Collaborative design with no boxes holding us in!? … Awesome!
Facilitation Across Time and Space: How to Create Change Through Virtual Environments.
Unconferences provide a newer form of creative freedom that empowers participants into defining their own creative paths. Satisfying individual needs by allowing ‘them’ to be the authors, presenters, and facilitators.
By sharing knowledge across previously impassable boundaries, unconferencing holds the potential to be the primary way that SOCIAL INNOVATION will be formulated. I’ll be writing more about unconferences; even holding a few myself. Come join in!
To demonstrate how Social Innovation can work in collaboration …
As we move into an age of human(e) design and collective creativity, my ultimate goal is to co-create an ebook that collectively defines what SOCIAL INNOVATION (SI) is. It becomes a practical guide for every manager or guiding group (of a family, village, organization, community, company, or corporation) who recognizes that SI is no longer merely a do-good concept, but has evolved to become a founding pillar for what innovation is.
So, what do we all want Social Innovation to be?
I believe there is a COLLECTIVE TAP that will reveal this notion. But it needs you (and you and you and you) to turn it on and get it pumping. Bring your child-like nature and become a co-author of this momentous ebook whose time has come.
Want to collaboratively shape a formula that encompasses all of our struggles, our emergent thinking, our visions of the future, and help to boost ideas into powerful transformative action? All integrated into a clarity that defines our desires, our children’s creativity, and their children’s way of life? Then contact me and come play in this sandbox, and become a co-editing author. Come participate in the making of our future – today.
I have created a simple wiki to allow us to collectively define what Social Innovation is – what we want it to be. Read below for my email to join us.
1. Design Ecology vs Developmental Methodology
2. Induced Evolution vs Productive Revolution
3. Leadership Empowered vs Leader Directed
4. Open Network vs Closed Hierarchy
5. Technological Effluence vs Technical Influence
6. Collaborative Exhibition vs Competitive Inhibition
7. Democratic Process vs Socratic Construction
8. Self-Adaptive Identity vs Preordained Behavior
9. Principle Guided vs Ruling Order
10. Abundant Flows vs Limited Capacities
11. Openly Sourced vs Intellectualized Property
12. Fractal Wholes vs Fractured Parts
13. Differentially Awarded vs Isolated Recognition
14. Qualitative Value vs Quantifiable Profit
15. Multi-forms vs Uniform(s)
16. Inspirationally Driven vs Expert Qualified
17. Essential Wisdom vs Credentialed Intelligence 18. Add more SI transforms by clicking here
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How this got started …
As I was applying for a “Social Innovation” position at eBay today. I began to study the meaning and application of the term ‘social innovation’ (SI) and how companies are using it.
So far, I find its comprehension to be inadequate and feel the inherent value of SI is merely within the fetal stages of our knowledge. In one sense this is a good thing, because SI stands for the evolution of an ever evolving understanding of our human creativity. On the other, I see that many people are using the term in replacement of the term ‘sustainability’, while others are using it to identify it with ‘social entrepreneurialism’, and still others overlay it with the idea of capitalism (i.e. social capital) in an attempt to give it value within today’s capitalistic driven economy. Certainly Social Innovation stands at the center of a complex design ecology that is inclusive of all these subject areas. How do we bring this all together?
As I began to sit with the question, “What is Social Innovation?”, I started to write down comparative language as a way to look at, not just what SI is, but also what it isn’t. Or to be more accurate, I wanted to create a visual pattern that could help my brain recognize shifts in our collective thinking and how it is influencing our applied actions.
The result so far is the above list of 15 variations on what I see ‘Social Innovation’ emphasizing, compared to other forms of innovation. It is not a perfect formulation yet. So, in the name of COLLABORATIVE DESIGN, I invite you to help me shape this list into an over-arching description that is meaningful to all of us.
As the list emerges, I think it will be useful to build short paragraphs and imagery that describes the meaning of the term-phrases that we have selected, and show how they differ from each other. In this way, an ‘over’-standing emerges from within the space between two ‘under’-standings, which is a very powerful way to learn together.
Want to participate?
