[Ailist] RE: Four Quadrants: Structure?

[Donald P Austin]

Thank you, so much, Ron.  Your example is great and very helpful.  I am
always delinquent in providing examples.  You might think I would learn! 

Anyway, your "structure" folks correspond very well to my "deciding" (or
"converging") folks as per Kolb, and so your model corresponds very nicely
to what I use.  I like your way of doing this, a lot.

Don

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ron Smith [mailto:ronsmith at terrela.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 2:14 PM
> To: Donald P Austin; ailist at lists.business.utah.edu
> Subject: Four Quadrants: Structure?
> 
> 
> I suggest you figure out an example to explaining the different areas:
> 
> I like to use a "bicycle in the box" example. The action folks start
> putting
> it together without the instructions. The relationship people go get a
> friend and do it together over a beer, the meaning folks think about the
> ride , they will look and understand the picture of the "put together
> bike"
> first, how its going to change their life or their kids life....? what the
> box of parts from china went through to get to the US (and on and on....).
> 
> The "structure" folks will pull out the instructions first, count the
> parts,
> follow the directions, may be upset if the instructions are poorly
> written,
> will be amazed and appreciative if the instructions are well done, check
> their tools, layout the parts in order, clear the space, etc etc. They see
> things more black and white, grey is a challenge for them but manageable
> with effort, they like numbers and appreciate a well balanced check book,
> they find their way to the military, bookeeping and accounting, project
> management, system analysis etc. Without these folks we would certainly
> live
> in more chaos than perhaps we can handle.
> 
> Of course when all is said and done, I almost always spend some time
> asking
> the group "is this is all we are".....the "boxes" or quadrants that we are
> so taken with? What else are we? How do we express it? Does our culture
> value differently, people with these different preferences? Why is that?
> Is
> their a trend right now in this regard? Why? Is this hurtful or a good
> thing? What would it take to move into a place of deep respect and
> appreciation for each preference, each way we present ourselves to the
> world
> around us? (is it  Carl Rogers "unconditional acceptance"..?) . Finally
> and
> most importantly, how can you use this information to improve your ability
> as a person, team, group, organization to  work together toward your
> common
> goals? (remember, this is how we often get paid for!!)
> 
> Hope the "structure" explanation helps, I will check out Kolbe,
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Ron Smith
> Director, CELULA
> Centro Experiencial de Liderazgo
> Universididad Latinoamericana
> 011 52 558 500 8100 ext. 8235
> Gabriel Mancera 1402 Col. Del Valle
> Mexico DF, Mexico CP 03100
> Gabriel Mancera 1402
> D.F. Mexico
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Donald P Austin" <don.austin at charter.net>
> To: <ailist at lists.business.utah.edu>
> Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 7:31 AM
> Subject: [Ailist] RE: theory/interviews
> 
> 
> > Ron, I think this is a GREAT idea.  I am curious about the labels of the
> > four quadrants, though.  Based upon Kolb's theory and instrument, left
> to
> > my
> > own, I would have used the words acting (action), valuing
> (relationship?),
> > thinking (meaning), and deciding (structure???).  I actually like your
> > words
> > better; they are more "normal," except for "structure."  I think the
> word
> > structure means many different things to different people and might be
> > confusing?
> >
> > Anyway, thanks for a great idea!
> >
> > Don
> >
> >
> > action, meaning, relationship, structure
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> Message: 2
> >> Date: Thu, 9 Aug 2007 10:02:26 -0500
> >> From: "Ron Smith" <ronsmith at terrela.com>
> >> Subject: [Ailist] theory/interviews
> >> To: "AI List Serve" <ailist at lists.business.utah.edu>
> >> Message-ID: <002c01c7da96$66040ec0$240aa8c0 at RON>
> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> >>
> >> thanks to all on this theme, before it closes out here's an activity:
> >>
> >> If you don't have the time or money to do personality profiling of your
> >> group (MeyersBriggs or other) there is a quickie exercise (known to
> many)
> >> to find out if there are a lot of folks in your group who need to
> >> understand the ideas and the foundational concepts behind AI and the
> >> interviews before you go too far with the "cycle". I have a colorful
> tarp
> >> but you can just use tape on the floor/carpet to create a cross with 4
> >> cuadrants: action, meaning, relationship, structure. You explain the
> >> meaning of each cuadrant, the careers that often go with them and ask
> for
> >> participant ideas about the 4 areas. Then ask them to go to the
> >> quadrant/word with which they identy most. You could hold for later,
> the
> >> theory, if there is no one in the "meaning" quadrant.....or modify it
> up
> >> or down in terms of time depending on the percentage of people in the
> >> quadrant (or catch a few of them at the break to fill in the theory as
> >> you
> >> proceed). If you are working with a sales group (action and relati
> >>  onship) they will be taking a power nap (or worse talking to a friend
> on
> >> their cell phone) during your passion filled presentation on
> >> constructionist theory.
> >>
> >> Have fun
> >>
> >> Ron Smith
> >> Director, CELULA
> >> Centro Experiencial de Liderazgo
> >> Universididad Latinoamericana
> >> 011 52 558 500 8100 ext. 8235
> >> Gabriel Mancera 1402 Col. Del Valle
> >> Mexico DF, Mexico CP 03100
> >> Gabriel Mancera 1402
> >> D.F. Mexico
> >>
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > The Appreciative Inquiry Discussion List is hosted by the David Eccles
> > School of Business at the University of Utah. Jack Brittain is the list
> > administrator. For subscription information, go to:
> > http://mailman.business.utah.edu:8080/mailman/listinfo/ailist
> >
> >
> > --
> > No virus found in this incoming message.
> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> > Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 269.10.4/898 - Release Date:
> 7/12/2007
> > 4:08 PM
> >
> >