In early January 2012, a group of people gathered in Switzerland, in Stoos, with the goal of renewing the way we manage (management) our companies and organizations, noting that the state of affairs was not looking good. Here is the statement in French that they delivered to us (a collective translation by several people), followed by my comments below this text.

By the way and before this text, we translated it through a google doc, I remind you that this is really a very useful tool for simultaneous collaborative manipulation. However, I discovered that since the beginning of the translation it had not stopped changing, transforming, evolving. And after a while, not necessarily for the better. A sort of natural entropy… the microchanges have made the text lose meaning (in my eyes). I therefore choose to offer you the text from the revision of January 9 at 10:30 PM (at the time I’m writing these lines, there have been 8 changes since…).

The Stoos Network

Today, if we think about the way organizations are managed, we see that the situation is really not brilliant. We too often observe simplistic reasoning applied mechanically, with companies being much more interested in their stock price than in the happiness of their customers, and employees - those who possess the true knowledge of the business - whose recommendations are generally ignored by their bosses. The current economic crisis is only the result and reflection of this state of affairs: inequalities are growing, bankruptcies are multiplying, and disillusionment is spreading everywhere.

There must be a better way.

In January 2012, we - a group of 21 people with varied profiles including senior executives, managers, business strategists, academics, and actors in agile and lean development, from 4 continents - gathered in Stoos, Switzerland. We believe we have found leads, a common foundation to achieve this better way of doing things. For example, we believe that organizations should transform into a learning network composed of people brought together to create value and that the role of leaders should be to support this living organism rather than to manage it like a machine. More importantly, we commit to continuing our work, our reflection, here and online. A challenge of this importance requires a lot of heart and ideas. We would like to hear your voice and know your experience. Help this reflection move forward by joining us on the Linkedin group and on twitter with the hashtag #stoos.

Let’s begin our transformation before it’s too late.

[ The link to the mutating and official document]

This is therefore the start of an exciting and probably beneficial initiative. As a founding member of a small consulting firm (9 members to date): smartview, I have been trying since the beginning of the adventure to apply the general idea of the values defended by the stoos network, because they are also mine. I succeed at it, but not always. I’m progressing, like everyone else. That too, as usual, is exciting: having to confront one’s ideas with reality.

The ideas launched by Stoos don’t seem so original or innovative to me (I have some nerve, I must just not have enough perspective or neurons). But no matter, that’s not what’s important. For once they are “officialized” and a movement and reflection of greater scope have started. I encourage you to join them.

Only downside, the group at the origin of the Stoos network seems to expect following the dynamic it has generated within the “network” (numerous subscribers to the linkedin group, tweets galore, etc.) that it will produce results itself. In agreement with the great idea that it’s this organic network that has the real power and that can generate value. But this expectation of creation ex-nihilo (from nothing) seems somewhat artificial. We lack concrete support, and we would like these people who were present in Stoos to show us how to move forward. One might think that we are still placing ourselves in the old model waiting for the right directions “from above”. But not at all, the impression given is rather: we have reflected, now you commoners, act… I also expect from these people that they act as mentors, by example. This is only a minor issue, and I suppose it will quickly be swept away by concrete actions to come. If I can contribute to it I will, if you can, don’t hesitate.

The stoos network is growing day by day. Consult the ideas already expressed, participate.