If so, I propose that we all build this list (and ultimately the book) collaboratively. Ideally, a wiki would be useful here, if anyone has suggestions? For now, I started a google wiki at SocialInnovationColab. If you want in on this game, please request wiki editing access by sending me an email with subject line: “yes i want SIcolab editing access”.
If we do this, please have respect for each other’s views by minimizing use of the delete button (LOL!), and be sure to make lots of inquiries about what people are posting before you post your own, using alternative fonts, or the comments section at bottom of each page, etc. Do not assume that you know what a person means, but instead USE INQUIRY with each other to determine similarities or differences in understanding. We will have to create a democratic (or better?) method for agreeing and making decisions on the book’s evolving form. I am open to your suggestions. Also, if anyone has a better wiki solution and/or a wiki collaboration protocol for us to use in the building of this list, I’m sure that would be very helpful.
I’ve posted this invitation to Facebook’s social innovation groups including: SOCAP, SIX, and SIE.
Knowledge is power. Truth in Knowledge is Transformative.
I’m sure I am irritating some of you with my remarks that social capitalism and sustainable business can NOT happen under the existing monetary model, which is now globally applied. I find it interesting that no one has either supported nor refuted this point here.
However, I implore you to consider this as a an extremely important point regarding transformation and real sustainable change. If we wish to create and insert socially responsible innovations into today’s global society, then we ‘must’ also redesign the money system, along with all of our other green, clean, and socially sound cool ideas.
Because money is what ties all of it together and allows for the exchange of those innovations to happen. Since the present monetary system being used for these exchanges is not itself sustainable (even mathematically it is not), then there is no way that any person, organization, or company can insert their genius products or processes into our world without the money system tainting their performance. You may see isolated successes, but if we look closely, we have all seen how 9 out of 10 of even successful inventive endeavors decay over the short or mid term. None of them sustain their power long term. Why? It’s the money.
So, to build a new economy, the money system used must be new as well. It must be invented just like all the other innovations and applied. To do this, we do not have to destroy the existing one. If fact any attempt to do so would cause war and killing like never before seen. No, let’s not go there. Instead a new money system must be built in parallel with the existing world’s money system(s). Then and only then can the amazing creativity and innovations that I see crossing this colorful ‘bridge’ group can actually have a chance of sustainably changing the world for the better.
The first step is to reeducate ourselves on how money actually works, because 99 out of 100 of us have no idea how it works, and in fact believe that it works differently than it really does. This is so dangerous. Knowledge is power right? But ‘truth’ in knowledge is transformative. Watch these two video series below on money and educate yourself on how money really works. They have a U.S. reference, but the money model used here is global, and in fact started in Europe.
After you watch the videos (note it may take a few watches to grock it), I ask: Which of you out there are open to a dialog on the following point:
All higher purpose missions that are inherent in Social Capitalism, Social Innovation, Sustainable Business, Green Technology, and Social Entrepreneurship can not be reached unless the fruit of their labors are exchanged within a new form of money system. Vic
For social entrepreneurship to truly take hold, a redesign of the world’s money systems has to be a part of any complete social innovation plan.
. WHAT SECRET LIES BEHIND THE CLOSED DOORS OF EMERALD CITY?
We all go around wondering why such bad things happen. Why are so many out of work? Why I can’t make ends meet at the end of the month? How come green technologies rarely seem to reach the marketplace? Why do people do such bad things to other people and the planet? Why is it taking so long for sustainability to get implemented? How come corporations are so manipulative? Why is our government made up of people that none of us trust anymore? … WHY?
Sure there’s those of us doing good things out there. But the overall decay of our ecological and social systems are getting worse, not better. We have to face up to this and recognize that you are not some kind of rambling ‘chicken little’ suggesting that ‘the sky is falling’ to say so. … No this is real. Personally, I may be cynical, but I’m an optimist at heart. And over the years, I have also become a realist, willing to look at what is happening under the covers.
ABOUT NEEDED CHANGE – WHERE TO MAKE A HUGE IMPACT?
