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Greetings!
This newsletter is prepared monthly by volunteers of the In2:InThinking
Network. Content comes from volunteers. We invite you to further
develop our network by sharing this newsletter with friends and
colleagues.
Why settle for the prevailing style of thought? Be a leader. Improve your thinking about thinking.
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2007 Forum Fast Approaching!
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Register now to take part in next week's Forum!Anyone
interested in improving the effectiveness of individuals and organizations will
gain a deeper appreciation of leadership and systems thinking from our annual 6-day Forum. Past attendees
reflect a wide variation in backgrounds - always a highlight of our
event - and as such we have confidence that our program will continue to be
valuable to anyone interested in "better thinking about
thinking."
The cost of the Forum is $350 per person, with a $200 rate for full-time students. Both rates include all pre- and post-conference seminars and workshops, conference presentations and activities, materials, and
meals (dinner on Friday, continental breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, and
lunch and dinner on Saturday).
NMA/In2:IN Dinner ($40): Wed., April 11th, see details to the right
Pre-Conference Activities (no charge): Thursday and Friday, April 12th & 13th
Conference Activities ($350 per person): 4pm, Friday, April 13th through noon on Sunday, April
15th
Post-Conference Activities (no charge): Monday and Tuesday, April 16th & 17th
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| Member Profile - Rennie Methuen
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The Facts
I live in Finland with my family, but probably the years spent in
Africa in Zimbabwe as a young boy have affected my thinking the most.
That's how I learned about culture. I studied dentistry at the
University of Kuopio, where a teacher gave me an article on quality to
read in c.1987. He said quality thinking was going to be important and
that quality, information and leadership matters would converge. We
didn't understand what he was talking about. Encouraged by him I
studied information management at the Helsinki University of
Technology. Under Merja Karivalo we learned to look at organizations
through new glasses - from an information perspective. It was really
exciting! In c.1991 Pirjo Janhunen, a local consultant, introduced us
to Deming. In May 2005 I had the privilege of attending the Deming
Transformation Forum in the UK - warmest thanks to Hazel Cannon and
Alan Winlow. It was an unforgettable experience being able to listen to
people like Bill Bellows, Jon Bergstrom, Myron Tribus (the Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus)-man), and many others, live. I
also attended Bill's Red and Blue Pen Companies-workshop there.
In2:IN Forum Attendance
The 2007 Forum will be my first, but hopefully not the last! Getting to
attend the Forum is better than a dream come true! Inspiration - the
people and the chance to learn.
Tell us about a recent "a ha" moment.
I was recently struck by the simplicity and sheer truth of many of
Deming's quotations: Survival is not mandatory. - There is a penalty
for ignorance. We are paying through the nose. - You can not inspect
quality into the product; it is already there. - Best efforts will not
substitute for knowledge. - Down the tube we go! (I came up with two
of my own: Some theories work much better than others. - Finnish wives
are the best in the world. ;)
What book(s) are you reading now?
Lately I've been perusing dental books - I don't know if many readers would find them interesting or useful ;)
What recent book have you read that you consider both beneficial and readable?
I recently finished Kari Helin's "Yhdessa menestymisen taito" which
translates as "Being successful together". It's a thin but very
readable book about working together. For those hesitating, I'll try to
find the reference to a book by an Englishman on why the Finnish
language should adopted globally. ;) What advice do you have for people new to In2:IN?
Thanks for making the world a better place! It's all about relationships. |
Member Profile - Linda Finkelstein
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 The Facts
Playing a senior leadership role for over 25 years with MICA Consulting
Partners. We specialize in Strategic Talent Management. As trusted
advisors, we help Fortune 500, 1000 and entrepreneurial firms - select,
align, develop and advance - the people required to achieve measurable
business results.
Tell us about a recent "a ha" moment.
In my practice I facilitate executive coaching initiatives. I'm struck
by the level of commitment and engagement of senior managers. And the
profound learning and changes in behaviors they are demonstrating as an
outcome of private coaching.
