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February 14, 2007
Overview
As OD professionals, it serves us and our clients to have at our fingertips a variety of useful models with which we can assist leaders to make sense of their worlds.
Because of the non-stop flow of leadership articles and books rising from within our profession, it’s natural to be uncertain about which of the many models are worth including in your toolkit. Experimentation can be hit or miss, and clients are famously unforgiving when feeling bored or bothered.
Or like many of us, perhaps you’ve become endlessly enchanted by that which is new and different and thus strive to include them all. Do you ever notice your clients looking alarmed or politely glazed-over when, yet again, they see you reach for the marker at the whiteboard?
Simple without being simplistic, “The Three Functions of Leadership” deserves to be in your toolkit. It’s comprehensive enough to be useful both to new and seasoned managers; often even the most model-fatigued clients express surprise and relief at finding a model that helps.
Come to the February 14 program and you’ll gain:
So what is “management cybernetics”? A relatively new science, cybernetics is an interdisciplinary examination of control and communication within systems. Cybernetics has been described as “the ability to cure all temporary truth of eternal triteness” because of its uncanny ability to describe complex systems with simplicity-- without being simplistic.
Management cybernetics is an outgrowth of this scientific field and rigorously examines the management of organizations from a systems perspective.
An early scientist in management cybernetics, Anthony Stafford Beer (1926-2002), made a significant contribution to the field of Organization Development with his brilliantly succinct description of the “The Three Functions of Leadership”. Rest assured you won’t need to mention cybernetics to your clients for them to get the model!
Come be part of this conversational program in which the “Stafford Beer Model” is our catalyst to reflect, listen, share, discuss and question with a vibrant community of OD professionals who enjoy learning together. We’re spirited, informal, curious, irreverent and welcoming. Hey, it’s Valentines Day—where else would you rather be?
Speaker
For 25 years Rebecca Perry, MA, has been experimenting with different ways of doing the work she loves: assisting leaders and their teams to engage in accountable communication and to welcome all limitations as self-imposed. She’s learned most of what she knows through trial and error. An adjunct faculty for the Oregon Graduate Institute, her corporate client list includes Microsoft, Nike, Hewlett-Packard, Mentor Graphics, BMW and Kaiser Permanente NW. Her Masters degree is in Applied Behavioral Science with emphasis on Managing and Consulting in Human Systems.
Details
The Fairfield Inn & Suites
6100 SW Meadows Rd
Lake Oswego, OR 97035
Pre-meeting Session: Peer Coaching
You are part of a small peer coaching group of approximately six participants. You may participate in a group or if you choose, observe the activity. The Process: one person is searching for insight regarding a goal or challenge they are experiencing. The others in the group ask powerful questions to help that person gain new perspectives on their goal/challenge.
Pre-meeting Session 5:15-6:15 pm
Peer Coaching Document
Networking 6:00 – 6:45 (or 6:15 – 6:45 for Peer Coaching participants)
Program is from 6:45 - 8:30 PM
No need to be hungry during the ODN meeting! Bring your dinner to the Peer Coaching or to the meeting. Great take out dinner restaurants just 2 minutes from the Fairfield Inn. Both places are on Bangy Rd just around the corner to the west of the Fairfield Inn. They are Best Teriyaki (next to Deseret Books, near Washington Federal Savings, 503-598-9555) and Mac's Markets and Deli (soup, sandwiches and salads at www.macsdelis.com).
Networking is encouraged so come early (around 6 PM) for some delightful conversation with colleagues! The Peer Coaching meeting will be occurring in another part of the room but there will be an area for networking in the meeting room and the lobby adjacent to the meeting room is also an option.