Introduction to the Global SoL Network
SoL (The Society for Organizational Learning) is a global learning community dedicated to fostering knowledge generation and knowledge diffusion for fundamental institutional change.
Our vision is to nurture organizations worthy of people's highest aspirations and fullest commitment.
The purpose of SoL is to discover, integrate and implement theories and practices for the interdependent development of people, their networks, and their institutions through integrating research, capacity building and practice.
In order to realize this purpose, we believe it is essential to develop a global network of learning communities. Such a network could accelerate how new knowledge and capabilities are developed and shared.
The Global SoL Network is united through its purpose, its principles, and by shared theories, concepts, and practices on learning how to learn and on learning how to share (i.e., on leading, learning, and working together).
As with all living systems, the growth of SoL as a global network cannot be controlled or predetermined. Just as every cell is unique, every embodiment of SoL's basic pattern of organizing will be shaped by the institutions and individuals that constitute its members. Different local SoL learning communities will pursue their own aspirations and issues and will adapt SoL's basic design to the requirements of their social and cultural environment.
This thinking has led to a particular strategy for how to organize SoL as a global network. One way to approach this might have been to extend internationally the work that has been done in the US-based institutions -- building outward from the Boston-based consortium, keeping it as a hub for the network. However, this would be inconsistent with the self-organizing principles embodied in SoL. Instead, we believe that it is important to build "inwards from the outward circle" by creating conditions for initiatives in other countries and cultures and tying them together with already existing and now-forming communities. This option allows for self-organizing. It permits local initiatives to take the form that suits them best. And, it will allow for rapid growth of a global community shaped by the possibilities of each local community.
In November 1997, the SoL Council agreed to form an International Organizing Committee (IOC) for the purpose of developing SoL as a global network. The IOC participants are:
Dr. Göran Carstedt, Global SoL Network Coordinator and former executive at Volvo and IKEA
Ms. Rita Cleary, Chairperson, Visions of A Better World Foundation;
Mr. Arie de Geus, former Coordinator, Group Planning, Shell International;
Mr. Joseph Jaworski, Founder, Center for Generative Leadership;
Dr. Peter M. Senge, Sr, lecturer at MIT, and Chairman of The Founding Society for Organizational Learning;
Dr. Iva Wilson, former President Philips Display Components Company.
Dee Hock was deeply involved in the design of SoL from 1995-1997 and was a member of the IOC from 1997-1999.
In May 1998, an invitation letter to form local SoL communities around the world was sent to people who had shown an interest in the OLC/SoL and organizational learning over the years. (see Invitation Letter).
In June 1998, at SoL's annual meeting in Amherst, MA, Göran Carstedt, then Managing Director, introduced the Global SoL Project.
Later in 1998 and 1999, a number of parallel SoL activities began emerging around the world in the birthing process of this global network.
- Midwest SoL, Incorporated, 1998
Organizing meetings were held: - London, August 1998
- Netherlands, November 1998
- Lima, Peru, December 1998
- Copenhgen, January 1999
- London, March 1999
- Cartegena, Colombia, April 1999
In May 1999, the then emerging fractals were invited to provide a proposal of how they were planning on organizing their community, as well as signing the Manifest/Charter document, as a confirmation of commitment to the purpose and principles of SoL.
June 1999, at the SoL Annual Meeting in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, a number of international participants were present, with representation from Latin America, Europe, India, Mexico and Pakistan. The progress of SoL International was presented to the SoL membership.
In August 1999, the IOC authorized a start-up phase for organizing the Global SoL Community. The IOC invited a diverse group of people from eight - ten emerging SoL communities to participate in this task. The group represented different cultures and different approaches to organizing their communities. They gathered for three different meetings (Atlanta, Bordeaux, and London), between October 1999 and January 2000, to consider a myriad of issues around the challenges of formation (governance structures, operational structures, application processes, trademarks, etc.). (See report: GSN/Startup Meetings)
Those who have met in the three workshops (Atlanta, Bordeaux and London) are forming a Stewardship Circle and will help guide the efforts of this stewardship-driven network. The idea is to practice a living exchange over the next year, guided by a preliminary charter and using a minimal governance structure.
With a great degree of energy and interest for the development of this community, the Stewards will guide this process over the next year. (See Göran Carstedt's update on the birthing of the SoL Global Community (6/2/00), the Distributive Stewardship Model, and the "SoL is About" document.)
This is a transparent process and anyone who wishes to contribute may do so with reflections, suggestions, questions, inputs, etc. (See contact information for the Stewards)
The Global SoL Network is grateful to British Petroleum (UK), Ford Visteon (Detroit, MI), AT&T (Basking Ridge, NJ), the Center for Generative Leadership (Hamilton, MA), and a number of individuals, who have graciously given financial contributions toward the formation of the Global SoL Network. Also, joining our sponsors are Shell International (UK) and Cognition (Sweden) who have generously committed to contribute to the Global SoL Network's development, and to whom we extend our sincere thanks.
Respectfully,
Vicki Tweiten