Demystifying Two Systems Behind Pioneering Initiatives in Sustainability and Democracy

The GreenMBA and Democracy Schools

as Case Studies

Jane Lorand, J.D., M.A.

International Society for the Systems Sciences

50th Annual Conference, July 2006

Gratitude

We all stand on the shoulders of those who came before us and were our teachers. I’m

standing on some very broad shoulders.

In addition to the people’s whose systems I’ll be explaining today, I want to share my

gratitude especially to my partner, John Stayton, Dr. Rudolf Steiner,

Bill McDonough, Dr. Richard Paul, and Rick Yenovkian.

AssumptionIf we are to advance sustainability and democracy, we will need pioneering initiatives and institutions to provide

leadership.

Entrepreneur’s Story

Is there a lesson for me?

The GreenMBA

& the Democracy Schools

Steiner’s Picture

• Humans are Thinking, Feeling and Willing beings with self-reflective consciousness.

• When our Thinking, Feeling, and Willing are balanced and also interpenetrating, we can be vibrant and healthy. When they aren’t, we can’t.

• This is true on an individual and collective level.

TF

W

Clarifying Terms First

Thinking

ReasoningConcrete AnalysisSynthesisIntuitionAssociationFantasyCognitionCritical Thinking

Beyond reactive, biased opinions or prejudices

Feeling

SensationsPerceptionsEmpathySentimentsSympathiesAntipathiesPassionsImpressions

Beyond sentimentality, melodrama, mawkishness

Willing

Exert your will into actionAssert yourselfResolve & actDecide & actChoose & actDeterminationPerseveranceVolunteer

Beyond reflex or instinct,conscious initiative

An Example of T F W

Hard-core Corporate Capitalism

ThinkingWilling

Feeling

TWF

Lots of carrots and sticks are needed to keep this going because it is working against human nature.

A Second Example

Familiar Non-profit Organization

F W

T

Frustration, burnout and low productivity lead to low morale.

One More Example

Ivory Tower of Academia

F

W

T

Tradition, insulation, and low accountability are the inputs that keep this system going.

The more you have balance and integration of T, F, and W, the more vibrant and healthy

your initiative and institution can be. Steiner says that morality thrives in the center.

F

W TCenter: work to maximize this space-flow is self-sustaining

Deeds gush naturally.

This is when we “love” what we’re doing.

Observations that led to the GreenMBA

1. Students who saw business as an opportunity to transform the products and processes that are unsustainable had no place to learn about business in that context.

2. Conventional business schools look like this:

Lots of fear and competition

Lots of carrots and sticks and promises of security.

FW T

Lots of thinking about how to make as much money as fast as you can and get out.

Specific Application in the GreenMBA Efforts to Balance & Integrate TFW

Moral Clarity and Alignment of Students’ and Faculty’s and GreenMBA’s mission: Why are we here?

Set Rhythmic Forms for Sharing Feelings, Thoughts, and Accomplishments

Continuous Improvement for Everyone- 4 times each year plus 1 hour/month individual advising for each student

We Love our Students = We Give Them What They Need

Critical Thinking about Values is Supported

Artistic Opportunities for Students and Faculty

T

F

W

+ Feeling & Balance

Specific Application in the GreenMBA Efforts to Balance & Integrate TFW

An Open and Safe Culture to be Fully HumanA culture is a growing medium: the question is, what are we trying to grow?

Clarity of Cooperation & Competition Toward Universal Humanity

Intellectual Humility

Integrity and Dependability

Clear Standards for Competence

Trust via Transparency

Inclusiveness and Community Building is Modeled and Practiced

T

F

W

When Vibrancy or Health Wane, We Diagnose for T, F, and W

What is out of balance?

The “How” to redesign is easy.

In the paper on the conference’s site, I’ve put lots of details and examples of the “How.”

Democracy Schools – T, F, W

Participants are intense, threatened and ambivalent

about their power and rights.

“Good, law-abiding citizens” are destined to lose.

Willing is weak because Thinking is not solid, therefore no sustainable action is possible.

FT

W

Democracy Schools – Design

Bring Thinking so Willing can emerge.

Teach US Constitutional history and ideals as they are relevant to the immediate threats.

Show what other communities have done by reframing the issue away from Environmental

Regulation …… right into the heart of democracy: Who should decide?

Thinking Strengthens Will and balances Feelings.

Second System : TRIAD Education

Dependent (Teacher, Boss, Authority Figure, Parent)

Independent(Student, Employee, Individual, Child)

Interdependent (Both, working together, negotiate)

Learning and Assessment: Who decides (1) what will be learned, (2) how it will be learned,

(3) and how it will be assessed?

TRIAD Education, David Morse

90+% of conventional schooling is Dependent90+% of corporate training is Dependent

Therefore, students have four choices:SubmitEscapeRebelManipulate

Dependent

Independent Interdependent

This does not lead to vibrancy or health. We are walking upstream by design.

Health, vitality, and (training to live in a democracy rather than an autocracy) requires balance and integration among Dependent, Independent & Interdependent learning and assessment. Simple?Sound familiar?

Integration of Systems

Thinking/Feeling/Willing

Dependent/Independent/Interdependent Learning and Assessment

How do these reinforce each other?

Social Entrepreneurs

Ambitious for the WorkHumble for Ourselves

Using the strength of systems for design criteria