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Archive for 'culture'
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Wildness: The Lure of the Future
Posted on April 2, 2013 by Kathryn Alexander
 This is Spring, Easter, a time of renewal. When most people think of sustainability they think about being around for a long time. For business the life expectancy is about forty years, there are a very few businesses that have been around for 100 years of more.
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But We Won
Posted on March 28, 2013 by Kathryn Alexander
 We are the chosen people. We have the expertise, the drive, theexperience of having it all, surely this is proof that we have won, that we are the greatest civilization ever!
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The Two Wolves Story
Posted on March 26, 2013 by Kathryn Alexander
 Southern New Hampshire University recently had an event, “Ethical Issues in Video Gaming” that explored the ethical issues around violence in video games. I found the session very provocative, for several reasons.
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Authenticity – Key to Good Leadership-
Posted on September 24, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander
 Culture is created a employees watch the actions of leaders, listen to their words, and then try to make sense of the difference. When theories are shared they become fact and people adjust their behavior accordingly.
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Organizational Culture & Software Development
Posted on September 13, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander
 There seems to be a new interest in corporate culture and the one's carrying the banner are Agile software development folks. This seems rater amazing given the anti people reputation of IT.
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We Are On Tour - Almost
Posted on August 29, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander
 We know American business is resilient - we want to bring you those stories! What are the tips and tricks to create a robust & sustainable culture? Help us find out!
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B Corp - This is a Shift of Another Kind
Posted on August 13, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander
 I was video interviewed this morning for a group doing a documentary on B Corps. They are traveling the country talking to companies that have chosen to become certified B Corps.
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Culture: Finding Meaning in Work
Posted on July 26, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander
 Do you think that making work meaningful is too grand a vision for your company? What would happen if you started to rethink the work your organization does from the perspective of how to make it meaningful to the people to do it?
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What can Your Culture Learn from Slime Molds?
Posted on July 23, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander
 I did a podcast today on self-organization. There are a few companies whose leadership is not afraid of the employees they hire and they actually encourage their employees to think for themselves and for the company.
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Mortgages & Foreclosures – Oh My!
Posted on July 18, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander
 This whole mortgage topic has seemed to be forgotten by the press but the legacy from 2008 roars on. Because the intent/purpose of the systems we’ve created are all about money we have missed the real issues and been blind to obvious solutions.
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Role of Money on Public Policy
Posted on July 9, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander
 John Robert’s ruling on the Healthcare issue opens up the ability of states to resist federal requirements that they spend money on: disabled children’s education, poor peoples health (Medicaid), and other programs designed to ensure a healthy, educated population. Robert’s ruling raised the specter of federal forcing states to do things that they wish not to do.
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Truth
Posted on July 4, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander
 Truth – we say we want it, but do we really? Is truth one thing or is it multi-facetted? Do I hold the key or do you? I think these myths blind us – that and our egos – fearing that we are wrong.
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Is Your Culture One of Promise or Catastrophe?
Posted on May 16, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander
 We think of natural selection as the mechanism of Darwin’s theory of evolution, but it is at work in our organizations as well. It starts with hiring, when hiring mangers or the Human Resources department looks for ‘fit.’ In trying to find someone who will ‘fit’ in with the culture or with their perspective manager
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Natural Selection and Your Company
Posted on May 6, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander
 In nature natural selection is a process that is seen as something that increases what works by eliminating that which doesn’t work. In nature what ‘works’ is what can survive to reproduce. How does that apply to business and specifically to your organization?
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Corporate Social Responsibility Wave of the Future?
Posted on April 24, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander
 I was going through the website for the 2011 Corporate Citizenship Conference and the various video clips submitted by organizations on their corporate citizenship projects. Corporations are going all over the world to help people in developing nations in all sorts of ways. It is heartwarming to see the good that companies can do if they try.
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How Important is Culture to You?
Posted on April 3, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander
One of the biggest hurdles leaders have to get over is learning to hire effectively. Most people hand the responsibility off to the human resources department and pray. This is a bad idea for many reasons.
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Reciprocity – What We Miss by Hording
Posted on March 25, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander
 When I talk to people about reciprocity as a value they rarely know what I mean. When I ask, people will say it means give and take, a sort of mutual exchange. Yes it does, but those definitions do not do it justice. Reciprocity is a natural value, one that is inherent in nature.
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The Future of Democracy and the Middle Class
Posted on March 2, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander
Is capitalism the cause or destroyer of democracy and the middle class? Are they in trouble? If they are can we save them? Should we save them?
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Culture: The Secret to Success
Posted on February 6, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander
 Culture, leadership, success how do they fit together?
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Remembering
Posted on January 15, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander
 Dr. Martian Luther King, in his talk on the Network of Mutuality, speaks most eloquently on the need for peace. His sentiments apply equally well to our treatment of the Earth.
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CAN we meet our needs and those of the future?
Posted on January 8, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander
 Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of stewardship, the responsible management of resource use.
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Now it IS Happy New Year!
Posted on December 31, 2011 by Kathryn Alexander
 What is the ONE thing, that done this new year will grant all of your wishes?
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Ecologically Sustainable - Is It Really Urgent?
