Even on the 15th anniversary of the agile manifesto, the clash of cultures between agile teams and traditional management lore remains largely unresolved. Existing approaches are either merely conceptual or rigid and monolithic (e.g. Holacracy). A new way is Sociocracy 3.0, a free and open-source framework for evolving agile organizations. It creates a pull-system for organizational change, and draws on a collection of independent, but mutually reinforcing patterns, so organizations can continuously adapt both pace and scope of a transition.

1. Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons
With%Sociocracy%3.0
Bernhard(Bockelbrink(@(OOP(2016
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 1

2. Who$has$heard$of...
Sociocracy
Dynamic(Governance(/(Circle(Forward
Holacracy
Teal%Organiza,ons
Responsive)Organiza/ons
Intrinsify
New$Work
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 2

3. Sociocracy(3.0:
a"Framework"of"Pa,erns
for$Collabora)on
in#Agile#Organiza,ons
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 3

4. Agile&Organiza,on:
Sustainably!Crea&ng
A"Valuable"Product
With%Happy%People.
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 4

5. A"Bit"of"History:
Standing(on(the(Shoulders
of#GiantsEvolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 5

6. Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 6

7. Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 7

8. Principles*Behind*Sociocracy*3.0
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 8

9. 65#Pa&erns
for
making'and'evolving'agreements
coordina(ng*work*|*effec(ve*mee(ngs
building(organiza-ons(|(organiza-onal(structure
roles&|&alignment&|&naviga/on
bringing&in&S3&pa+erns
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 9

10. Agenda
1. From'Agile'Islands'To'Agile'Organiza5ons
2. Evolving'Organiza5ons
3. Growing'Structure
4. How'Do'We'Get'There
5. S3'and'the'Rest'of'the'Agile'Family
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 10

11. 1.#From#Agile#Islands
To#Agile#Organiza.ons
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 11

12. In#an#Organiza*on#
People#Come#
Together#to#
Collaborate
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 12

13. An#Organiza*on#Is#
Simply#a#Body#of#
Agreements#About#
Collabora*on
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 13

14. Our$Values$Define$
Culture$and$Guide$
Agreements
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 14

15. What%Agile%Brings%to%
Organiza2ons
• a#specific#set#of#values
➤#openness,#transparency,#respect,#
focus,#commitment…
• strong#emphasis#on#self(organiza/on0
and0close0collabora/on
➤#addressing#complexity#through#
complexity
• distribu:on#of#power#(e.g.#PO#@#SM#@#
dev#team)
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 15

16. Culture
Eats%Strategy
For$BreakfastEvolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 16

17. The$Root$Of$The$Problem:
Individual)Disciplinary)Power
Inevitably+Leads+To
a"Dominance)Hierarchy
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 17

18. Paradox'of'Management
Hierarchies
Ar#ficially*Limit*a*System's*Complexity
And$Thus$The$Capacity$of$a$System
To#Address#Complexity
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 18

19. Hierarchies)are)built)on
Divide&Et&Impera
A"Strategy"For
For$Maintaining
And$Accumula*ng$Power
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 19

20. Hierarchy)Creates)Flawed)'Agreements'
• hierarchy)breeds)compe&&on
➤)op/miza/on)for)individual)gain
• hierarchy)rewards)sociopathic-behavior
➤)subop/mal)decision
• hierarchy)brings-out-the-worst-in-people
➤)unhappy)people
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 20

21. The$good$news:
Hierarchy)Is)Neither
Natural'Nor'Inevitable
There's'Other'Ways'of'Crea0ng
Order%in%Organiza+ons
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 21

22. How$Can$We$Create
An#Organiza*on
Without'Hierarchy?
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 22

23. Give%Decision%Making%Power
to#Those#Affected#by#a#Decision
strategy(|(product(|(plans(|(contracts
role%assignment%|%compensa0on%|%dividend
organiza(onal*structure*|*work*process*|*values*...
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 23

24. Circle
a"(semi()autonomous
group&of&peers
temporary)or)permanent
makes&decisions&by&consent
in#person#or#by#delega/on
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 24

