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Knowing the Other and Transforming Our Work
46th annual Group Relations Conference sponsored by AKRI
Thursday 24th June 2010 - Tuesday 29th June 2010
The Admiral Fell Inn, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
A K Rice Institute
Introduction
Membership
Programme
Staff
Info & Fees
Payment Terms
Web Sites
Introduction
Living in a global village requires us to deeply understand the dynamics of difference. Whether our aim is the delivery of services, the development of business or consultation to others, we must be able to locate and recognize the pluralities of identity both within ourselves and in the others with whom we work. The primary task of this conference will be to experience, explore and reflect on the social, psychological, political, intellectual, and relational aspects of a range of identity elements in order to better effect positive transformation of the larger system of which we are all a part.
There are many forms of “otherness.” Groups create categories of people and then treat them as though they had inherent reality. Categories such as gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, social class, nationality and age are created through group life, and their formation and definitions are often influenced by unconscious processes. Even within these categories, people have different minds that harbor assumptions about social reality that are astonishing in their diversity. We may relate to difference as a threat or a resource and this significantly affects our behavior. Transformation occurs through engagement with the Other when the differences of the Other can be more fully appreciated and understood.
The usual categories of distinction among people are now continually challenged in this multinational, multicultural world. This conference, being international in design, will allow a particular focus on national identity and multiculturalism and the ready absorption of distortions that accompany categorizations.
Issues of nationality and culture impact authority and leadership within institutions. Being a representative of a particular group or nation has implications for taking up roles in organizations, especially as more and more institutions operate globally. Nationality intersects with other forms of culture and identity locations (including ethnicity, gender, race and age, among others). The focus of the conference on “knowing the other” allows for a complex exploration of the interaction among the elements which constitute self and other as they are expressed, distorted, taken up or obliterated, by groups.
Our emotional, intellectual and spiritual engagement with the world, through whatever roles we occupy in whatever groups we take part in, is always marked by our capacity to tolerate and explore what is uncertain, unknown or unthought-of in ourselves and in our situations. The Tavistock tradition of group relations conferences is a means to explore how latent processes affect group life and all the individuals within those groups. Through this approach, we become more aware of how our perceptions, both rational and irrational, influence our ability to live and work with others.
A rich understanding of how the perception of self and other affects our work in our various roles is the first step towards transformation of social systems. Authentic problem solving begins with examination of our own lived experience. Insight evolves from intense scrutiny of the temporary institution created by the members and staff of the conference and this learning can then be applied to the work settings of the members. A dynamic systems view of emerging themes in the conference allows for translation of conference learning to outside roles and organizational structures. Transformation becomes possible through examining existing expectations and creating new choices.
Learning in group relations conferences is experiential. This form of learning invites us to examine what we do and what we think we know and creates space for new thoughts, feelings, perspectives and behaviour. The focus will be on experiencing and reflecting on elements of personal identity and history that influence the ways we take up leadership, relate to authority, manage boundaries, engage with others and handle conflict.
In addition to the experiential nature of the conference, there will be one or more conceptual lectures given by scholars on issues of leadership and multiculturalism.
This 6-day residential conference applies an experiential approach to learning about authority, roles, boundaries and tasks as they are manifest in groups and organizations. The Conference creates a temporary learning institution that provides opportunities to study authority, identity and the exercise of leadership in intragroup, intergroup and whole organizational settings. There will be space for 60 participants. English will be the working language. top of document The Learning Aims:- Learn about how people within organizations view one another, the expectations they have of one another and the way they construct their experiences of one another.
- Experience the phenomena of “different minds” and how these lead to misunderstandings and also to greater insight
- Explore how social institutions are established, shaped and changed
- Address the multiplicity of selves manifested in the roles individuals take within groups.
- Experiment with modes of working with differences, considering their costs and gains.
- Reflect on the application of these experiences to one’s life and workplaces
- Explore ways to claim and express one’s own authority.
- Develop capacities to take up leadership and authority roles
top of document Membership
This group relations conference is open to people who have a serious interest in learning more about the dynamics of identity locations as they affect authority, leadership and organizational life. It should be particularly relevant to organizational consultants, educators, mental health professionals, community leaders, business people, social workers, clergy, those involved in social action, and faculty and students in fields such as psychology, sociology, leadership studies, education or political science. The conference will provide resources to people who are involved in social transformation projects, broadly conceived, and people who are trying to make significant differences in the world.
It is often useful for two or more people from the same organization to attend.
Because the conference is designed to be educational as a whole and not simply in its parts, please apply only if you can commit to attending the entire conference. Also, because experiential learning events of this kind may be stressful, individuals who are experiencing a period of personal difficulty should forego attendance at this time.
top of document Programme
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Room registration: 11 a.m.
Conference registration: 12-1:30 p.m.
Conference opens: 2 p.m.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Conference ends: 1:30 p.m.
A daily schedule will be sent by email to registrants in advance of the conference.
Except as indicated above, events are scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. with some free time blocks allotted.
The conference is structured through a series of events to provide opportunities to learn by examining one's experiences in a variety of contexts. The events begin and end promptly at the times designated on the schedule distributed at the opening plenary session.
Plenary Events
The Conference Opening is the first of two plenary events in which the conference staff and membership are assembled to discuss the conference. The second plenary event, held near the end of the conference, offers opportunities for members and staff to review the conference as a whole, discuss their experiences, and consider what has been learned. There will also be System Review groups spaced throughout the conference in which members and staff will reflect on the state of the institution.
Small Group
The task of the Small Group sessions is for the group to study its own behavior in the "here and now." Each member will be assigned to a small group of 8-12 members, designed for heterogeneity of identity. Consultants are assigned to one small group for the duration of the conference. He or she will provide intervention into the group when the consultant(s) believe that such intervention will advance the work and learning of the group.
