How to Use the Testing Questions

 

Anytime you’re ready to make a decision, big or small, think about your Holisticgoal and ask yourself the series of testing questions listed in the box below.  If it’s a complicated situation, put your written Holisticgoal in front of you.  If the answers to the questions suggest that this decision will move you toward your Holisticgoal, you may want to act on it.  If the decision doesn’t’ pass most of the tests, then:

 

1. don’t do it

2. rethink the action

3. rethink your Holisticgoal

 

NOTE: This section was adapted from: At Home with Holistic Management: Creating a Life of Meaning by Ann Adams.

 

 

Testing Your Decisions: Are They Economically, Environmentally and Socially Sound?

You might be deciding how to rid your home of pests, whether to grow organic or conventional apples, or whether to add a staff member. How can you be sure that what you decide is best for you both short- and long-term? Run that decision through seven simple tests before you make up your mind.

When asked and answered in quick succession, the testing questions enable you to see the likely effect of any decision on the whole you manage. You don't want to dwell on any one test to the point that you lose sight of the picture formed by scanning them all. With this picture in sight, you can be fairly sure that any decision tested is not only economically sound but simultaneously environmentally and socially sound, both short- and long-term.

The tests are:

  • Cause and Effect – Does this action address the root cause of the problem?
  • Weak Link
    • Social – Have I/we considered and/or addressed any confusion, anger, or opposition this action could create with people whose support I/we need in the near or distant future?
    • Biological (used only when dealing with problem organisms) – Does this action address the weakest point in the life cycle of this organism?
    • Financial – Does this action strengthen the weakest link in the chain of production?
  • Marginal Reaction (used only when comparing two or more actions) – Which action provides the greatest return, in terms of my/our holistic goal, for the time and money spent?
  • Gross Profit Analysis (used only when comparing two or more enterprises) – Which enterprises contribute the most to covering the overheads of the business?
  • Energy/Money Source and Use – Is the energy or money to be used in this action derived from the most appropriate source in terms of my/our holistic goal? Will the way in which the energy or money is to be used lead toward my/our holistic goal?
  • Sustainability –If I/we take this action, will it lead toward or away from the future resource base described in my/our holistic goal?
  • Society and Culture – Considering all the questions and my/our holistic goal, how do I/we feel about this action now?

Some tests will not apply to certain decisions, and can be skipped. Some tests will raise points you will again consider in other tests. This testing should take you minutes, rather than hours. Once you are familiar with the tests and have internalized the questions, the testing will be accomplished in seconds, and will be something you begin to do subconsciously.  See Appendix E for help and further information on testing. 

 

ADAPTED FROM: http://www.holisticmanagement.org/ahm_test.cfm. 

 

For additional help see; Testing Record Sheet.

 

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