We the People: Consenting to a Deeper Democracy - Tapa blanda

 "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

Our understanding of how the world works was fundamentally altered when the mechanical model of closed, linear systems was replaced with cybernetics and complexity theory. Sociocracy is a governance method that uses these new sciences to design organizations that are as powerful, self-organizing, and self-correcting as the natural world, including the honeybees.

The United States Declaration of Independence asserts that all human beings are created equally and endowed with the unquestionable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In practice, however, these rights exist only for the majority, the rich, or property owners. We the People explains how sociocracy ensures these rights to everyone. Sociocracy shares the values of democracy, but designs more inclusive and efficient organizations. It makes profit-making businesses more profitable, and non-profit organizations more effective. And everyone happier.

The text includes history and theory; essential principles; relationship to traditional management theory; implementation methods; classic readings; examples of bylaws for businesses and nonprofits; short guides for meetings and decison-making; a glossary; bibliography; and index. It also includes photographs, diagrams, charts, and tables. It is a comprehensive handbook for understanding and implementing the sociocratic circle method of organization.