How do we aim to operate?

Organizational structure: a system that outlines how activities (including rules, roles, and responsibilities) are directed in order to achieve the goals of an organization. 

Philosophy

Newo’s organizational structure is influenced by Frederic Laloux’s book, Reinventing Organizations, which draws on the concept of spiral dynamics to describe how humans evolve into new stages of consciousness, and posits that these stages are accompanied by breakthroughs in new ways to collaborate and organize.

Laloux proposes that the next stage in the evolution of human consciousness corresponds to the last stage of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, self actualization, characterized by a shift from external to internal yardsticks, a search for wisdom and a striving for wholeness. 

A workplace that allows for self-actualization is, in Laloux’s view, more like the natural hierarchy of the forest, roots to canopy operating as a holistic, living system, than a rigid pyramid-shaped machine. It fosters self-management and encourages employees to “listen in and understand what the organization wants to become, what purpose it wants to serve.”

The importance of wholeness is baked into Newo; the four aspects of being human (mind, body, spirit and emotion) are core Cree teachings contained in “Newo,” the Cree word for four. As such, Newo aims to create an environment where employees can bring their whole selves to work, as well as pursue meaningful and rewarding work.

At Newo we also practice many of the elements of Sociocracy, which draws on the use of consent, rather than majority voting, in discussion and decision-making by people who have a shared goal.

Structure

The image we use for our organizational structure is that of a tree.

Of course, this is an emerging organizational model, and we are constantly learning as we attempt to put these principles into practice.