An intensive 6
day course for creating sustainable ‘active adaptive’ human systems
with Merrelyn Emery
This
course is for people who are serious about making lasting change. Much has been
written about adapting to constant change. The message of this course is ‘Do not adapt to change: Change to be
adaptive’.
For
50 years open systems theory (OST) has been developing a solid, internally consistent
theoretical framework for reliable practical methods. This practical theory
involves going back to the basics of people in organizations and communities,
all of which are influenced by the unpredictable social environment. This
course explains why this environment is unpredictable and how to use it to
survive and prosper.
It
explains and deals with the two problems that cause CEOs most sleepless nights
v
How
to predict what the customer will want tomorrow, and
v
How
to turn employees into committed, innovative staff
OST
methods produce systems called ‘active adaptive’ because they combine analysis
of hard environmental realities with human ideals. Because they produce
mutually beneficial relationships between system and environment, they are
sustainable.
v
The
Search Conference
(SC) is a flexible method for participative strategic planning, for any type of
entity or issue. It enables people to plan their most desirable future with
responsibility for the actions they have decided will get them there. Unlike
other methods, each is uniquely designed for its people and purposes.
v
The
Participative Design
Workshop (PDW) is an effective and efficient method for changing whole
organizations from bureaucratic structures to those with a basic unit of
responsible self managing teams. It differs from other approaches because it
confronts the most fundamental dimension of change which is the location of
responsibility for coordination and control.
These
methods may be used singly or jointly depending on purposes.
v
In
addition, OST provides guidance for designing unique methods for the myriad of
purposes and problems encountered in daily life.
The
course is designed around three components to give you:
v
Experiential
learning as you participate in the processes
v
Practice
as designers and managers of SCs, PDWs and unique designs
v
Theoretical
understanding through conceptual briefings, debriefings and questioning.
Day
1. 3.00-8.00pm
Overview of week and OST, introductions and
expectations, begin SC experience
Day
2. 8.30am-7.30pm
Continue SC experience and begin debriefing
Day
3. 8.30am-7.30pm
Continue debriefing, practice with
SC concepts, design a real SC, introduction to PDW
Day
4. 8.30am-6.00pm
Experience PDW
Day
5. 8.30am-7.30pm
Debrief PDW, practice with PDW concepts, design series of PDWs for
total system design, briefing for PDW modified for design rather than redesign,
Day
6. 8.30am-lunch
Briefing for and practice with
unique designs, complete any left over tasks, review expectations
You
will gain:
v
The
knowledge and skills to produce strategic plans that get implemented
v
The
knowledge and skills to produce organizations with people who are motivated to
learn and innovate, increase production, quality and customer satisfaction
v
An
understanding of why and how these behaviors happen and how to maintain them
v
The
knowledge to differentiate between effective and ineffective strategies for
change
Dr
Merrelyn Emery has spent 30 years working collaboratively with organizations
and communities around the world to develop OST as a reliable practical approach.
This course was introduced to the Americas in 1993 through the auspices of the
International Institute for Resource Management at New Mexico State University.
The IIRM is now co-sponsoring it with other organizations to improve access to
it.
Training Workshop Schedule and Fees
The fee for the SC\PDW workshop is US$1,900. This includes materials.
Participants are responsible for their own accommodations and meals not
provided at working sessions. Until further notice please contact the
representative listed in the following table for REGISTRATION,
prices in Canada, lodging in the US and Canada, and other information.
|
Dates |
Where |
Contact |
Workshops |
Price |
|
May 8-13, 2000 |
Montreal, Canada |
Don DeGuerre Ph:514-848-2270 Fax:514-848-2262 |
Introduction to Open Systems Thinking: (Canadian $) $1,800 for private sector managers; $900 for normal Centre clients (not-for-profits, native associations, faculty and graduate or post graduate students with jobs); $450 for students and others that cannot afford more. |
|
|
May 14-19, 2000 |
National Training Labs |
Ph: 1800-777-LABS Fax: 703-684-1256 NTL Institute Client Relations Centre 300 N. Lee St. Ste.300 Alexandria, VA 22314 |
Introduction to Open Systems Thinking |
$1,900 |
|
May 21-26, 2000 |
Phoenix, Arizona |
Mark LaScola Ph: 480-460-1678 Fax: 480-460-5085 16666 S. 19th Pl. Phoenix, AZ 85048 |
Introduction to Open Systems Thinking |
$1,900 |
|
June 1-2, 2000 |
Phoenix, Arizona |
Mark LaScola Ph: 480-460-1678 Fax: 480-460-5085 16666 S. 19th Pl. Phoenix, AZ 85048 |
Practitioners Workshop Prices to be determined |
$350-$400 |
|
June 3-8, 2000 |
Denver, Colorado |
Nowlan Resources http://www.milehighlighthouse.bigstep.com/ Ph: 303-321-1109 Fax: 303-355-8850 |
Introduction to Open Systems Thinking Where: Best Western
Landmark Hotel 455 South Colorado Boulevard Denver, CO
80246 Phone: (303) 388-5561 |
$1,900 |
|
June 8-10, 2000 |
Denver, Colorado |
Nowlan Resources http://www.milehighlighthouse.bigstep.com/ Ph: 303-321-1109 Fax: 303-355-8850 |
Advanced Open Systems Thinking or Statistics for Open Systems Thinkers Where: Best Western Landmark Hotel 455 South Colorado Boulevard Denver, CO 80246 Phone: (303) 388-5561 |
$750 each |
|
June 11-16, 2000 |
Calgary, Canada |
Golbecks Associates Ph: 403-289-0153 Fax: 403-220-0021 |
Introduction to Open Systems Thinking |
|
|
June 17-18, 2000 |
Calgary, Canada |
Golbecks Associates Email: terrygolbeck@home.com Ph: 403-289-0153 Fax: 403-220-0021 |
Practitioners Workshop |
|
|
June 19-20, 2000 |
Calgary, Canada |
Golbecks Associates Email: terrygolbeck@home.com Ph: 403-289-0153 Fax: 403-220-0021 |
Advanced Open Systems Thinking |
|
|
June 21-22, 2000 |
Calgary, Canada |
Golbecks Associates Email: terrygolbeck@home.com Ph: 403-289-0153 Fax: 403-220-0021 |
Statistics for Open Systems Thinkers |
|
Last Update: July 12, 2000