Short reactions: ”I (don't) like it because...”

● Possible quick amendment of proposal

● Ask for objections

● 1. round: ”No objection”. ”I have an objection.” Note down names.

● 2. round: Note down objection arguments● 3. round: Negotiate objections one by one.

● Celebrate decision!!

Consent decision – electionNo volunteering before the process!

● Facilitator: Describe role

● Write nominations on paper slip: ”I (name) nominate (name).”

● Submit paper slips to facilitator.

● Round: Arguments in favour of nominees.

● Round: Does anyone want to change nomination?

● Facilitator makes proposal based on arguments

● Objection round. Negotiations.

● Celebrate decision!

Equality and Hierarchy

● Operational meetings. IN our roles.

● Each decides within his area of expertise and work. ● Coordination of tasks and activities to reach the functional

aims of the circle. ● Organising production.

● Governance/circle meetings meetings. OUT of roles, equal.

● Common decision on allocation of authority. roles and responsibilities, ”rules of the game” - in this circle.

● Producing organisation.

Circle roles

● Double link roles:

● Operational leader● Elected in mother circle, holds perspective of mother

circle and its more abstract aim.● may get decision power if circle consents to it.

● Representative● Elected in daughter circle. Holds perspective of

daughter circle in meetings in mother circle.● Other roles, for example:

● Facilitator● Log-book keeper● Roles, special to the circle

Ownership & economy

● Orgs self-owning, free beings, foundations. ● Persons are ”partners”.

● Working partners or ● Capital-providing partners

● ”Profit” is measured aim-achievement (not only including money)

● Sharing profit in circle decisions.● Guaranteed Base Wage● 2 levels of Incentive adding: STM and LTM (Short

and Long Term Measurement).

Sources

Book: ”We The People” - Consenting to a deeper Democracy. By John Buck and Sharon Villines

World wide web: Just google ”Sociocracy”. Find...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociocracy

Websites:

Www.sociokratie.nl/global

Sociocracy.info

Sociocracyconsulting.com

Holacracy.org

Frands Frydendal email: frandswf@gmail.com