Gaviotas II-- Unique Ideas

Paolo Lugari is the founder of Gaviotas II, an eco-village in the middle of the most inhospitable part of Columbia. Along with the eco component of the project, Gaviotas II has yielded some important bio-technological breakthroughs and inventions. The way they have accomplished that in these unique circumstances has ramifications for SR-inspired capitalism.

Lugari has some fascinating rules for how to conduct business. I don't think they are all perfectly applicable in ordinary life, but seem to serve him in this very unique circumstance. Of course, in Gaviotas II, the people are working there exclusively out of their commitment to the mission -- and in other workplaces, at least some of the people are there just to earn a living. However, as in most paradigms, there is something to gain from his rules. Many of these are very consistent with the Powered by Principle model, which is part of what I find useful about them--others are not, and therefore are even more interesting as prospective inclusions to the approach.

I am only including their basic iterations, but the full text can be found by clicking here.

1. Ban brainstorming meetings
2. Practice Da Vinci's code (this means deal with problems without any assumptions--similar to the Disciple Discipline in the Powered by Principle approach)
3. Play nice with others
4. Burn the corporate policy manual
5. Rule out "degree-itis" (this means forget about hierarchies--identical in practice to Oobeyah)
6. Master the art of indiscipline (work across disciplines)
7. Trash your Outlook calendar

Even the ones I can't quite embrace have a certain maverick-like appeal. But then, working in a eco-village in the middle of the jungle with only other scientists and committed participants would allow for working together with a high degree of freedom and entropy.