ECE 355 Software Engineering Deliberative Assemblies Douglas Wilhelm

ECE 355 Software Engineering Deliberative Assemblies Douglas Wilhelm Harder Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of Waterloo Copyright © 2008 by Douglas Wilhelm Harder. All rights reserved.

Deliberative Assemblies Outline • In this topic, we will cover – The background of organizational behaviour – Hierarchical organizations – Origins of deliberative assemblies – Deliberative assemblies today

Deliberative Assemblies Background • Humans are social animals • Organizations and groups are collections of people who have common goals • Humans, however, are also selfish • For a group or organization to be viable, there must be some form of structure

Deliberative Assemblies Background • Two models of organizations have evolved in Western society – Hierarchical – Deliberative • Other models exist, however these are the most common

Deliberative Assemblies Hierarchical Organizations • An organization is hierarchical if – There is a single principal entity – All other entities are subordinate to exactly one other entity within the organization – All entities are ultimately subordinate to the principal entity

Deliberative Assemblies Hierarchical Organizations • Numerous organizations within today’s society are hierarchical – Executive government – Armed forces – Corporations – Organized religions • Hierarchy means rank by holy beings – Universities

Deliberative Assemblies Hierarchical Organizations • Historically, civil society was also hierarchically structured – Feudalism – Manorialism • The principal entity in these organizations was usually a king – Perhaps subordinate to an emperor

Deliberative Assemblies Hierarchical Organizations • Feudal positions were hereditary – The king could not remove barons at will – The obligations of barons were defined – The barons would protect their interests – No king could achieve his aims without his barons

Deliberative Assemblies Origins of Deliberative Assemblies • On June 15 th, 1215, the Magna Carta established a Great Council in England – Restricted to the most powerful barons – Responsible for taxation – Not necessarily subordinate to the monarch – Those not present still bound to any decisions – Soon called the Parliamentum • From French parler: to speak

Deliberative Assemblies Origins of Deliberative Assemblies • Simon V de Montfort’s parliament of 1265 – Included knights and burgesses • Under Edward I, this parliament included – Two knights from each county – Two burgesses from each borough – Two citizens from each city • The commoners separated from the lords in 1341

Deliberative Assemblies Origins of Deliberative Assemblies • The members of this Parliamentum discussed issues, or deliberated: “to think about or discuss issues and decisions carefully” • A serious threat, however, was for this council to revert into a hierarchical structure

Deliberative Assemblies Origins of Deliberative Assemblies • To prevent such a reversion – Rules – Usages – Ethics – Customs were slowly introduced • Collectively, these are today referred to as parliamentary procedure

Deliberative Assemblies Properties • Some properties of parliaments: – Regular/voting members have equal votes – Regular meetings – The decisions of these meetings binds the entire organization – Decisions are made by votes – Rule of the majority – Rights for the minority – It elected a head or Speaker

Deliberative Assemblies Today • The organizational model for parliament was soon copied in Great Britain by numerous civilian organizations – Cooperatives – Ordinary societies – Committees • An organization using parliamentary procedure is a deliberative assembly

Deliberative Assemblies Today • Corporations are initially hierarchical – The owner is the principal entity • The introduction of public corporations and shares was modeled on deliberative assemblies – Each share has an equal vote

Deliberative Assemblies Today • Most organizations mix both hierarchical organizations and deliberative assemblies • We will look at: – Government – Judiciary – Universities – Corporations

Deliberative Assemblies Today • The government includes: – The legislative (with the Speaker) is deliberative – The state is hierarchical • Her Majesty and her Governor General – The executive is hierarchical • The Prime Minister and various ministries

Deliberative Assemblies Today • The judiciary contains – A system of courts which is hierarchical – Juries and the Supreme Court of Canada are deliberative

Deliberative Assemblies Today • Universities are an interesting mix – The organizations of the President, the Provost, Deans, Associate Deans, Chairs, and Associate Chairs is hierarchical – Individual departments and committees are deliberative • Deans and Chairs are usually elected • Associate Deans and Associate Chairs are appointed • Examinations and Promotions Committee • Engineering Faculty Operational Committee

Deliberative Assemblies Today • Publically-trade corporations are divided between ownership and operations – The shareholders, the Board, and the Chair of the Board are deliberative – The President, C. E. O. , etc. are hierarchical

Deliberative Assemblies Today • A deliberative assembly is an appropriate structure when there is shared responsibility • A hierarchical structure is appropriate when there is delegated responsibility

Deliberative Assemblies Today • Comparing the properties of each: – Slow versus quick response – Shared versus individual responsibility – Long-term versus short-term goals

Deliberative Assemblies Control of Assemblies Today • The application of deliberative assemblies to ordinary societies today has many advantages: – It makes people aware of the functioning of our parliament – It allows people to experience the democratic system – It teaches the principles of democracy in a practical manner – It provides years of experience

Deliberative Assemblies Control of Assemblies Today • There a number of codifications of parliamentary procedure which may be used by ordinary societies • The most popular in North America is Robert’s Rules of Order

Deliberative Assemblies Control of Assemblies Today • The most popular for ordinary societies North America is Robert’s Rules of Order • Others include – Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure – Standing Rules of the US Senate – Jefferson’s Manual – Erskine May (UK) – Code Morin (Quebec)

Deliberative Assemblies Summary • In this topic, we will cover – The background of organizational behaviour – Hierarchical organizations – Origins of deliberative assemblies – Deliberative assemblies today – Control of assemblies