Posted on July 12, 2011 by Kathryn Alexander
I'm passionate about sustainability for many reasons. First and foremost I LOVE the planet = nature is a source of life to me. Secondly I've more than excited about what rethinking business can do for business while doing good things for nature. Third, I like change. I really do! I see change as a creative edge that brings forth new possibilities and since I'm a variety junkie, change rocks!
For all of the reasons listed above I've had my antennae up around the issue of climate change for some time. Talk about depressing! Really looking at this and knowing what's coming is enough to drive anyone to drink.
I don't talk much about climate change, and that's why. I'm not about putting my head in the sand, but you can only take so much, you know? That being said, today I DO want to sound the alarm! View this video and get ready to recommit to the fight!
She's Alive...Beautiful...Finite..Hurting...and Worth Dying for!
The planet IS worth saving! My home IS worth saving! People I love and care for have died in this fight and many more will die before it's over, but this fight IS worth it! We have to remember, though that it is not just about fighting! This change IS about possibilities! It IS about a new way to live in harmony and have the time and sensitivity to enjoy nature and her bounty!
Harmony...Walter J. Stahel wrote a paper called the "Five Pillars of Sustainability" in the early 90s. He saw sustainability in this way:
- Pillar of nature conservation
- Pillar of limited toxicity
These form the domain of environmental protection
3. Pillar of Resource Productivity
These three form the basis of a sustainable economy
4. Pillar of Social Ecology
5. Pillar of Cultural Ecology
The last two, however is really what is meant by the People piece of the triple bottom line. Without peace we will continue to devastate the natural world and our own history and legacy as well. War is destructive - it destroys everything in its path. It is not sustainable. It never was, but now we destroy on such a scale and with such thoroughness that damage is immense and it must be stopped.
We will only stop our squabbling when we learn to respect others and allow others to make decisions about their own future, with or without our input. We must evoke the inherent dignity and worth of every person, valuing their contributions and being willing to learn from them when we differ. This includes repairing the rift between genders. Ethical Impact L3C supports the Satyana Institute for just that reason. Until we respect and honor the feminine we will not be able to respect and honor nature.
The stopping of war speaks to the fifth pillar - culture; ethics and values. We are an amazing species - so willing to destroy that which we love. We rationalize it in all kinds of ways, but I have marvel at how often and how thoroughly we do that. Our rape of nature and women is testimony to that. Our destruction of the buildings and monuments that form our human legacy on this planet rationalized by war is testament to that. That 20% of Colorado children do not know where their next meal is coming from is testament to that. I could go on. We pay CEO's enormous sums and fuss about raising teachers salaries. We do NOT honor what we say we love.
Sign up for the Meet the Reality Project on September 14 at 8 pm MST (check for other times in other areas) as Al Gore makes the case, one more time, for urgency.
Sign up for the Webinar, Our Values Our Choices if you want to explore Pillar number five. 
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Systems Thinking and the Wisconsin Thing
Posted on March 8, 2011 by Kathryn Alexander
Posted by Kathryn Alexander on Tue, Mar 08, 2011 @ 10:01 AM
What does systems thinking have to do with Union busting? One of the major principles of living systems is that information is needed from all parts of the system. That is why unions are necessary! Like all aspects of a system when they feel like they know it all and do not listen to the rest of the system then we have problems. These are truisms folks and apply to ALL aspects/parts.
We confuse problems with where they surface and 'blame' instead of looking for structural issues (can't get information from another part, for instance) that might be causing those issues. When we think parts and pieces we act like Don Quixote and tilt at windmills instead of actually solving problems.
In Wisconsin the budget maybe a problem, but the deficit wasn't caused by one part of the system and weakening the system won't solve the problem either. It may remove a presenting symptom, that that symptom will reoccur later in another area. That other area will then get 'blamed' for being a problem - you get the picture. The national budget is no different. Neither is your internal budget.
Seeing from a systems point of view gets the root cause of problems and stops the name-calling and finger pointing that only generates ill will and perpetuates things. Each aspect of the system holds an important truth. Until that truth is seen and acknowledged nothing done will be effective nor final. Until reality is dealt with no forward progress is
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Culture - Sustainability and Green Business
Posted on January 2, 2011 by Kathryn Alexander
Posted by Kathryn Alexander on Sun, Jan 02, 2011 @ 09:25 PM
For over 15 years I've worked on and with culture. Culture in organizations is the bedrock of beliefs that determine what behavior employees see as both possible and beneficial. The bottom-line is that if behavior is not seen as beneficial (to the employees) then anything requiring that kind of behavior is not possible.
 This is why I'm so keen on matching the strategic needs important to a company's future with the culture. Ask anyone and they will tell you stories of companies that have created strategic plans, only to have them sit on the shelf. This is one reason why ? the behaviors needed to implement that strategy did not live in the culture.
If the new strategy required innovation, for example, and employees have been systematically restricted from experimenting, if their suggestions have been ignored, or if mistakes and failures are severely punished, then no employee will really believe that the leadership wants innovation and no one will take the risks needed to make innovation happen.
As companies move toward sustainability this becomes even more important. One of the key benefits of strategic sustainability efforts is the generation of new ways of thinking and working that lead to innovative processes, products and revenue streams. If the culture of the organization does not lend itself to creativity and experimentation, then the deeper and more strategic aspects of sustainability will not resonate.
Additionally, if the
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