ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN PRINCIPLES (Final Part)

Participative Democratic Organization or Behaviour-Enhancing Second Design Principle (DP2)

DP2 structures are based on Open-Systems Design Principles (Contextualism) and the model of directive correlation between system and environment.

The resemblance of DP2 to an “Ecosphere” may not be accidental. DP2 was purposefully designed to reconcile scientific knowledge (expertise) and ecological knowledge (common sense) based on ecological learning, open-systems and the model of directive correlation thus, catering to physical and psychological human needs and aspects (i.e., to allow for purposeful and ideal-seeking behaviour) (Emery, 1993). Some of these aspects are a pro-active-adaptive and participative leadership, shared responsibility and accountability, high cooperation and commitment, and effective communication (Emery, 1994).

In DP2 structures, interactive participation, cooperation and commitment are the only viable way to accomplish anything. A great example are the ‘mingas’ in the Andes mountains.

As Fred Emery (1995) puts it “Participative design is a redesign of the process of redesigning organizations. DP2 replaces conventional STS [Socio Technical Systems], while offering all the promise that STS sought to but was unable to deliver”.