This part of the AGB2009 series (see the presentation)
AGB2009: democracy @ work
This short article contains the visual outline of the article, using an OpenSource “mind mapping” software and community, called Xmind.net
The original abstract and bibliography was published on 2009-09-10
If you want to know more about the approach, go at the bottom of this short article
democracy @ work: the map
everybody talks about democracy- at the polls.
but why limiting democracy to a voting exercise? how could you extend that into the workplace?
and what are the consequences of new technologies and media access to the workplace social environment
The picture shown above outlines the main arguments, that were roughly listed in the abstract.
If you click on the picture, and download the (free) software and the visual map, you will be able to see the details in each point.
But my concept is really simple- many studies and attempts in introducing democracy on the work place failed because the approach adopted was, in a twisted way, paternalistic.
If you ignore the social changes that, since first broadcast radio and TV, and then Internet and mobile phones, allowed everybody to “pick-and-choose” their own information sources…
you are stuck not in the XX century, and not even in the XIX century, but probably in late XVIII century.
All the new communication technology removes the old “census/education” barrier to democratic access, as potentially anybody can have access to any channel, and, if their background knowledge is insufficient, they can quickly find somebody who can help them through.
Hence, the changes required also in managing the stakeholders: from a paternalistic “I am listening”, to a more modern “let’s keep in touch”, to a contemporary “we monitor each other”.
The last section in my outlines has a title that is a “payoff”, morale, slogan for the article than just a “spot”: “it takes a crowd to innovate a XXI century village”.
Hence, no outline.
Wait for the article next week!
Have a nice week-end
visual approach: how does this work, and how to use it
A picture is worth 1000 words.
Actually, a picture can be used as an outline to understand more than 1000 words.
I have no artistic pretense- but I think visually.
As explained in the the presentation, the abstract is the first step, followed by this map, and then the article.
Read the abstract if you want to think about your own position on the subject. Read the map if you want to just see what are my arguments. And read the article if you want to read my position and some experience-based ideas and suggestions.
The enclosed map is not just a picture: using the software, you can see the details of my outline within each point.
Also, you can change to another visual form, say a top-down chart, or a mind map; and modify its content.
If you get inspired and derive something, just add a link to the original, and drop me a message on Facebook or @robertolofaro. Then, do whatever you want 
The reason why I used this “almost hierarchical presentation” is simple: I got inspired by somebody else online into using mind mapping software as a more efficient replacement to Powerpoint and the like, notably in my most frequent presentations (new processes, business/marketing/communication plans, project charters, and the like).
Long ago, I used Screencam (a movie-like screen and audio capturing tool) to prepare training segments, ensuring that each segment was delivered always in the same way.
The purpose? Create something useful as a CBT- but also to maintain consistent quality, while leaving the consultant within the classroom to focus on his/her job: help the people attending the presentation or seminar to interact with a consultant, removing the complexities of speech delivering and so on.
Mr Rene Briceno posted in the “Private Equity and Venture Capital Group” a discussion about using mind mapping software to deliver presentations.
Appropriately, he published on You Tube a first and a second video.
The concept is simple: any mind mapping software allows to “collapse” point (see in my picture the “+” signs)- and that is your outline.
If you think visually, and in a structured way, this is a quite efficient way to collect discussion points during a brainstorming, and then close the session by reorganizing all the “bubbles” that you spread around.
And then, produce your minutes from the agreed “mind map”.
Or- use the mind-map to deliver a post-brainstorming presentation that can be lively, dynamic, adding notes “on the spot”.
Then, deliver the “navigating through the mind map” video to your contacts- maybe, as Mr. Briceno did, by posting a video on YouTube
The reason why I started using multimedia in the 1990s in my training and change management activities is simple: I saw theatre, dubbing, radio from the inside, and I saw that most consultants are really good at discussing ideas- but asking them to repeat verbatim something, is akin asking to somebody to wear a straighjacket to the office.
And maybe somebody volunteering for a straightjacket is not necessarily the best person to deliver you creative ideas.
Tags: AGB2009, AGB2009MAP, democracy, employee, innovation, map, mind, motivation, participation, visual