Openness & accountability

‘...They [people] should view themselves and the organizations they belong to
as living systems
able to self-organize
to adapt to change…’

The 21st century model of human relationships is based on the concept of openness and accountability. These two concepts have started to capture the attention of states, governments, organizations and peoples as fundamental elements for promoting trust, integrity and reliability as the basis of healthy relationship in their midst. These concepts are the reflection of behaviors. They are chiefly the results of confidence and self-assuredness.
Openness and accountability are key factors for rapid development. The demands for greater openness and accountability are growing rapidly, driven by the spread of democracy, globalization, the digital revolution, and internet-enhanced social activism. Associating need to balance the organizational and social advantages of greater transparency with legitimate concerns about transparency’s disadvantages as limits then becomes important.
If there will be greater openness at every level of social stratification, there will occur less bureaucratic hurdles and less distrust in the relationships of peoples. We should be a people of integrity in every walk of life. We should build-up ourselves on a high degree of transparency in whatever field we serve and wherever we happen to be.
Transparency is a determinant factor and a key word for proactive ness. Transparency is an anti-dote of closeness or of any kind of unethical behaviors and corruptible minds. Whenever there is openness, people will not doubt the process of action and reaction, but, will only try to support and stimulate the refinement of the process.
Ignorance of the democratic rights of others is a clear manifestation of closeness as compared with openness and a denial of accountability. A person is accountable for all his actions. An organization, a government or a state is equally accountable. Openness will encourage accountability. Therefore, people will attach to openness and accountability a greater premium than anything else. Nonetheless, transparency should be exercised with caution to avoid its disadvantages.
On the other hand, there should always be concern towards others, in the house, on the road, in the office and in all places where interactions and relationships occur. Driving and talking on the cell phone is a punishable action in Europe since it contravenes with the free flow of traffic and other drivers’ democratic rights to move freely.
Barking dogs disturb the peace of neighbors, despite the fact that they will still continue to bark until a directive is issued that prohibits dog owners to keep such dogs away from residential quarters or to keep them under strict control. But through greater openness and accountability, people will gradually get away with such a menace through arrangements of other alternatives.
Openness and accountability are important tools of social and economic development as well as leadership. When there is transparency or greater openness and accountability, people and organizations think more about their counter parts rather than about themselves. Extroversion becomes dominant over introversion.
If our exercise of power is lacking clarity, there will only be confusion and lack of responsibility. Under such circumstance it is difficult for change to take place.
It is this awareness that drives peoples and organizations to adjust accordingly. People should not wait to be controlled in an environment of continuous change. They should view themselves and the organizations they belong to as living systems able to self-organize to adapt to change. Globalization as a system requires others to keep up with external changes and to respond rapidly to the emerging needs of others, so all have to become “fast, fluid, and flexible.”