Sociocracy is both right and wrong

Sociocracy uses consent decision-making. ¹ If people are autonomic, ² then decision-making by consent ³ is right. But if people are autonomic, then limiting consent to policy decisions only is wrong. ⁴

Sociocracy is based on cybernetic principles. ⁵ The basic feedback model consists of input-transformation-output steps, ⁶ and leading-doing-measuring activities for each step. The problem is that cybernetics is a poor metaphor for living systems. ⁷

If people are autonomic, then there is simply no input mechanism that can change their internal operations. Force may change people’s external acts, but they will rebel as soon as the force is removed. ⁸ The cognitive model of people as rule-following entities is inadequate.

Notes:
¹ See Sociocracy, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 23 April 2016. (Accessed 26 April 2016)
² There is a distinction between being autonomic, obeying self-law, and allonomic, obeying some other’s law. See Norm Hirst, Research findings to date, Autognomics Institute. (Accessed 26 April 2016)
³ Sociocracy makes a distinction between consent and consensus. Consent is defined as “no objections,” and objections are based on one’s ability to work toward the aims of the organization. See Sociocracy: Consent vs. consensus, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 23 April 2016. (Accessed 26 April 2016)
⁴ All policy decisions are made by consent although the group may consent to use another decision-making method. See Sociocracy: Consent governs policy decision making (principle 1), Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 23 April 2016. (Accessed 26 April 2016)
⁵ Gerard Endenburg integrated his understanding of physics, cybernetics, and systems thinking, and applied these principles to human systems. See Sociocracy: In contemporary practice, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 23 April 2016. (Accessed 26 April 2016)
⁶ The ideal feedback model consists of the input of information or resources, the transformation of those resources, and the output. A feedback loop of information is used to correct the process or confirm that it is accomplishing the aim. See Sharon Villines, Producing Organization: The 27 Block Chart, 2 May 2013. (Accessed 26 April 2016)
⁷ Cybernetics is an advanced form of mechanism, but it is still a mechanism, which makes it a poor metaphor for any living system. See Elisabeth Sathouris, Ecosophy: Nature’s Guide to a Better World, Kosmos Journal, Summary 2014. (Accessed 26 April 2016).
⁸ Living organisms are self-making, holistic, autonomous and have no information inputs. Perception begins in acts, not inputs. Autonomy implies organisms are closed to information. Information is not a commodity. In organisms, informare (formed within) replaces information. See Norm Hirst, Research findings to date, Autognomics Institute. (Accessed 26 April 2016)