complexity, collaboration and unconferencing
Post on 20-Sep-2014
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I was asked by Geelong College to present on Sustainability. I am not a scientist or climate change expert, so I decided to focus my presentation on the stuff I know best. This is a presentation about learning to make the transition to a more more sustainable lifestyle, business, school community or whatever. In advance, apologies for the 'clutter' on a few of the slides.TRANSCRIPT
I started out playful … creative.
This is Geoff Brown
“I am now re-learning how to be creative and play at my work”
“My confidence doesn’t come from success … it comes from not being fearful of making mistakes!”
My Blog www.yesandspace.com.au
My Podcasting Channel www.winkipod.com.au
??So what am I going to focus on
1. Problems!
CLIMATE CHANGEPEAK OIL
“The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook”William James, US pragmatist philosopher
2. New ways of thinking
3. Solutions!
1. Problems!
CLIMATE CHANGEPEAK OIL
Source: http://www.slideshare.net/henriquealves/nature-matters-or-how-to-save-the-planet/
Source: http://www.slideshare.net/henriquealves/nature-matters-or-how-to-save-the-planet/
Source: http://www.slideshare.net/henriquealves/nature-matters-or-how-to-save-the-planet/
98 oil producers in the world98 oil producers in the world
Is Peak Oil a theory?
It’s not a theory for It’s not a theory for these 64these 64 post peak producers post peak producers
Peak oil a theory?
Source: http://www.slideshare.net/henriquealves/nature-matters-or-how-to-save-the-planet/
MEGA-fires are causing us to rewrite the RULES
Source: http://www.slideshare.net/jbrenman/thirst/
Source: http://www.slideshare.net/jbrenman/thirst/
http://www.slideshare.net/jbrenman/thirst/
Interview each other …Interview each other …
• What’s wrong with what you’re doing?• Why are you doing so badly?• What’s the main cause of your difficulty?• Whose fault is it?• What are the other things that make it hard?• Why will it be difficult for you to do any better?
One thing about yourself that you One thing about yourself that you wish to improvewish to improve
??To what extent do problems
inspire us to change
ApproxApprox 6% 6% of the timeof the time
Source: Robinson, L. The voluntary adoption of new practices (unpub.)
What about the science and experts?
Source: http://www.slideshare.net/henriquealves/nature-matters-or-how-to-save-the-planet/
1. More Problems!
A great example of
communicating the science of
Climate Change
BUT … most of what we see & hear
is not simplesimple!
Houston, we have a problem!
"Yes, we need (carbon) pricing. I actually believe it will come country by country, and not by a global agreement.“ Jeffrey Sachs
Professor Garnaut quickly disagreed, warning that without global agreement, every country would put its own interests first.
Why can’t the experts agree!
Aaaaahh!
It’s way too complex
Even the experts don’t know what
will work
??To what extent is Information & Science a trigger of change?
Source: Robinson, L. The voluntary adoption of new practices (unpub.)
Approx Approx
20%20%Source: Robinson, L. The voluntary adoption of new practices (unpub.)
??So what do we focus on to enable
change
… and navigate through the roadblocks?
“The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook”William James, US pragmatist philosopher
2. New ways of thinking are needed
AhAh-Ha-Ha!!
IXIX“Using a single line turn this into
the number 6”
Activity 101
Testing your Assumptions
Tip: Use a pen paper to solve it
S S IXIXThe answer …
Well done if you got it!
What assumptions did you make about the “IX” if you didn’t get it?
What assumptions do you make about tackling climate change and inspiring
change in others?
Understanding Complexity is critical!Sources: http://www.cognitive-edge.com/blogs/dave/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynefin
Known or Simple
Knowable Or Complicated
Complex
Chaotic
Cynefin Domains
Complicated
With enough research, expertise & trial & error … we can predict the outcome
ComplexEven with the best research & expertise … we can’t predict the outcome of this!
Complex
Just try & predict my next move!?
Or this guy!
!!Apologies in advance for some
cluttered slides ahead
Known
Knowable
Complex
Chaotic
Which Domain is your work in?
Like the butterfly effect
Can’t predict what outcomes your actions will have (even the experts don’t know)
Planning doesn’t work as intended
Rational Problem Solving doesn’t work
Work often complicated like building a car
High confidence that desired outcomes will result from your actions (experts usually helpful)
Planning usually works as intended
Rational Problem Solving can work
Work is simple, predictable and repeatable
Problems remain solved
“Best Practice” works as intended
Even Bureaucratic structures can be effective!
Don’t worry about solutions – act quickly to stablise
Each problem is unique
Structures are little help
Source: B. Dick. Complex Social Systems & their facilitation. Conference Paper – AFN 2006.
Knowable
Complexity
1Working in Complexity!
