ZEGG (community) - Decisions and Organisation

Decisions and Organisation

ZEGG has now adopted a sociocratic model for its internal organisation. An arrangement of “circles” represent the flat hierarchy, with more comprehensive circles at the top and more specialised ones under them. In ZEGG, the Management circle has the task of implementing the organisation’s goals in practical steps whilst keeping within the higher-level interests of the community, which are the responsibility of the Board. This circle’s German name Visionsbeirat clearly indicates its responsibility for ZEGG’s wider vision. The Management circle is made up of representatives from the other circles and can decide upon measures they have to implement. These other circles are self-organised and independent, mostly representing a clear area of activity within the organisation, such as the Social circle, the Seminar Business circle, the Site Team circle and the Supply circle. The latter, for example, is responsible for all the issues concerning the garden, kitchen and catering.

Each circle is independent but is required to keep the interests of the whole organisation in mind while fulfilling its duties. One way of ensuring the communication necessary for this is the two-way link system between the circles. Each circle has a rep link who represents its interests in the Management circle and a lead link for the other direction: they are responsible for ensuring that the intentions of the broader management circle are carried into the sub-circle. All members of the circles are equally entitled to vote and all decisions are made with dynamic steering in mind - meaning that no decisions are carved in stone, but each decision is made in good faith and then revised if it turns out to be unworkable in practice.