What if there were a source to our world’s major problems and we had the power to change it? Would you do something about it? What if homelessness and all our other major global problems, like pollution and war, were solvable within just a couple of years? What if paradise was actually at our door step? What if it were so palpable that you could almost taste this future? Would you act knowing that you could help and truly make a difference?
SOCIAL INNOVATION’s ACHILLES HEEL
Many of these questions fall under the trendy movement called ‘Social Innovation‘ or ‘Social Entrepreneurship‘, among others, which are exciting new realms of positive change that is happening all over the planet. Yet, in order to create this wonderful world, we have to first wake up to an unspoken truth. The bad guys are winning, and they are doing so using a weapon that you and I personally use every single day. Do you know what it is? This weapon is the reason that you and I have little or no power, and are feeling more and more disempowered every day.
It also means however, because it’s in my hands, that I am the person who can help to replace the power back to the people. This is so for each of us … for you, and you, and you. And unless we come to terms with this unspoken truth and deal with it, many of our social movements – from the Occupy Movement to the use of clean energy technologies, will eventually fail for all but the elite. I believe one third of the world is headed for this ‘elite’ status. The other two thirds will be enslaved to serve those elites without enough to have a happy life themselves; constantly struggling and being over-worked just to make enough for basic survival. Don’t believe it? Look out your window with different eyes. It’s already happening.
SO HERE’S THE PROBLEM THAT YOU AND I CAN FIX …
Watch the below videos and learn about the weapon each of us wields every day. Drop your denial hats at the door and stay open to what you are about to see. And rather than make vicious remarks in an attempt to deny what you hear, instead begin to ask questions and inquire with each other about what your beliefs are about money and how those beliefs are holding us back from a better world for all, not just a few. Consider what your future role could be in creating a real live sequel to these films.
THE SECRET OF OZ HAS BEEN REVEALED.
Now that you know the secret, what are you going to do about it? Anything? I look forward to this important dialog toward change.
This article by ConfuseOfCalcutta.com is a must read. It helps to describe the critical shift from isolated accumulative information, represented by degrees and the like, to collaborative flows of knowledge, which is only on the fringes of being recognized, let alone accepted within the world’s production-oriented cultures and societies.
The article provides a great summary that addresses a new level of consciousness that emphasizes: adaptive, flowing, dynamic, and learning over established, structural, static, and educated as a basis for today’s thinking, creating, and hiring. I for one consist of the former and believe that this issue is one of the main reasons why many of us have been unable to get jobs, as we are on the front edge of the change curve! These changes in creativity and productivity are also why I believe that intellectual property (IP) design, sharing, and legal practices will continue to decay as open source (OS) becomes the norm.
It is crucial that we deepen our understanding of these new concepts and frame them in ways for others to understand, especially company executives and human resource (HR) people. Vic D
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The authors develop this point into an argument that we need to move away from experience curves to collaboration curves. Experience curves were about the past; they contain historical experience and explicitness and sought to extract value by repeating that experience in military fashion; and, in consequence, marginal utility diminished over time while marginal costs increased, and a classic diminishing-returns model ensued. Collaboration curves, on the other hand, are about the future; they seek to containerise tacit knowledge, the ability to learn, to adapt, to evolve; value is created by making the company better at learning.” Bert-Ola Bergstrand
The Social Enterprise, even in its simplest form, is designed to respond to the Big Shift, as shown below.
Built around flows, not stocks
Underpinned by foundations of trust
Designed to facilitate learning and memory
Making discovery easier
Subscriber-based
Filtered by the network
Making use of collective intelligence
Simplifying pattern recognition
Triggering beyond the tacit: the role of serendipity
Extending beyond the enterprise
[Admit it. You were about to say that’s the longest list of buzzwords you’ve seen without the word “leverage” in it.]
Actually things are a lot more serious than that. The list above is not really about buzzwords. If we behave like they’re buzzwords, we have a fate worse than death awaiting us. We will continue to live in a world where e-mail and document attachments dominate the space that would otherwise be taken up by true collaboration. We need to understand what the terms mean, why they’re important, how to embed them in our day-to-day operations. So let’s look at each phrase in turn and try and figure out what it means in a work environment. Read more …
