Non-participation and system dynamics

Non-participation is currently one of the most pertinent problems confronting large organizations. The non-participation problem is related to two untested assumptions made by the conventional wisdom of participative management: first, power is assumed to flow from top to bottom rather than the other way around and, second, participation schemes provide sufficient opportunities for worker participation. The sociocratic organization provides a participative management model derived from system dynamics concepts which challenges both assumptions. Sociocratic organizations are based on a circle structure, decision making by consent, and double linking between circules. The circular and reflexive nature of these organizations appears to open up real opportunities for participation at all levels.