Flip

Peter Sheahan's book, Flip lists four (4) forces of change (p.14)

1. Compression of Time and Space (p.15)
2. Increasing Complexity (p.20)
3. Increasing Transperency and Accountability (p.27)
4. Increasing Expectations (p.31)

1. Compression of Time and Space

For Communists, the compression of time means that decision-making is forced down the command hierarchy. This is good because workers are exposed to decision-making more and more.

The compression of space means that workers have to consider the international outlook. Unfortunately, workers could take the racist approach and retreat into nationalism. But successful workers will be those who can work across cultures to achieve a common purpose at an enterprise. For Communists, we can use this to educate workers about the value of internationalism.

2. Increasing Complexity

This is the most serious challenge to the command and control management structure. This is under increasing stress and is most likely to break first. If and when this happens, this would give Communists some latitude in developing worker confidence.

3. Increasing Transperency and Accountability

This follows from the compression of time and complexity. Communications have to be opened up within organisations with management sharing more information with workers. Communists should use this opening to develop their decision-making and self-management skills, and thereby increase their confidence in their own abilities.

4. Increasing Expectations

This is mainly about luxuries now becoming necessities. However with the looming economic crisis in the US, this may no longer be relevant.

Action Precedes Clarity

To confront these forces of change, Sheahan, among things, proposes that Action Precedes Clarity (pp.271-318). This is where we follow a trajectory by trying various things without having a detailed plan. This chapter should be read by those Communists who hunger for the perfect Party Programme.

Instead, we have a vague vision of a Communist society and must evaluate our actions in achieving that goal. Sometimes, actions may seem silly but the idea is to keep moving forward in the chosen direction.