Re Self Managing organizations

[Kromkowski@aol.com]

Ed Baker raises some interesting questions, in response to my comment about 
the DEN management.  Because the "management of the DEN" gets some people's 
knickers in a twist, we don't we discuss this in the abstract.

Can there be systematic, predictable and/or efficient improvement in a 
"self-managed organization"?  If so, why shouldn't all organizations be 
self-managed?

Here are some quick thoughts:

1.  Of course, there can be improvement: for example, evolution.  But I'm not 
so sure we could characterize it as systematic, predictable and/or efficient. 
 In that regard, what are we to make of Deming thoughts on whether "every one 
doing the best" is a good model for education, industry, and government.  He 
seems to say no it isn't a good model.  Consider also whether enlarging the 
committee increases the good produced?

Now, on the other hand, I too bristle at the notion of dictatorship (and even 
an oligarchy that is not made of the true aristoi) but it seems that the 
issue there is having a followership made up of individuals secure enough 
with there own sense of right and wrong to say appropriately say "No".