2006-08-11T07:56:00.000-07:00

Some key elements in thinking about Global Development are "strategy," "context," "dialogue." and "skillful discussion." I find the following view of these concepts helpful:

*STRATEGY =
1. Goals (general results sought),
2. Objectives (specific results sought)
3. Plans (steps to achieve results,
in other words who will do what by when)
[Note: It has been said that "the key to strategy is context."
Context is described below. In this connection, it is important
to be aware that the context of current reality can change in
ways that need to be considered and, perhaps, reformulating
strategy in major ways.]

*CONTEXT (which has been described as "the key to strategy") =
1. Purpose (or Mission) = reason for being (mission)
2. Vision =
a. image of success in serving purpose
b. image (or picture) of how life/reality would be if ...
1) you were successful in serving your purpose
2) life were exactly the way you would like it to be
3. Current reality = the way life is in the present
[In thinking about "reality," we need to be aware that there
is a difference between "reality" and "perceived reality.
In other words, there is a difference between the way
the world "is" and the way it "seems to us."]
The key element in the way things seem to each of us is
our "worldview." And for each of us our worldview is unique,
based on our unique life experience.
The key elements in a worldview are "mental models," "frames of
reference," and "perceptions."
---Mental models = Concepts, ways of conceiving reality
---Frames of reference or
Worldviews= sets of concepts in terms of which
ideas or experiences are assigned meaning
---Perceptions = The ways we see/interpret our experience
of reality

[Note: As we communicate with one another it is important
that we be conscious of the differences in our perceptions.
Among other things, this means that what I mean when I
express myself, may not be what you understand me to mean.
And vice versa. For that reason we need to develop our
ability to communicate in "dialogue."]

*DIALOGUE = meaning flowing through [dia = flowing through] [logos = meaning]
--To join in "dialogue" involves communicating for the purpose of
developing mutual understanding. When differences arise, the focus is
on *understanding* and NOT on trying to resolve differences, make
decisions,or argue/debate about who is right and who is wrong.
--Example: The process of dialogue frequently involves paraphrasing your
understanding of others' intended meanings and checking that you do
understand.
--Moving beyond dialogue to resolving differences and, if appropriate,
making decisions involves "skillful discussion."

*SKILLFUL DISCUSSION = building on mutual understanding (based on dialogue)
skillful discussion involves collaborating (working together) in
clarifying differences, seeking to resolve them (if appropriate), and
making decisions (if appropriate).
[Note: This differs from "polite discussion" (which avoids confronting
differences) and "argument" or "debate" (which tend to focus on trying to
make one's own views "right" and others' views "wrong." It is competitive,
in contrast to skillfull discussion, which is collaborative.]

For us to move toward a vision of "a world that works for everyone," I believe these concepts and ways of thinking and communicating will become increasingly important.