Question: Dee Hock (http://www.chaordic.org/chaordic/res_diff.html) orchestrated an agreement to form a corporation with an ingenious legal and governance structure from which comprehension of chaos and order are honored in (http://www.chaordic.org/chaordic/what_des.html) Might this process be useful as template to creating the critical space of the At Large membership?

Nominee Replies

Lyman Chapin - posted on 2000-09-26 11:41:34 I'm not familiar with the chaordic design process, so I can't comment on its applicability here - but I welcome ideas for how the at-large membership might organize and act as an ICANN constituency. Emerson Tiller, J.D., Ph.D. - posted on 2000-09-18 19:35:34 I quote from portions of the Charodic Design Process on which I agree and add comments. Quote: *The most difficult parts of the process are releasing preconceived notions about the nature and structure of organizations and understanding their origins in our own minds. We often catalyze this process by asking the question: 'If anything imaginable were possible, if there were no constraints whatever, what would be the nature of an ideal institution to accomplish our purpose?'* As reformers, we must not get so caught up in our suspiscions of what ICANN is today but rather imagine what it can be. Otherwise we get stuck in the throw the bastards out mindset that is more obstructionist than creative. I imagine an organization the facilitates expression as its key objective. That includes political, religious, artistic and commercial expression -- as equals. ICANN's role is to prevent others, and itself, from standing in the way of such expression. Quote: *at the heart they create a governance system that none of them can dominate ... and which doesn't create an internal advantage to any particular approach or viewpoint, but honors all value systems equally. The governance automatically distributes its power, right down to the most local level if possible, still without dominance, and most certainly without the dominance of the center. Both large and small group begin to self-organize and self-govern; all the while creating knowledge, tools, and great programs that others can take advantage of.* I agree that decentralized forces should generally drive the Internet and much of its governance (whether that be policy, technological, or market governance). However, recourse to the power of the center (ICANN) must be made when a decentralized force (e.g., opportunistic national policy) poses a threat to the whole of the Internet community. ICANN's greatest role may be to pre-empt local/national policy by its (ICANN's) very presence (rather than by its actions). Also, I believe the At-Large membership represents the various types of commercial and noncommercial expression listed above. As a conduit for many interests, I think the At-Large Membership could legitimately dominate ICANN's agenda, rather than be partitioned off as a separate interest that is only part of the whole. More board seats for At-Large Membership! And yes, the ideas set out in the Chaordic Design Process could be useful as a template to create the critical space of the At Large membership. Lawrence Lessig - posted on 2000-09-15 04:03:18 Though it has been recommended to me, I am sorry but I don't know the work.