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Theory U
proposes
that the quality of the results that we create
in any kind of social system is a function of
the quality of awareness, attention, or
consciousness that the participants in the
system operate from. Since it emerged
around 2006, Theory U has come to be
understood in three primary ways: first as
a framework; second as a method for
leading profound change; and third as
a way of being, connecting to the more
authentic higher aspects of our self.
An interview with Otto Scharmer
and Pim Pollen
PP: Change! Change is the commodity.
Everybody is talking about change in
organizations, schools, hospitals or
companies. Taking it seriously and
having it as part of their strategy leads
to a changed company. Change is
actually the key word!
How important is that we accept
change as part of our life because the
Theory U is an evolution in itself. Can
change be integrated into social
development?
OS: Change and Innovation are the buzz
words of today. There is a structural
meaning to it and if we look at historical
experiences and digital transformation
driven by network society - there is some
objective reason behind it that proves the
case. It is with this we realize that with
evolution the historical period is same old
world war and other events where
disruptive change happened. It also brings
about the interesting and challenging part
of this era. Change is pervasive, it is part
of what we experience and just about
anything we experience personally and
institutionally. Change can be seen as
AT WORK
Veranderpraktijk 1
horizontal or vertical. Horizontal is any
type of change and Vertical change
means change in evolution of human
consciousness. This is what Theory U is
all about System change.
PP: Is vertical change result of
evolution of human intervention or
human consciousness?
OS: Vertical development is the result of
many factors. Human interventions is a
small part of that, it is basically the
changes that we face where only a few
factors are under our control and you deal
with new type of situations. For example,
Climate destabilization, the factors that
are hitting back on us are repercussions
of our own actions of the past, which are
reflecting on the social system of today.
Thus we see there are different kinds of
disruption: financial, political, refugees,
terrorism, etc. It looks like the frequency
of disruptions has been increasing since
2001 and which we cannot control.
What is what we can control? We can
control the way we respond to these
disruptions, which is what Theory U is all
about. It helps you in the face of
disruption and not go into presence and
not go into regression that we see across
US, Europe, republican candidates etc. It
helps in modeling through problem
solving or regression talk where we build
the wall “Us versus them” that is causing
all these problems and wishing you into
the wall that existed or never existed at
all.
The third response would be to lean into
new responsibilities. It helps you in letting
go of a part of you and molds you into a
new identity.
In a nutshell, Theory U helps you to deal
with disruptive change in a way that puts
you on an evolutionary path of vertical
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