Like human behaviour & climate change
Cause-effect relationships ‘un-knowable’ ahead of time
All you can do is:Probe - Implement lots of small
actions/initiativesSense - Watch closely and notice
what’s working Respond - to support favorable
outcomes & counter the negatives
In Sum
‘let go’ of control of outcomes
probe – sense - respond
??So what about human behaviour?
“Our Behaviour is shaped by those around us … usually subconsciously” Mark Earls. Herd.
“It’s the attributes of the Social Networks that is critical to understand … not the person it starts with” Duncan Watts. Professor of Sociology at Columbia University.
Human Behaviour is Complex too!
??Source: Robinson, L. The voluntary adoption of new practices (unpub.)
To what extent do those around us trigger change?
approxapprox74%74%Source: Robinson, L. The voluntary adoption of new practices (unpub.)
In Sum
It’s about ‘We’ not ‘I’
??So what new approaches do we need
Read this - Clay Shirky. Here Comes Everybody
Listen to this Podcast - Unconferencing. Johnnie Moore & Chris Corrigan. 2007.
The InstitutionCoordination
Consumers ‘create’ content
Consumers ‘consume’ content
Which Way in a
Complex World?
The InstitutionCoordination
Consumers create content
Web 2.0 – Meetup, Twitter, Blogs
Self Organising systems
UnConferencing
Mass Media for consumer consumption
Web 1.0 - Websites
Controlling systems
Traditional Conferences
11Here is 1 specific approach applicable to all groups and communities.
Open Space Open Space TechnologyTechnologyOpen Space Technology is a simple way to run
productive meetings, for five to 2000+ people, and a powerful way to lead any kind of organization, in
everyday practice and extraordinary change.
Participants create the agenda
Open Space Technology
It’s Self Organising
Open Space Technology
OS is about people taking Responsibility for their Passions
In Sum
Unconference your conferences
Invite collaborative content
Value non-experts highly
??So what do we focus on
3. Solutions!
Focus here more
Focus here less
??Why solutions
AgainAgain …Interview each other …Interview each other
• What are you aiming to achieve?• How will you know you’ve achieved it?• What was the best you ever did at this thing?• What went well on that occasion?• What will be the first signs that you’re getting better?• How will other people notice this improvement?
One thing about yourself that you One thing about yourself that you wish to improvewish to improve
Notice the difference your perception of yourself?
Solutions Solutions TalkTalk
Problem TalkDiagnose the problem
Know the causes of the problem
Use this info to address the problem
Academic impulse
Solutions TalkRecognise the solution(s)
Find “counters” – this that contribute to solutions
Build solutions and the problem vanishes
Pragmatic impulse
Source: Solutions For Change Training Notes (2008). www.thesolutionsfocus.co.uk
Solutions Solutions Focus ModelFocus ModelFind what works and do more of it …
ProblemProblemDefining
the Future
Finding what’s
workingSpotting useful qualities/skills
Finding small steps
switchover
Source: Solutions For Change Training Notes (2008). www.thesolutionsfocus.co.uk
In SumFocus on solutions
Unconference
“We” not “I”
Let go of outcomes1. Problems!
2. New ways of thinking
3. Solutions!
People who have inspired meM Earls (2007). Herd – How to change mass behaviour by harnessing our true
nature. JW & Sons. L. Metcalf (1998). Solution Focused Group Therapy – Ideas for Groups in
Private Practice, Schools, Agencies & Treatment Programs. The Free Press.
P. Jackson & M.McKergow (2007). The Solutions Focus – Making Coaching & Change Simple. NB International.
C. Heath & D. Heath (2007). Made to Stick – Why Some Ideas Survive & Others Die. Random House.
G. Reynolds (2008). Presentation Zen – Simple Ideas on Presentation Design & Delivery. New Riders.
C. Shirky (2008). Here Comes Everybody – The Power or Organising Without Organisations. Penguin Press.
D. Roam (2008). The Back of the Napkin – Solving Problems & Selling Ideas with Pictures. Portfolio Group.
P. Madson (2006). Improv Wisdom: Don’t’ Prepare, Just Show Up.
Online stuff that has inspired me
D. Snowden. Cognitive Edge Website Resources and White Papers. http://www.cognitive-edge.com/blogs/dave/
C. Shirky (2008). Institutions vs. Collaboration. TED Conference Talk. Online at http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/clay_shirky_on_institutions_versus_collaboration.html
D. Watts (2008). Word of Mouth for the Real World. Avenue a Razorfish Conference. Available online at http://vid.atdmt.com/v/lp/aarf-marketing/WordofMouthfortheRealWorld.m4v
Group Processes• Open Space Technology - http://www.openspaceworld.org/• Cafe Conversations - http://www.theworldcafe.com/
THANKYOUTHANKYOU!!
Geoff BrownTangent Consulting
www.tangentconsulting.com.au
www.yesandspace.com.au
www.winkipod.com.au