Society in Sync - help

["Gordon Hall" <g.hall@dln.org.uk>]

[Moderator's Note:  Gordon Hall and the DLN face the same issues we all face, maintaining
momentum and energy between our periodic Deming events.  Perhaps we can learn from
each other here.

In February the Deming Learning Network, here in Aberdeen Scotland held =
a conference that we called Society in Sync.

The thinking behind the conference was that, to achieve change, we do =
need to consider the whole. The private sector, public sector, =
education, politicians, the media and our communities are interrelated =
and interdependent. So to achieve change we should address this whole =
interrelationship.=20

We had presentations from each of the sectors - plus we had Peter Senge =
as the keynote speaker. Web site www.societyinsync.org=20

The event turned out to be way beyond our expectations - a couple of =
unsolicited feedback:
. There is a real buzz about this conference.  I think something special =
might be going on here in the north east.
. There was more energy, enthusiasm and active listening going on than =
at any conference I can remember

The issue is now how do you follow up the conference - our thought is to =
have annual conferences but recognise the need to fill the gap between =
conferences

We are a relatively small community - population in our area is 350,000.

So our thoughts are at present to promote organisational learning in =
context of :
  a.. Private sector: Their learning is restricted by fire-fighting - =
crisis management - they do not have time
  b.. Safety: High profile but dominated by behaviourism and command and =
control
  c.. Education: dominated and distorted by the system of measurement
  d.. Public Sector: There is the opportunity in that central government =
is demanding modernisation - but they themselves still think in command =
& control terms. The learning in the public sector is restrained by the =
fear of making mistakes and the mistakes getting published.=20
  e.. The Community: Persuading them to stand up and take responsibility =
- to challenge government
  f.. The Media: - understanding the system in which they work - and =
then working with them
  g.. Politicians: - as above understanding the system in which they =
work - and working with them.
An absolutely massive task - especially because of our very limited =
resources - apart from myself all participants in the DLN are volunteers

It is more than likely a task that is way beyond us - but we are going =
to try

So we are asking for thoughts - suggestions - advice - etc - etc

We would greatly appreciate the help of the DEN


DLN - aim: Continual organisational improvement through the application =
of learning
Conference: www.societyinsync.org
Tel: 00 44 1358 721258
e-mail: g.hall@dln.org.uk
web site: www.dln.org.uk