Documents such as ISO 31000:2009, discussed in an earlier blog post, present a good example or framework for improving organizational effectiveness and performance. Frameworks such as these are meant to be general so that individual organizations can tailor them to specific needs.
When applying a new method, approach, or system, organizations must consider numerous things in developing an implementation/integration strategy that will bring the initiative to life. One of the challenges organizations face in doing so is participation. In the management and organizational sciences, volumes are written about this subject. Some of the key points that reoccur include:
- Having a clear vision: to generate robust and passionate participation in an organization, a clear vision must be developed, expressed, and articulated.
- Creating alignment: this includes determining the current conditions and ensuring that all concerns are heard and resolved.
- Creating projects that matter: aligned in a common vision, a team can move forward and develop projects that matter. Consideration can be given to tools and skills that may be needed to increase the probability of fulfillment. Some of these tools include leadership skills, communication tools, listening skills, systems thinking, and existence systems.
In the area of EHS risk management, participation of all levels of an organization is essential, if not critical. The natural evolution of management systems—whether a risk-management system, EHS management system, or other—will be to emphasize participation and leadership in a whole new way. I have developed a framework that will be helpful in moving into this next generation, or new era, of management systems. I’ve been calling this “Quantum EHS Management Systems,” central to which is the development of leadership and participation capacities. There will be more to come on this topic in future e-newsletters.
Generating robust participation requires creating the condition or environment in which innovation can happen—that is, where something new can come into existence. It’s a great question and challenge to think about: How do I bring a new initiative into being? There are numerous approaches for this. One that I have been practicing and think has strong value is the World Café method.
© Redinger EHS, Inc. (2010)