A group of friends, who set up a television channel and production house, managed to introduce hierarchy into their informal organization and maintain friendship relations at the same time.

Introducing hierarchy and a way of decision making that eliminates dominance in policy-making, helped Télévision du Monde advance more quickly. "SCM", says Belgian Paul Wattecamps, initiator of the project, "has helped us make the transition from an informal group of friends to a professional working structure." It was the boost the project needed.

Télévision du Monde, initiated in 2006 by then politician Wattecamps, wants to be a production house and eventually a TV channel that "dreams of a better world", as the slogan states. All programs, made in the French language, will have a clear informational and educational objective, and solid ties with civic groups, varying from Red Cross to neighborhood associations. Professionals in the field of education and media productions, as well as representatives of civic groups, constitute the editorial staff of each program, whether it be sports, entertainment, or politics.

Tensions
The project had a flying start because more than 500 people and organizations expressed interest in supporting or participating. But when it came to forming the organization legally, and to developing formats for programs, tensions arose among the group of friends. If the organization developed a more formal structure, would they still be heard in the decision making processes? After all, they were all among friends, and friends don't boss over each other, right? And when the fundraising bore fruit, would they be hired? Wattecamps: "The tensions around these questions consumed a lot of time and slowed the progress of the project."

Moving on again
Thanks to SCM circles, introduced in 2008, a hierarchical structure became acceptable. Wattecamps: "The worries of being overruled disappeared because consent obliges everyone to listen to paramount objections to policy decisions." Bossing friends was thus limited to the execution of policy. Those who still couldn't live with that, left the project.

The participants worked in different groups to prepare decisions: on finance, on the text of the founding by-laws, on the structure of the organization. These were proposed to the general circle, that had the final say. Thanks to the working groups, discussions that had lingered for two years, ended in a few months, and with clear decisions. There is a hierarchical structure now; there are by-laws; Télévision du Monde is moving on fast.

Paul Wattecamps: "Now, we are working on the pilot program we want to show to investors." The first program is to be aired on 9-9-2009, "a symbolic date", Wattecamps says with a smile.

He is happy to have found SCM in the starting phase of Télévision du Monde. "Because the circle structure is already in place and legally anchored, it will save us growing pains."

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