knox@topaz.decus.org (04/25/91)
Change and Consensus
by Marg Knox
You have recently received a ballot that asks you to vote on replacing the
existing DECUS U.S.Chapter bylaws and effect a reorganization of the
leadership structure. As one of your two "new" Board members, beginning July
1, I urge you to vote NO at this time.
I will not try to sway you with a technical discussion of group dynamics or
"Who will be getting the Real power". Instead I urge you to vote NO because
the fundamental effort to achieve a successful, harmonious and productive
reorganization has not yet been done. It is necessary to understand the
challenges we face today, and then build an organizational vision that
emphasizes our strengths and neutralizes our weaknesses.
WE NEED CONSENSUS. Consensus-building is a fundamental principle of the
management of this Chapter. While a sufficient majority of the current Board
is in favor of replacing the bylaws without further study, this majority has
failed to achieve the consensus of the entire Board, the entire staff, or any
of the volunteer units which you participate on, and that carry on the work of
the Chapter. I prefer to seek consensus. Our DECUS values obligate the Board
to truly address the concerns that have been expressed. There are processes
that can be employed that will invite diversity of opinion and that will
ultimately build the necessary consensus that guarantees successful change.
WE NEED A TRANSITION PLAN. A critical element missing in this restructuring
proposal is a detailed transition plan. This reorganization has been planned
from the "top-down". The future for unit resource allocation and conflict
resolution MUST be reviewed before we commit to change. Budget control,
interunit policies and staff resources are but a few of these critical
elements. Given that the proposal does not grant representation for each unit
on the management committees, it is essential that the resulting flow of
business decisions be clearly understood.
WE NEED NOT RUSH. The current Board is anxious to finish its term with these
substantial changes in place. You should know that the Board which will take
office on July 1 would NOT have the votes to place this ballot before you. I
believe that there exists no demonstrated emergency that demands immediate
change at this time at the risk of affecting our ability to continue to serve
our membership. If we implement less than well thought out changes, we will
spend several critical years working out the details at a time when DECUS and
your Board should be addressing the critical changes in the marketplace (i.e.,
Open Systems, changing business practices, alterations of the support level
from Digital, etc.). Throughout our units there is work underway to address
questions such as: What audience should we address; how can we make our
services more accessible; where should we invest our precious volunteer
resources to get the most "Bang for the Buck"; what industry alliances will
insure that DECUS does not become an irrelevant "island"; and how can we make
the most of shrinking Digital resources?
I AM NOT OPPOSED TO CHANGE. Wherever I have participated in DECUS, I have
participated in facilitating change, be it in the creation of new groups,
services or practices. But those changes have always been born of consensus,
of an understanding of our mutual goals, and not thrust upon anyone by
mandate. We all know stories of companies that reorganize rather then face
the difficult task of recognizing challenges, assessing strengths and
weaknesses and establishing an organizational vision. Many of you are
involved with your DECUS units in evaluating your unit goals, strengths,
weaknesses and futures. Change must be born of this consensus, of
understanding what we want to become, and not thrust upon us by mandate.
I pledge to work with you and with the new Board to effect changes that we can
all feel good about.