Last spring, I asked Sun's China engineering center to figure out how to self-govern an activity. It has been an interesting process to observe. But first some background.

In China, companies of reasonable size must provide funds for "union activities." By law, it is a percentage of the payroll budget. Sun's employees here are not interested in forming unions. The money, however, is in spend-it-or-lose-it category. The creative Sun employees then formed SunClubs. They are similar to school clubs: sports, hobbies, travels, or any social activities for a reasonable large group of people to engage regularly. The spirit of the laws is to be independent from company management. The governance of these clubs, therefore, is outside of the normal management structure.

Self-governance: a concept quite new to many people here at Sun China Engineering, let alone well-practiced. Is this possible? I thought I will place my faith on people and give it a try.

First, I called for volunteers to work on this. About a dozen people showed up and I gave them the task: to propose the mechanism of governing SunClubs, but not to do it themselves. They are to create the machine for others to run. There will be no managerial presence, let alone interference, on this process. I held my breath, bit my lips, and sat on my hands. Watching my kids growing up was faster.

9 months later. They came up with a by-laws. It has chapters on the structure of a council, an administrative team, roles and responsibilities, check and balance, transparency and accountability, and a re-election process. They showed me the by-laws and asked me to hold the 1st election for council members. I was too glad to oblige.

14 members were voted into the council via general election, as stipulated by the by-laws. I called for their 1st meeting and give them the task: represent their constituents, operate according to the by-laws, including the modification of it if so desired.

Here we have a young democratic governing body in the room. They did not know that they will be practicing a skill that will affect the rest of their lives and help change the world along the way. The only way for it to work is for me not to meddle. I left the room, breath held, lips bitten, and hands wrung behind my back.