OSR and its impact on me and my work in the world

March 8, 2014 magdakaspary HR (Human Resources), OD (Organization Development), Process Design, Systems Thinking

INTERDISCIPLINARY HUMAN RESOURCES (IHR)

February 19, 2014February 19, 2014 magdakaspary HR (Human Resources), Interdisciplinary Approach, Liberating Structures, OD (Organization Development), Systems Thinking

The Context of IHR

Since 1995 when I started my career in Human Resources (HR) I was exposed to Total Quality Management, strategic planning and other management theories like ISO 9000 and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). Looking back, I learned and still learn many lessons. First, I learned how much HR was integrated to other practices inside business. Second, how HR could serve as a catalyzer to implement good practices. While doing that, HR was very close to its clients. Last, I learned how to work with multidisciplinary committees to pursue business’ goals. This position increased my interest around disciplines that are related to people at workplaces, reason why I studied group dynamics in 2002/03 and obtained my Master in Social Psychology using Complex Thought and Systems Thinking to research group process in team management in 2008/09. Now, as a graduate student at OSR – Organization Systems Renewal – I am rethinking all these areas of knowledge in the North American culture.

In my HR experience, I incorporated the OD approach and also concepts from other disciplines like Systems Thinking and Complex Thought. Currently, I am an active member of SRHM through the LWHRA (http://www.lwhra.org), and WA HR State Council (http://wastatecouncil.shrm.org), PNODN (http://www.pnodn.org), and ISSS (http://www.pnodn.org) so I navigate around different areas of knowledge bringing my HR identity to all of them and using their knowledge and tools to think a better HR practice. Since 2013 I started studying Liberating Structures (http://www.liberatingstructures.com) as a way to increase everyone’s participation in meetings, trainings, etc.

I believe HR practices can be enriched using different approaches to understand its own challenges and also how to support business’ needs.

When I hear about HRBP (HR as a Business Partner), which means that HR needs to understand business to better serve it, I like to add that a business partner process requires a mutual process, where HR work can, by its nature, enable the consideration of different perspectives, clarifying different levels of the system, so that we have a real partnership.

Liberating Structures

February 3, 2014February 19, 2014 magdakaspary Change, Group Dynamics, HR (Human Resources), Interdisciplinary Approach, Liberating Structures, OD (Organization Development), Process Design, Systems Thinking LS

I just finished a two-day workshop about Liberating Structures (LS).

How did LS get on my path? I need to thank Michelle Miller that announced a LS user meeting in a PNODN meeting we both attended in 2013. I truly believe that good connections make us stronger. Being in good places bring good connections. We need to be opened to hear what is happening around us. And, we need to get out of our couch… then, a virtuous circle of good people and good activities surround us.

LS provokes many feelings and thoughts on me. It is a mix of freedom, authentic connection to our nature as human beings, genuine focus on what matters. It is an intercultural approach and at the same time brings a home-sweet-home feeling. I admire and trust people that are running LS. They are not looking for selling anything, they are genuinely sharing their knowledge. They don’t intent to build certifications or any programs that are only status-related.

LS is about participation, individual and group dynamics, brain and body movement. Walls fall down. Unspoken and invisible practices are revisited and are better developed, all voices are heard.

During the workshop, a participant said to me: “this is my first LS event. I am surprised by how informal it is” and that stroke me an important truth, despite me not paying attention to that. Speakers were participants most of the time and in assigned moments they were at the stage sharing their knowledge and facilitating our learning. People had a broad range of experience in terms of years, but no different status. What a dream to our workplaces and society: respect to the other, admiration, without having to consider different statuses.

Please accept my invitation to check more information about LS: http://www.liberatingstructures.com/

I wish you will share my enthusiasm.