Structures, Process & Windows of Opportunity

The purpose of structure is to support and enhance process including

• bringing the parties together
• in a timely fashion
• distributing authority and matching responsibility
• utilising contributions from all concerned, and
• achieving some of the purposes of all parties

That is, the purpose of structure is to create ‘windows of opportunity‘ that will

• enable the process to proceed successfully
• while meet the various needs of the parties involved

In this sense, for many people, education cannot be treated as piece-work – as simple mechanistic production:

• Input -> Process -> Output

In contrast, BigPicture and similar approaches incorporate the ongoing construction (and reconstruction) of generous, flexible,managed and negotiated “windows of opportunity”.