Learning in Police Force? LO21138

Bill Braun (medprac@hlthsys.com)
Fri, 02 Apr 1999 14:28:32 -0600

Replying to LO21135 --

Cheela wrote,

>The hindrance to these review boards, and internal dialogue(isn't that
>what internal affairs is for?) being created is similar to that of a
>parent being opposed to someone else disciplining that parent's child.
>The police looks at its own as a family/community/culture and it seems
>that they want to be protected from who they are supposed to protect and
>be responsible to and for. paradoxical huh?

Ackoff writes about the inherent conflict within systems. The "parts" are
expected to interact effectively for the good of the "whole". The "whole"
is expected to ensure the well being of the "parts". He says (in part):

Concern #1

Social systems are purposeful and their parts have purposes, often in
conflict with those of the systems'

The ability of such systems to perform effectively depends on their
ability to serve better the purposes of their parts and to provide them
with an improved quality of life within the system.

The concern is how to design, plan for, and manage social systems so that
they better serve the purposes of their parts and do so in a way that
promotes systemic objectives.

Concern #2

Each social system, and each part of a social system, affects and is
affected by its environment.

As such, they are increasingly held responsible for their effects on their
environments and on the other social systems that share their
environments.

The concern is how to design, plan for, and manage social systems so that
they better serve:

- the larger systems of which they are a part
- the other parts of the system,

And do so in a way that promotes systemic objectives.

-------

Cheela raises a pointed issue. In the context of learning (can we
substitute the term learning community for learning organization?) we can
see some powerful mental models in action as we watch police forces at
work (I venture to say in any community but particularly in urban settings
- my mental model at work). A police force may be a particularly visible
(and powerful) representation of the system but by no means either the
only one or an encompassing one.

Cheela's point triggered a strong (sympathetic) response, so strong that I
find it difficult to maintain a commitment to inquiry. I want to lash out
(which I guess suggests that I'm pretty willing to throw advocacy
overboard also).

After a few deeps breaths however, and reminding myself that I want to
stay focused on learning, I ask this question:

In the face of deeply held mental models triggered by beliefs that may
have long since disappeared from the mind's conscious radar screen, will
the awareness of these mental models prove to be enough to break through
the cycles that reinforce one part of a system maintaining power over
another part of a system, where the dominance is not welcome by the part
lacking in power?

I do wish to pose the question as dispassionately as possible to set the
stage for thoughtful discussion. If anyone thinks the question is "loaded"
and wishes to rephrase it, the effort is welcomed.

Bill Braun

-- 

Bill Braun <medprac@hlthsys.com>

Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>