meaning of delegation and adopting goals

["Laskey, Ken" <klaskey@mitre.org>]

From Rex’s minutes

 

it is asking another to adopt the goal associated with the action with the expectation that the action will be done

 

As I’ve mentioned before, I think we need to take a little different twist.  As a parent, my children often have goals that I do not share but for which they need actions from me in order to accomplish those goals.  Now they know if they can identify a goal on my part that will lead to actions which produce the real world effects they want to see, then their argument is not for me to adopt their goals but rather for me within my context to identify specific goals for which I would take timely actions that would result in their desired real world effects.  For example, they need a ride some place and I have other stuff I need to do and don’t want to take the time.  However, they note that we’re running out of some groceries I usually get from Costco and I really need to go shopping.  Oh, by the way, where they want to go is in the vicinity of Costco and they could just ride along.

 

In summary, delegation could be seen as

1)      A has a goal and convinces B to adopt the goal, and B take actions that result in real world effects which leads to satisfying the common goal.

2)      A has a goal and raises issues to B that results in B adopting goals in the B context and take actions that result in real world effects which in the process of satisfying the goals of B also satisfies the goal of A.

 

For everyone’s consideration.

 

Ken