I have been re-reading a neat resource: Sam Kaner (and others),
Facilitators Guide to Participatory Decision Making, New Society
Publishers, 1996. Kaner provides a useful table to understand some of the
dynamics of competition and collaboration/cooperation.
I hope the table reproduces.
[Rick, on p247, the authors expressly encourage reproduction for supportive
purposes, but not for fee-for-service training uses]
They describe two problem solving mindsets: Either/Or and Both/And
Either/Or Both/And
VALUE SYSTEM Competitive Collaborative
TYPE OF OUTCOME Win/Lose Win/Win
EXPECTED
ATTITUDE TOWARD To the victor goes Your success is
"WINNING" the spoils my success
ATTITUDE TOWARD Someone has to If someone loses,
"LOSING" lose everyone loses
ATTITUDE TOWARD Get with the Everyone has a
MINORITY OPINIONS program piece of the
truth
WHY EXPLORE To search for bargaining To build a shared
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN chips, in preparation for framework
COMPETING POSITIONS? horsetrading and of understanding, in
compromise preparation for mutual
creative thinking
ESSENTIAL MENTAL Analyze: break wholes Synthesise: integrate
ACTIVITY into parts parts into wholes
HOW LONG IT TAKES It is usually faster It is usually faster
in the short run in the long run
WHEN TO USE IT When expedience is When all parties have
more important than the power to block any
durability. Either/Or decision and the issue
thinking will usually is for high stakes,
produce satisfactory Both/And thinking is
results. usually the only hope
for resolution
UNDERLYING Survival of the fittest Interdependence
PHILOSOPHY of all things
[Host's Note: Leslie, thanks for the labor of typing the above table. Hope
it comes through for readers in good format. ...Rick]
--"Leslie Lax" <leslax@cnx.net>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>