Remember when we used to do five and even ten year master and/or strategic plans? Hard to believe but at one point in their history, the Niagara Parks Commission even had a 100 year masterplan. Personally, I struggle to plan meals more than one day out so even five years sounds daunting. Regardless, it does seem some of the best recent planning results are those that reflect a clear sense of values. In large part, it appears those values can...
The questions seem obvious. Why are funders more willing to fund symptoms rather than the underlying root causes? When we know that today's complex issues need collaboration across organizations, silos, and sectors, why is it so darn hard to access multisector funding? Why are we competing for funding when it's so clear that project and systems collaboration is more likely to be the answer? Why do even the most successful projects have to...
As Jeffrey Walker has suggested, Our focus should be more on solving problems through creative collaboration, and less on the establishment and perpetuation of new institutions. In addition, we need to develop and employ system entrepreneurs who are skilled in coordinating systematic approaches to addressing the complex, large-scale problems of our time. It has become very clear that impactful, creative project and systems collaboration will...
Our Values COLLABORATION ASSOCIATES: Our Values We believe that citizens and diverse stakeholders need to be part of developing and owning solutions. As a result we honour people-centric development. We care more about collaboration than silos and believe government, business, and social profits can work together to ensure the systems collaboration required to address complexity. We see value in building capacity for...
The French word vertnissage is used to describe a preview of an art exhibition. When facilitating work done in smaller groups, Instead of having each of them present their results, have each group post their work. Have participants visit the work of other teams. Each participant has three possible ways of commenting silently on the work of his/her colleagues: Writing/sticking a heart shape to show agreement with any point and adding...
Polyworkers is becoming a term to describe gig workers, freelancers, consultants, contractors, free-agents and even solopreneurs. In other words, those who choose to work multiple jobs typically out of desire rather than necessity. The idea’s not new but now the word polyworkers describes those (mostly next-geners) who serve multiple clients and pursue multiple interests.Sources: Rochester Business Journal (paywall) and Forbes.Why is than an...
OECD Study Identifies Six Actions to Achieve SDG Results The report highlights that, while integrating the SDGs into development co-operation can accelerate the achievement of development results, uptake of the SDGs has been “slow and difficult” thus far. Nonetheless, through seven comparative case studies, the report illustrates that the alignment of development co-operation to SDG results is possible. The case studies are conducted...
A Glasgow nightclub is using its patrons’ body heat to warm and cool itself. Read more in this article at Fast Company. Ceiling fans suck hot air into boreholes under the building, where surrounding rock holds it like a battery. Need heat? The system reverses. It’s like human hydrokinetic energy!
It’s safe to say uncertainty is an accurate description of our current reality. The challenges we’re facing in addressing the weaknesses exposed by Covid-19 are unprecedented. For sure, it takes courage to try something different. Especially when we’re tired. It seems so much easier to exploit what we know instead of exploring new strategies for the future. Ironically though, research suggests that explorers have an advantage over...
It is time for all the heroes to go home… It is time to stop waiting for someone to save us. It is time to face the truth of our situation - that we're all in this together, that we all have a voice - and figure out how to mobilize the hearts and minds of everyone in our communities. -- Margaret Wheatley |
