We the People: Consenting to a Deeper Democracy - Softcover

Buck, John; Villines, Sharon

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0979282705 ISBN 13: 9780979282706

Publisher: Sociocracy.info Press, 2007

Synopsis

We the People describes a new method of governing ourselves that creates more inclusive and efficient organizations. The United States Declaration of Independence asserted that all human beings are created equally and endowed by society with the unquestionable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In practice, however, these rights are often limited to the majority, the rich, or the property owners. Sociocracy ensures these rights to everyone, and in the process, makes profit-making businesses more profitable and non-profit organizations more effective. Using consent and collaboration as a foundaation for decision-making and communications, it builds a strong governance structure that extends from the mailroom to the boardroom and from the client to the funders. Using the new sciences of cybernetics, systems thinkng, and complexity theory, it creates organizations that are as powerful, self-organizing, and self-correcting as the natural world.

About this title

Product Description

We the People "We the People" describes a new method of governing that creates more inclusive and efficient organizations. Sociocracy ensures the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to everyone, and in the process, makes businesses more profitable and non-profit organizations more effective. Full description

Review

 "Sociocracy is the best approach to organizational design that I have seen in twenty-five years of consulting.” Ira Chaleff, President of Executive Coaching & Consulting Associates

 “In our work with faith-based communities and non-profits, sociocracy has proven to be profoundly effective in improving working relationships and productivity. By showing both why and how, this book paves the way.” Dr. Kent Smith, CHARIS Professor, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas

“Sociocracy reinforces our transparent way of working and enhances everyone’s commitment.” Paul Stork, Director, Strategic Design Agency Fabrique, Netherlands

 “Enlisted in the Navy, I wondered why the officers didn’t listen to our ideas. As an officer, I wondered why I couldn’t get the enlisted men to tell me their ideas. With more than 20 years of experience, I can tell you sociocracy solves this problem from both ends.” Richard Heitfield, President, Creative Urethanes, Winchester, Virginia 

“Sociocracy is a process that feels natural. It’s like getting a new game from the toy store. Some games you’re agonizing over the rule book trying to figure it out. Other games you’re playing within 15 minutes—sociocracy is like that. A person coming into the company can quickly plug in.” Joe Garrison, Blue Scorcher Bakery & Cafe, Worker Cooperative, Astoria, Oregon

“We’re seeing that sociocracy is a much better model among the adults in our school because we’re being more creative and we’re working together in a much better fashion than we were before.” Renee Owen, Executive Director, Rainbow Community School, Asheville, North Carolina

“We adopted sociocracy 15 years ago and all of a sudden had energized people empowered and making decisions. We have fewer meetings, our decisions are better, and the follow-through is stronger because everyone’s on board.” Paul Kervick, President, Living Well Group, Vermont

Edition details

• Publisher: Sociocracy.info Press
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0979282705
• ISBN 13: 9780979282706
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 284