May 2011
Competence and responsibility
Where are aims to achieve and to ensure, we delegate the responsibility for it often to intentional communities. Examples: cooperatives, municipalities, national and international institutions. It must be clear what authority their delegates have and what responsibilities they must bear. It must be clear where their role begins and where it ends. Delegates must have the resources needed or they must have access to them, so that a good work is possible. Who should bear responsibility, needs possibilities to do that what is needed. Competence and responsibility go together.
There are things that need to be aligned and regulated at the highest level. National or local boards may not align and settle issues with an international concern. Examples are: human rights, environmental protection, rights for international companies, international communities and maritime law. There are things that must be regulated on lower levels, because on a higher level is not enough knowledge and interest for important details. Here are two examples: A school must be planned and built locally. Because there one knows the local possibilities and difficulties, the local climate and the characteristics of the region. The local fire department has to be be held locally, since only those who know the area are familiar with the specific hazards and characteristics of the city. In general:
Decisions have to be made as deep down as possible and as high up as necessary.
Thus the demand for legitimacy, the knowledge of details and the overview are fulfilled in the best possible way.
Representation and questioning of the people
The concerned parties must get the possibility for positioning their points of view in an appropriate manner. The thoughts of the interested parties have to be incorporated already in the early planning of the school building. The donors, the students, the teachers and responsible persons for the maintenance should be heart. The leaders of the fire department have to get information about the hot spots. The leaders of the school building project and the fire department are responsible for ensuring that funds are used carefully, sparingly and appropriately.
Controls, transparency
Control is important at all levels. Where are power and money is also abuse. It is therefore important that the project management of the school and the leadership of the firefighters disclose their activities to enable the public and the concerned parties, to evaluate and if needed to bring them into public discussion.