Large Group
The Large Group is a "here-and-now event" in which the task is to study group behavior in a setting where face-to-face interaction is inhibited by the size of the group. The group will consist of all members of the conference and a team of consultants.
Institutional Event
The overall aim of this event is to understand the total conference as a developing temporary organization. The task of these sessions will be to study the relations among groups as they interact with each other, and between the membership, as an evolving organization, and the staff. Interaction in this event involves issues of leadership, followership, representation, identity, boundaries, and delegation. As a part of its management function in this event, staff will be available for consultation and will conduct its work in open sessions.
Review and Application Groups
The task of the Review and Application Groups is to reflect on the learning experiences provided by the conference and to encourage direct application of conference learning to the professional lives of the members. Staff will function as facilitators of the work of the Review and Application Groups.
Staff
Director
Ruthellen Josselson Ph.D., ABPP
Faculty, Fielding Graduate University School of Psychology; Private practice of psychotherapy; Fellow, A.K. Rice Institute for the Study of Social Systems (AKRI); Associate, Washington-Baltimore Center for the Study of Group Relations; Member, OFEK. Associate Director
Bruce Irvine MA (Clin.Psy) FRSA (UK);
Executive Director, The Grubb Institute, London, UK; Graduate Affiliated faculty, Leadership Institute, School of leadership and Education Sciences, University of San Diego; Faculty, MA in Organisational Analysis, Grubb Institute and University of East London. Administrator
Kevin M. Wilson MEd, HPT, CPT
Poudre Fire Authority Division Chief and Fire Marshal; Member, National Fire Protection Association and International Fire Marshal's Association; Member, International Society of Performance Improvement, Organizational Development Network, Future Search Network, American Society of Quality, ; Associate, Boston Center and AKRI. Assistant Administrator
Natalie Thomas PhD, MSW., MA, MAEd
Co-Superintendent of Schools, Riverview Garden s School District; Adjunct Professor, School of Business & Technology and School of Education, Webster University; Member National Association of School Administrators and Urban Principals Consortium; Member, the Boston AKRI Affiliate. Consulting Staff
Louisa Diana Brunner M.Sc.
Leadership, Management and Organizational Consultant. Selection and Career Counseling to the Executive MBA Courses, Bocconi University School of Management, Milan (Italy); Board Member -Treasurer PCCA; Honorary Member Il Nodo Group; Member: CSGSS-the Boston Affiliate of AKRI, Family Firm Institute, ISPSO, OFEK, OPUS. Omowale Elson Ph.D.
Managing Principal of Elson Consulting Group, LLP; Senior Fellow, James MacGregor Burns Academy of Leadership, University of Maryland; Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Business & Management ,University of Maryland University College; Minister , Sons of God Apostolic Spiritualist Baptist Church of Barbados; Associate , Washington Baltimore Center for the Study of Group Relations, A.K. Rice Institute for the Study of Social Systems, Plexus Institute, and the International Forum for Social Innovation of France. Declan Fitzsimon MAML Lancaster University, Masters in Advanced Organisational Consultation (AOC) from the Tavistock Insitute, London
doctoral candidate doing research into shared leadership at Cranfield University, UK. Organisational Consultant and Leadership Development practitioner. Miguel Guilarte PhD
Professor of Human and Organizational Development, Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, CA; Principal Consultant, Transforma Management Consulting, San Diego, CA; Associate, AKRI. Adib Jarrar D.E.S.S. in clinical psychology and psychopathology; M.Sc. in clinical social work;
Independent Organizational Development Consultant; Clinical Psychologist; Professional Associate, Tavistock Institute, London; Professional Associate, The Grubb Institute, London; Member of the Board of Advisors, Treatment & Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture (TRC), Ramallah; I've been sharing my life on a regular basis, for the last four years, between Paris, France and Ramallah, Palestine. Shelley Ostroff Ph.D.
Organizational consultant; Holistic therapist; Permanent faculty, Leading Consultation, IFSI and the University of Bath, (Paris), Faculty, Program in Organizational Development and Consultation: A Psychoanalytic and Open Systems Perspective Sponsored by the Tavistock Institute London and OFEK, Israel. Rosemary Viswanath BSc
Post-Graduate Diploma in Management (Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore); Professional Member, Indian Society of Applied Behavioural Science; Member, Orientation Committee, International Forum for Social Innovation Paris;Director, Learning Network (a consulting group working on organisation change and strategy for the development sector); Chief Functionary, EQUATIONS (a national level advocacy organisation working on the impacts of tourismon local communities in India). Jeanne Woon Ph.D.
Psychologist, Counseling Center, University of Central Missouri; Trainer and Consultant on group and organizational process; Chair, Training & Certification Committee, AKRI. Associate of AKRI, Midwest Center for Group Relations, and New York Center for the Study of Groups, Organizations & Social Systems. top of document Info and Fees
The fees for this 6-day residential conference will be $2900, including tuition, room and board. Early application (before March 1st, 2010) is $2300.
AKRI Associates can also claim a $150 discount. Other discounts are available to those who have attended previous AKRI conference, to full time students, and to those who come as part of a group of two or more. In addition, there will be some scholarship assistance available upon application to AKRI.
This conference is in the review process to offer Continuting Education credits (CEs) for psychologists. Fielding Graduate University is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Fielding Graduate University maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
The Registration Deadline is May 1st, 2010
Please note that late registration (after May 1st) cannot be guaranteed a room at the Admiral Fell Inn in Baltimore
top of document Payment Terms
You can register online by credit card by clicking the "Register Here" button on the top right of conference page of the AKRI website, see below.
You can also register by check.
Mail the application form with your check to The A. K. Rice Institute, PO Box 1025, Rainier, WA 98576.
top of document Web Sites
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