What book(s) are you reading now?
Currently reading "What Got You Here Won't Get You There", written by Marshall Goldsmith.
What recent book have you read that you consider both beneficial and readable?
"Blink", written by Malcolm Gladwell. It's about how we think about
thinking, abut choices that seem to be made in an instant. Why some
people are brilliant decision makers, while others are consistently
inept. How our brain really works. Why our best decisions often those
that are impossible to explain to others.
What advice do you have for people new to In2:IN?
There is tremendous knowledge and experience to glean from tapping into
the hearts and minds of the network. You would be well served on many
levels to do so. At the same opportunities to share your expertise with
others. |
| Partners InThinking
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In this
feature, we highlight a Partner Organization of the In2:InThinking Network. We
believe the resources of these organizations will expand your thinking about
thinking... This month we are featuring The Deming Forum & The Transformation Forum
The Facts:
Founded in 2000, The Deming Forum aims to enable and optimise learning & application
of the Deming philosophy. The philosophy centres around the System of Profound
Knowledge (SOPK) a radical and innovative method for realising true, sustainable
transformation for organisations, teams and individuals. The Deming Forum
operates as a not for profit organisation. We create stimulating learning and
networking opportunities that deepen knowledge and understanding of Deming's
thinking. At our annual 'Forum', people from all industries and walks of life
can gain new insights to help their organisations and themselves on their
transformation journey. Find
out more on our website.
In 2006 we
created The Transformation Forum Ltd, a UK based organisation that also
operates from The Court House in Ampthill and will be the organiser of our
Learning events and retail supplier of all the Deming Forum publications, books,
and other learning materials.
The Deming
Forum will continue to develop its mission to be a learning and development
resource. We're fortunate to have a management team consisting of
representatives from industry and the public sector who donate their time and
energy.
How does your organization compliment the In2:InThinking Network?
Like In2:IN, we are
continually looking for opportunities to expand our learning and to embrace new
and complementary thinking. We seek opportunities to optimise collaboration
between individuals and organisations around the world using systems thinking
and cooperation as our trigger.
Tell us
about your membership. What does it mean to be a member of your organization
and how does one become a member?
We do not have
members, we have supporters. Individuals can support the Deming Forum by
contributing an annual donation of £95.00 ($175 at today's exchange rate) which
allows benefits including 10% discount on all Deming Forum sponsored events;
discounts on affiliated events; unique access to a book, tape and video
library; access to archive conference papers and photographs, and discount
offers during the year. You can complete the relevant section of the booking
form for the annual Forum or contact us direct.
Organisations wishing to become
a Corporate Sponsor of the Deming Forum and have their logo displayed at all
Deming Forum sponsored events are welcome to contact us on +44 (0)1525 402323
for more details.
What
resources does your organization offer its members?
In addition to our
annual Forum, we offer seminars on systems thinking and specialist guest
seminars exploring new and complimentary thinking.
Our 3 regular seminars are "Introduction to the Deming Management Method"; "Understanding the Deming Management Method"; and "Data, Variation, and
WinChart".
We are a focal point and information service providing knowledge and support in
applying Systems Thinking. We do this not just for our supporters but for
everyone.
The Deming Forum holds the copyright for most of the British originated Deming
publications (including the famous Deming A5 booklets) and is building an
archive of material of interest to people wishing to learn more about Dr. W.
Edwards Deming and his methodology.
For books, videos, DVDs
and a great version of the Red Bead Experiment, you can download the
Transformation Forum Learning Store brochure from our website.
In 2005 the Deming Forum was featured in a BBC Radio 4 programme, 'In
Business'. They recorded a programme on Dr. Deming and his management method.
You can listen to the programme online.
and then select Listen to In Business for 30 June 2005 from the left hand
column on this page.
What
exciting developments are on the horizon for your organization?
The Transformation
Forum 2007 entitled "The Nature of Transformation: Creating a Culture of
Innovation" takes place from Tuesday 22 to Thursday 24 May 2007 @ The Robinson
Executive Centre, Wyboston Lakes, Bedfordshire, UK. Featuring world class speakers
and practitioners, it promises to be a thought-provoking and fun event.