25. Consent
the$absence$of$objec-ons
everyone'can'"live'with'it"
good$enough$for$now
safe%enough%to%try
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 25

26. Objec&ons
• a#reason#why#doing#what#is#proposed#is#not#a#good#idea:
• driver/value#6#effec9veness#6#shared#values#6#individual#
contribu9on
• emergent#wisdom#
• belongs#to#the#circle
• we#love#objec9ons!
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 26

27. Maintain&Equivalence:
Avoid&Discussion
Facilitate(Rounds
1. Pick'a'random'person'to'start
2. Everyone'speaks'in'turn
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 27

28. 2.#Evolving#Organiza/ons
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 28

29. We#can#already#evolve#Products,
Business'Models'and'Work'Processes.
Can$We$Con(nuously$Evolve
The$Whole$Organiza/on?
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 29

30. Organiza(ons+=+∑+Agreements
Evolving(Organiza-ons(=(Evolving(Agreements
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 30

31. Let's&Make
Every&Single
Agreement
an#Experiment
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 31

32. 1.#Iden(fy#Mo(ve
The$Driver
• shared'understanding"of"our"mo(va(on"for"
ac(on"(the""why")
• describes"a"specific'situa0on:"condi(ons"and"
the"needs"we"associate"with"it
• focus"on"the"present,"not"future"or"assump(ons
• precedes"goals,"objec(ves,"aims,"mission,"vision,"
purpose
• incrementally'refined,"easy"to"review"
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 32

33. 2.#Design#the#Experiment
Proposal(Forming
• collect'considera.ons'and'ideas'in'
larger'circle
• create'proposal(s)'in'small'group
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 33

34. 3.#Commit#to#Run#the#Experiment:
Consent'Decision'Making
• collect'objec*ons'from'everyone'
affected
• objec*ons'reveal'knowledge
• can'you'live%with%it'un*l'the'review?
• contract'of'consent:'support'
agreements'in'the'absence'of'
objec*ons
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 34

35. 4.#Inspect#and#Adapt
• each&agreement&has&a&review&date&and&
evalua,on&criteria
• we&also&evolve&shared&understanding&of&
drivers
• we&use&daily&stand5ups,&retrospec8ves,&
workshops&and&naviga,on&mee,ngs&
and&workshops&to&amplify&learning
• tensions&may&trigger&early&review
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 35

36. Navigate(via(Tension
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 36

37. 3.#Growing#Structure
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 37

38. There's'a'Driver
For$Everything:
Nested&Drivers
Cons%tute
Nested&Domains
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 38

39. Deconstruct*Drivers
To#Create#Domains#of#(Semi1)Autonomy
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 39

40. Roles
The$Simplest$Form$of$Structure
• people&can&wear&many&hats
• (S)elec4on&by&consent…
• …and&for&a&limited&term
• peers&support&development&in&roles
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 40

41. Role%Defini*on%and%Improvement
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 41

42. Organiza(onal+Structure
• supports(effec,ve(collabora,on
• delegates(decision(making(power
• built(from(circles
• evolves(con,nuously
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 42

43. Heterarchy:
Co#Existence,Of
Different(Func,onal
Structures
a.k.a.$Complex$Adap.ve$System,$or$
Network
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 43

44. Representa)ves
a.k.a$Links...
...stand'for'the'interests'
of'one'circle'in'another'
circle
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 44

45. Double'Linking
Facilitate(two+way(flow(
of(informa2on(and(
influence
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 45

46. Nested&Circle
A"pa%ern"for"expanding"
func1ons
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 46

47. Delegate'Circle
A"pa%ern"for"
coordina.on
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 47

48. Service'Circle
A"pa%ern"for"
outsourcing"shared"
services
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 48

49. Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 49

50. 4.#How#Do#We#Get#There?
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 50

51. (R)evolu)on
• revolu(ons+poten(ally+break+organiza(ons
• what+we+want+is+evolu(on
• don't+break+what's+already+working
• meet+everyone+where+they+are+…
• …and+let+them+choose+their+own+pace
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 51

