The Power of Balance
Transforming Self, Society, and Scientific Inquiry
1st Edition
Published on 15. May 1991
Book
Hardback
304 pages
978-0-8039-4067-3 (ISBN)
Description
Presenting a new theory of power, a new practice of management and a new theory of social science, this volume contradicts the following received wisdoms: that `all power corrupts'; that all organizational structure constrains; and that social science is `purer' the more it is divorced from action.
Torbert presents a conceptualization of power that generates productivity, justice and inquiry; develops a theory of `liberating structure' through which organizations can generate continual quality improvement; and introduces a new paradigm of engaged social science - `action inquiry'.
Torbert presents a conceptualization of power that generates productivity, justice and inquiry; develops a theory of `liberating structure' through which organizations can generate continual quality improvement; and introduces a new paradigm of engaged social science - `action inquiry'.
More details
Content
Introduction
PART ONE: THEORY AND STRATEGY
Power and Justice
From Political Philosophy to Developmental Psychology
Developing Toward Transforming Leadership
Exercising the Power of Balance in Organizational Leadership
Generating Continual Quality Improvement
Exercising the Power of Balance in Middle Management
Creating Liberating Structures
PART TWO: HEART AND PRACTICE
Set, Setting, Dramatis Personae
Doing Four Things at Once
The Politics of Creating a Peer Culture
A Course to `Force Students to be Free'
The Politics of Relating to the Subordinate Culture
A Crisis Between Business and the Business School
The Politics of Relating to the Superior Culture
Shocks and Reversals
The Leader as Peer and as Learner
Beauty and Ugliness
Self-Correcting and Self-Destructing Systems
Demise and Aftermath
PART THREE: VISION AND METHOD
The Vision of Action Inquiry
The Method of Action Inquiry
Living Inquiry
PART ONE: THEORY AND STRATEGY
Power and Justice
From Political Philosophy to Developmental Psychology
Developing Toward Transforming Leadership
Exercising the Power of Balance in Organizational Leadership
Generating Continual Quality Improvement
Exercising the Power of Balance in Middle Management
Creating Liberating Structures
PART TWO: HEART AND PRACTICE
Set, Setting, Dramatis Personae
Doing Four Things at Once
The Politics of Creating a Peer Culture
A Course to `Force Students to be Free'
The Politics of Relating to the Subordinate Culture
A Crisis Between Business and the Business School
The Politics of Relating to the Superior Culture
Shocks and Reversals
The Leader as Peer and as Learner
Beauty and Ugliness
Self-Correcting and Self-Destructing Systems
Demise and Aftermath
PART THREE: VISION AND METHOD
The Vision of Action Inquiry
The Method of Action Inquiry
Living Inquiry