Our spectacularly
successful 24 hour UK MasterClass with Jeffrey Liker, author of "The Toyota Way", run in cooperation with Rubicon Associates, will be repeated this May. During the next 12 months we shall be introducing learning events on
Leadership, Creativity, a Red Beads MasterClass as well as some other guest
seminars.
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| Strategic Management Articles from the Haines Centre for Strategic Management
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| Book Review
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Dialogue: The Art Of Thinking Together
Author: William Isaacs
Publisher: Currency Doubleday
Length: 428 pages
Reviewer: Dale S. Deardorff
W. Isaacs, founder and president of Dialogos has created a great book in the area of dialogue for Leaders or teams that are focusing on creating synergies thru Thinking Together. Abba Eban summarizes the central problem stating that "Leaders have not learned to think together... and that most political and corporate Leaders, academics, community builders and families struggle with the same problem".
According to the text what is needed is a powerful set of practical tools and practices that help us understand that how we THINK does affect how we talk and communicate to others. The author states clearly that a Dialogue is not something you do to another person... it is something you do with another person!
A dialogue is a shared inquiry, a way of thinking and reflecting together which creates a conversation with a center, not sides. The word can trace its Greek root to "a flow of meaning, an ability to take multiple unique issues and opinions to conversation and create something new and original". Communication is the center of our culture as individuals, yet we rarely make time for true communication in listening & hearing our inner voice in society today.
Isaacs' book is organized into five "Key Parts":
- What Is Dialogue?
- Building Capacity for New Behavior;
- Predictive Intuition;
- Architecture of the Invisible;
- Widening the Circle.
The author uses many parables of his own personal experiences and case studies to show how dialog can help resolve differences and open opportunities between groups. It is the ability to take a step towards a conversation that allows people to THINK together in a relationship which implies you no longer take your own position as final. This book not only offers us the opportunity to reflect on our own mindsets and practices, it also provides a useful cognitive frameworks and repeatable strategies to help Leaders and teams resolve differences and engage in the New Behavior we call dialogue.
Building Capacity for New Behavior is centered on:
- Listening - without resistance or opposition
- Respecting - awareness and integrity of another's position
- Suspending Opinion - assumptions, judgment and certainty
- Voicing - what needs to be said (p. 419)
Isaacs points out that we do not work hard in preparing to listen. The listening element of dialogue cannot be overemphasized because it can allow a way to perceive more directly the ways we jointly participate in the world around us... This means the interconnection between listening & hearing others balanced by our inner voice and our reactions." Only when we can participate with others, understand the difference between memory and thinking and striving not to judge to create a right and a wrong idea can we move away from thinking alone.
Read more on the Art of Dialogue... here.
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Did One Shoe Fit All Roman Soldiers?
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Alan Winlow, a fellow InThinker from East Newtown in the north of England, has recently uncovered another example of "one size does not fit all," a reminder that systems thinking favors variation management not variation reduction. As InThinkers well know, "it depends." Alan's example involves the leather footwear worn by Roman soldiers in Scotland in the 1st Century AD. As shown, adjustments to the shoe size, to account for soldier-to-soldier variation in the "uppers" (let alone left foot to right foot variation) were done by changing the lengths of the slots in the leather uppers, as shown in the photograph above. Different lengths and widths allowed for different sizes of soles. While we know that such armies did march on their stomachs, Alan has also found that that one size meal did not feed all soldiers. |
Partner Events and Resources
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Deming Transformation Forum 2007 ~ Creating a Culture of Innovation
22, 23 & 24 May 20073 days of the year that will change the other 362!
Come to the Transformation Forum 2007 and learn about the key disciplines underlying every successful transformation. It is this perspective and knowledge that focuses the people and change activity and enables the whole organisation to work successfully together. Don't blame the tools ~ get the knowledge.