52. Create&a&Pull*System
for$Organiza+onal$Change
• all$change$is$voluntary
• pa3erns$based$on$invita&on:$
• be$the$change
• con7nuous$improvement$of$work$process
• Open$S3$Adop7on
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 52

53. Be#the#Change
• be$the$change$you$want$to$create
• tell$the$story$how$you$discovered$S3
• invite$others$for$experiments
• learn$and$grow$(together)
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 53

54. CI#of#Work#Process
• start&with&consent&in&one&circle,&elect&a&facilitator,&define&values,&
and&go
• trigger&con6nuous&improvement&(e.g&through&Kanban)
• let&them&pull&in&pa>erns&
• then&expand&the&scope&of&the&experiment
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 54

55. Open%S3%Adop+on
• install(a(regular(cadence(of(Open(Spaces(
• invite(all(members(to(create(and(run(experiments
• set(boundaries(for(experiments:(S3(principles
• review(experiments(in(the(next(Open(Space
• repeat
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 55

56. Context'Is'King
Pa#erns(Are(Just(Ideas
Remix&and&Adapt&as&You&Like
But$Do$It$Together
And$Evaluate$the$Outcome
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 56

57. More%Considera,ons
• shared'values"enable"effec*ve"
collabora*on
• S3"organiza*on"agree"to"embrace'S3'
principles
• legal:"bylaws"and"consent
• entering'and'leaving"an"organiza*on:"
agree"early
• compensa8on"and"dividends"are"easier"
than"you"think:"focus"on"fairness,"not"
money
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 57

58. 5.#S3#and#the
Rest%of%the
Agile&FamilyEvolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 58

59. Ready&to&Plug&Into&S3:
✔!Extreme!Programming
✔!Kanban!(Driver➤Value/Waste,!Consensus!➤!Consent)
✔!The!Lean!Startup!Method
✔!Design!Thinking
✔!OpenSpace!Agile
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 59

60. Adapta&on)Recommended
Some%bits%in%Scrum,%SAFe,%LeSS%etc.%need%a%bit%of%change%!
One$Example:$the$Product$Owner
• product)decisions)affect)developers)and)stakeholders
• roles)are)elected
• roles)have)a)limited)term
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 60

61. Pull$%$Deconstruct$%$Cherry%Pick$%$Evolve
• pull"#"consent"prevents"manda0ng"methods/framework"
• deconstruct"#"look"at"the"pa8erns"a"framework"contains
• cherry.pick"#"iden0fy"pa8erns"helpful"for"your"drivers"
• evolve"#"adapt"pa8erns"to"your"needs
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 61

62. Now$what?
S3#website:"h$p://sociocracy30.org
Follow%us%on%twi$er:%@sociocracy30
The$S3#handbook:$handbook.sociocracy30.org$(work$in$progress)
More%resources%on%my%website:%evolvingcollabora5on.com/s3
I"love"to"get"feedback"on"my"presenta5ons:"bit.ly/s3wsform
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 62

63. License
This%work%by%Bernhard%Bockelbrink%and%James%Priest%is%licensed%
under%the%Crea9ve%Commons%A<ribu9on=ShareAlike%4.0%
Interna9onal%License.%To%view%a%copy%of%this%license,%visit%h<p://
crea9vecommons.org/licenses/by=sa/4.0/.
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 63

64. Bernhard(Bockelbrink!is!an!agile!coach,!trainer!and!consultant!
suppor2ng!individuals,!teams!and!organiza2ons!in!naviga2ng!
complex!challenges!and!developing!a!culture!of!effec2ve,!conscious!
and!joyful!collabora2on.
evolvingcollabora,on.com/00/bernhard.bockelbrink@gmail.com
James&Priest!is!an!interdependent!consultant,!facilitator!and!trainer!
specializing!in!holis4c!organiza4onal!development,!distributed!
leadership!implementa4on!and!complex!systems!op4miza4on.
thriveincollabora-on.com0110james@thriveincollabora-on.com
Evolving(Agile(Organiza/ons(with(Sociocracy(3.0(:(©(2015,(2016(by(Bernhard(Bockelbrink(and(James(Priest((sociocracy30.org)(v2016:02:04 64