Book Description
"We the People" describes a new method of governance 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 foundation 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 sponsors.
The Discoveries of Science
Our understanding of how the world works was fundamentally altered when cybernetics, systems thinking, and complexity theory replaced the mechanical model of closed systems. Sociocracy applies these new scientific theories to make our organizations as powerful, self-organizing, and self-correcting as the natural world.
Is It Practical?
Sociocracy is not only practical; it is easy and effective. In the Netherlands, sociocracy is replacing legally required worker councils because it is less adversarial and provides better protection for workers' rights. In professional organizations, like the United States Green Building Council, it provides egalitarian as well as efficient governance. The European divisions of Shell, Heineken, Mars, and Pfizer use sociocracy because it is simply more productive.
Publisher comments
This is the first book on sociocracy by native English speaking authors and the first to place sociocracy in the context of the historical development of governance and management theory. While it presents the theoretical foundations and history of sociocratic principles and methods, it also contains extensive "how to" information.
