photos: d.o.b foundation

Presence

Exploring profound change in people, organizations and society

Presence breaks new ground in its exploration. It presents a theory that offers possibilities to create change in the world, instead of reacting to old fashioned systems. The title refers to a concept apparent in nature; the whole being entirely present in any of its parts. The authors apply this idea to business, government, education and leadership.

Four organizational learning leaders, Peter Senge, C. Otto Scharmer, Joseph Jaworski, and Betty Sue Flowers explored the nature of transformational change. Over the past 20 years they developed a new theory, and a method to put it into practice: the U-process. Pioneering research was done by interviewing 150 social leaders, scientists and entrepreneurs, learning from their wisdom and experience.

They found that all too often we act upon the small bit we know or see in front of us. Instead, we should create an awareness of the larger whole which can then lead to long term solutions to the problems we face. This is beyond the reach of individual organizations. It will take collaboration between all stakeholders; business, governmental and civil society to address long term systematic change.

This deeper level of learning, from operating in habitual ways of knowing and doing, to awareness of the present moment, is the key to creating change. Then we can see, sense and realize new possibilities in ourselves, organizations, institutions and in society.

Examples of how the U-process can be put into practice

In a project in Zambia concerning the Aids/HIV issues, the stakeholders are currently using the U-process in finding ways to tackle the problems.
Another inspiring example is Sustainable Food Laboratory, whose aim is to accelerate improvement in mainstream food and agricultural systems to sustain a high quality life on earth.