So what is transformation? A transformed organisation will have a profoundly different approach to managing its processes, its people and its relationships. It will understand its customers in a new way and will use an understanding of variation to learn, innovate and drive lasting improvements. It will confront and challenge leaders, managers, staff and ultimately the entire business culture. The new mindset will raise the organisation to a new richer level, and enable it to stay ahead.
Over 3 days you can learn the principles of the Deming Management method and hear amazing international thinkers and practitioners.
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| NMA & In2:IN Co-Sponsor Pre-Forum Dinner Program with Steve Buchanan
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Join the National Management Association (NMA) Valley Chapter and In2:IN as we kick-off the 2007 Forum activities with an evening dinner program featuring past Forum attendee and fellow InThinker, Steve Buchanan speaking about: "It's All In Here! Knowing the Power of Me." (see more details below...)
Where & When:Wednesday, April 11, 2007 5:00 PM Social Hour 6:00 PM Dinner Warner Center Hilton - 6360 Canoga Avenue (same location as the Forum) Cost:The event is free for NMA members and $40 for guests and Forum attendees (this fee covers your meal). Meal Choices:Roasted Sirloin Grilled Chicken Vegetarian Stir-Fry Sign Up Now!Reserve your seat and indicate your meal choice by calling one of the boosters listed on the flyer or sign up online! More DetailsWe each go through our days encountering things that we would describe as joyous, mundane or just plain terrible. Our past experiences and beliefs frame these events in ways that produce powerful emotions. Through Steve's stories and his easy to understand examples you will be able to realize and capture the power within yourself - the power to become aware of how these emotions arise and the
power to reframe events in a more positive light. As our worlds become more stressful and complex we each need to take advantage of the power within ourselves.
About Steve
Steve is a Business Performance Consultant with over twenty years experience leading others, managing projects, and delivering
results. He provides consulting and coaching to a variety of for-profit and not-for-profit executives in the areas of business strategy, execution, and leadership development. The cornerstone of his work is the belief that it takes a successful combination of people and processes to deliver results.
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Ongoing Discussion Preview
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The Ongoing Discussion (OD) for April will feature John Pourdehnad of the Ackoff Center.
On Thursday and Friday, April 26th and 27th, Johnnie will engage us in a dialogue on the topic of "Synthetic Program Management."
This month's OD announcement will be released on or before Friday, April 20th.
For those readers not already on the OD mailing list - click below...
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| Ideas to Ponder...
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Check out these articles from Stanford Alumni Magazine:
"What Do We Tell the Kids?" You have a bright child, and you want her to succeed. You should tell her how smart she is, right?
"The Effort Effect" According to a Stanford psychologist, you'll reach new heights if you learn to embrace the occasional tumble.
"Intelligent Design" When information needs to be communicated, Edward Tufte demands both truth and beauty.
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The desire to take medicine is perhaps the greatest feature
which distinguishes man from animals.
Sir
William Osler
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The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it always to be kept alive.
Thomas
Jefferson
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Making a Difference from Where We Are...
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Deming Learning Network -
Thought of the Month
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These items are contributed by Gordon Hall of the Deming Learning Network in Aberdeen, Scotland.
How simple or complex are
we?
Are we the simple reactive beings that fundamental
behaviourists think we are? Do we simply respond to stimuli? Are we
predominately self centred and think in terms of rank. status, possessions and
sex?
Or are we more complex and have other centred
attributes of altruism, affiliation, care giving, pride and
remorse?
If our organisations think we are self centred than
they have structures to manipulate or "motivate" the individual such as targets,
budgets, appraisal, incentives, career paths, etc.
If on the other hand the organisation believes in
our other centred nature than the underlying theme is trust with the aim of
releasing our full intellectual potential.
The danger of organisations and governments that
believe we are simple reactive beings is that CEOs and governments take onto
themselves for deciding direction and developing a means for telling us
where to go and what to do. Bush and Blair's adventure in Iraq is a classic
example. In the political field intelligent debate is replaced by "spin" and the general dumbing down of society
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