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What Is a Source Document

Submitted by George Por on December 26, 2005 - 23:00.
What Is a Source Document SOURCE: “that from which something arises; a wellspring.” Source refers to the basic elements from which something emerges. It applies to those things that are continually emergent, that have lives of their own, that generate their own shape and identity. To see the source of something, we need to understand the basic elements and their interplay, their dynamic relationships, which are key to its current identity and to what it might become. DOCUMENT: “any text that can be referred to by a community independent of its originators in time and space.” It is therefore available as a record of origin and, at the same time, as the source of dialogue and interpretation which are continually evolving. It enables us to relate current circumstances and current development to original intentions. This provides us with a connection to the history and identity of our institutions while not locking us into rigid rules of fixed interpretations of earlier times. A well-formed source document provides a structure of interpretation that demands continued engagement, intelligence and independent interpretation in the face of the varying circumstances of life. It lives for decades - maybe centuries - as a viable, energetic source of information because of its demand for continual interpretation. From Mike McMaster's talk on "EMERGENCE, SELF-ORGANISATION AND FREEDOM: the sources of innovation" at the Complexity & Innovation conf, London 1997

The value of having a source document

Submitted by George Por on December 26, 2005 - 23:20.
I was present at the meeting where my friend, Mike McMaster, gave the talk, from which I quoted the paragraphs above. A year later I invited him to give workshop on Source Document development in our web-based, month-long Knowledge Ecology Fair, which was the most successful virtual workshop of that event. Since then I used, the source document as a tool of community formation, which can be combined with the chaordic process, presencing and other methods. Using it for framing the purpose, principles, concept, etc. of Evolutionary Nexus would provide a handy shared reference for the core team and future members and partners. Used that way, it would provide a basis and a structure for the continued development of the design and enabling conditions of Evolutionary Nexus. My hope and intent is that the ENexus Source Document would: 1. Provide a common, agreed base or framework for the interpretation and evaluation of choices, decisions and actions, and events. To that regard, it has to be appended by sufficient provision of initial rules, practices and structure to ensure the effective operation of the ELAN community. 2. Be in constant use, encourage active dialogue and foster human emergence.