Patterns & Metaphors
Accident tactics
Template:
The lights fail -there has been a power cut and the generator isn't working. A miscalculation means that there isn't enough food for everyone, and there aren't enough chairs. The special visit has to be cancelled at the last minute. The keynote speaker is ill. The conference centre is suddenly completely shut off by snow, floods, a terrorist action or... Accidents, major or minor, precipitate crisis within the conference and crisis generate a response from the participants. It is always revealing to observe the ways that different people respond in crisis. Some people simply wait for the organizing committee to deal with the problem. Others complain and grow increasingly frustrated and angry with the incompetence of those who are trying to do something. Others drift off and begin doing something else like playing cards. Others act as though they are panicking, rushing around and causing confusion with frantic and contradictory immediate solutions. Others calmly appraise the situation and formulate plans that will deal with it. Some people organize the waiting, anxious and angry participants into alternative and temporary structures that allow a sense of order within the chaos and enable an effective flow of information to and from the participants. Some people simply observe the ways that different people respond in crisis. While, by definition, accidents, chaos and crisis are unexpected and unplanned, it is sometimes tempting to arrange for crisis, because of the catalytic effect that it has on all the participants.
[Advantages] Crisis and chaos produce a highrisk situation. Shared risk generates trust. And greater trust encourages further risking. Even a small crisis can be recognized as a metaphor of our global historical situation and reflecting on our ability to handle it reveals insights about our ability to handle chaos as a planet. The immediate chaos shared crisis brings people together. Strategically used, an accident can catalyse individual and group creativity and transformation.
[Disadvantages] Unpredictable and necessarily risky. Can catalyse a negative reaction. Participants may experience the "accident" as negligence and proof of the worthlessness of the conference, or even as a manipulative gimmick. Although the anger and frustration are often important dynamics they can be overwhelming and simply destructive. Can provide an excuse for returning to "safe" controlled conferencing.
[References] C0380 Failure tactics
