Our Approach: Autonomous & dynamic decisions

5. Example C: Delegation vs. Autonomy

 

How we help to undo detrimental delegations -

1. A typical constellation of the problem
2. Subject matter summary
3. Check the navigation map on this topic

Example: Reform politics vs. political reforms

Under the conditions of open and thus visible crisis, a Southern society experienced the dismantling of its societal machinery. The constitutional system of a strong president, a professional parliament and of political parties serving as the transmission vehicle between the citizens and their state, could not cope with the simultaneous challenges - the pieces of system broke apart. However, in the attempt to reassemble them, the society followed the same patterns as before - delegating hopes, expectations and change responsibility to the leader figure of the president, delegating vast parts of communal responsibility to the political parties, and delegating the responsibility for the delivery of social values to the public administration. Of course, none of these could possibly comply. Hence, a ' race track' situation emerged. The traditional players - formerly a part of the functioning machinery - each raced on separate tracks to regain their old position in society, while at the same time new alliances tried to occupy seemingly abandoned territories - notably civil society and business partnerships. What in the view of each sector and actor was to bring cure, edged the opposite - a further fragmentation.

These dynamics are - in the gist - the same in every area, even in individual companies, organizations, organisms and movements. We map together with you the underlying mechanisms of such developments in order to prevent the down-spinning spiral that comes from optimizing the parts when the entirety has already disassembled.

Matters addressed

One can be responsible for others - but not on their behalf. Beyond the manifold systems of delegation and representation in all areas of private and public life, there exist also detrimental forms of delegation. Detrimental delegation occurs when somebody else is made responsible for one's proper growth and potential - be as the provider of the opportunities, be as the seeming obstacle for development. Detrimental delegation also takes places when visions, hopes and efforts to grow are projected onto the "scene", that is, onto the visible reality - believing that the betterment comes only as a result of change. Such might be case in the following examples:

• Delegating the definition of direction to leaders
• Delegating fears to collective security and risk management systems
• Delegating inner doubts and contradictions to the level of technical issues
• Delegating corporate social responsibility to the level of visible action
• Delegating the creation of economical values to business
• Delegating intolerance, stubbornness, egotism or carelessness to one's antagonists

We explore - jointly with you - possible delegations and their consequential impacts in the concrete context of your undertaking. We map the origins of such delegations in relation to the undertaking at hand, thus setting the ground for increased awareness and autonomy of your decisions.