3 Linden Rd., Hartland, VT 05048 Tel (802) 436-1277 • Fax (802) 436-1281 www.sustainer.org • Edie Farwell, Program Director

Download PDF of 3rd Workshop Report (4.3MB)

Report on the 3rd Workshop • February 28 – March 2, 2004 • Hartland, VT

 

Sustainability Institute’s (SI) Donella Meadows Leadership Fellows met for the third of four workshops in the Common House of Cobb Hill CoHousing in Hartland, VT. Four intensive days of training, coaching, and hands-on practice were interspersed with reflection and dialogue, moving wood, boiling maple syrup, contra dancing, and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing
	Objectives for Workshop 3 included: • More depth and practice on systems thinking, visioning, reflective conversation, personal mastery, and coaching. • Reflection on the application of new skills since the last workshop; planning for further practice in upcoming work settings. • Introduction to stock and flow diagrams. • Dialogue and practice improving social change models, truth-telling, personal congruency, and communication
John Sterman, one of Donella’s first students and now Professor of Management and Director, MIT System Dynamics Group, and author of Business Dynamics: Systems Thinking and Modeling for a Complex World was the guest speaker. John illustrated stock and flow diagrams as a means to get beyond linear approaches to problem identification and solution-building. Through video, games, and written exercises, John taught the Fellows to learn how to identify mental models and how they contribute to policy resistance.

John challenged them to explore the usefulness of these tools in organizational and policy change by using them, “You can’t learn systems dynamics by listening. It’s not a spectator sport. You have to practice.”

“If you understand the dynamics (behavior over time) of stocks and flows, you understand a good deal about the behavior of complex systems. And if you have had much experience with a bathtub, you understand the dynamics of stocks and flows.” Donella Meadows, “Bathtubs 101”

Since the previous workshop in October, Fellows and their SI coaches worked to integrate what the Fellows are learning into a current work project. The 3rd workshop was designed to take the integration of the tools and perspectives further into Fellows’ current work. Ashley Lanfer of Boston Parks 2004 observed, “In the first workshop we were learning the building blocks; in the second we were learning to apply them to our projects. The trajectory for this workshop is to take those skills, relate them to my work, and now relate them to who I am.”

On the first night Dennis Meadows showed slides of his and Donella’s year of travel through Asia in 1969. This trip was fundamental in moving Donella from biophysicist to her lifetime work as a systems analyst, journalist, teacher, and leading voice in the sustainability movement. Throughout her travels she analyzed the disparity of distribution of wealth; the cultural, historical, linguistic and religious differences that have shaped the world; and the urgent need for a global shift to a sustainable world. Donella also began in earnest to discipline herself to write by devoting an hour every night to recording her impressions in a journal.

Closing circle comments included: “…Challenged, personally and professionally, equal participants in our own learning… Inspired me to go back and do my thing, terrific teachers and colleagues; in it together… Enjoyed looking at Fellows' processes, small group work allowed me to track how I am doing, supported in thinking through next challenges… Felt like a co-learner… We have crossed a threshold in terms of skills and making more sense of the material; feel hopeful now… Felt cared for and challenged … Loved seeing Fellows pick up the tools and run with them, engage with them…”

Until the final workshop in October 2004, Fellows will continue to apply their training in special projects and at work, maintain regular check-ins with their SI coaches, and with their peer coaches. “I am developing the capacity to create frameworks that will help me and others understand systems that my work aims to influence. Causal loop diagrams and stock and flow charts are coming more naturally. The systems modeling tools will help me with both internal and external communications as well as strategic thinking and planning.” Julia Novy-Hildesley, Lemelson Foundation

 

Sustainability Institute • 3 Linden Road • Hartland, VT 05048 • Phone 802-436-1277 • Fax 802-436-1281 Last revised on 31-mar-04 . © 2003 Sustainability Institute