adaptation Archives

Post-Pandemic Planning (Strategy in a Dangerous Time)

December 17, 2021January 4, 2022 Cameron D. Norman 913 Viewsadaptation, adaptive strategy, decision making, design, evaluation, innovation, persistence, psychology, strategic design, strategy

At the time of this writing, the world is wrestling with a new fast-moving variant of the COVID-19 virus (Omicron)

design systems thinking

Design for Chaos

March 10, 2020March 10, 2020 Cameron D. Norman 1333 Viewsadaptation, chaos, complexity, design, developmental design, developmental evaluation, evaluation, movement, principles, principles-focused evaluation, systems thinking

Massive change often prompts fear, confusion, and a sense of chaos. How we manage and mitigate this is all about

innovation

Innovation: The Simple Definition

October 28, 2019 Cameron D. Norman 1293 Viewsadaptation, circular economy, design, evaluation, healthcare, printing press, sustainability, value

Innovation definitions can sometimes create more confusion than clarity. Looking at what it is and does can change that. Innovation

innovation psychology systems thinking

What’s in your baggage?

April 19, 2017April 19, 2017 Cameron D. Norman 4571 Viewsadaptation, compassion, complexity, design thinking, emotional baggage, evaluation, love, mindful organizations, mindfulness, psychology, reflective practice, strategy, systems thinking, wellbeing, work

Social and emotional baggage is what we bring with us and, like the real thing, it’s all in what we

innovation systems thinking

What’s the big idea and how are you going to make it real?

February 6, 2014 Cameron D. Norman 1558 Viewsadaptation, Albert Einstein, design thinking, discovery, Herbert Simon, innovation, social innovation, Steve Jobs, strategy

Concepts like design thinking and developmental evaluation are best used when they help ask big questions before seeking answers. How

design education & learning evaluation innovation systems thinking

Developmental Design and The Innovator’s Mindset

August 16, 2013August 16, 2013 Cameron D. Norman 1935 Viewsadaptation, Android, anthropology, Apple, attractor, Blackberry, complexity, design thinking, developmental design, developmental evaluation, evaluation, Globe and Mail, Google, innovation, Instagram, iPad, iPhone, iPod, leadership, mobile phones, multimedia, observation, photography, resilience, Samsung, Steve Jobs, strategy, systems thinking, technology, video, Vine

Blackberry, once the ‘must have’ device is no longer so and may no longer even exist. Looking back on how

education & learning evaluation psychology

Complexity, Innovation and Fear

January 30, 2010May 25, 2012 Cameron D. Norman 1034 Viewsadaptation, complexity, education, fear, innovation, learning, Middle East, psychology, Seth Godin, social innovation, social media, systems thinking, teams

Complexity can induce fear and fear is a big reason why people don’t innovate. There are reasons for this, but also solutions. This post explores some of them.

education & learning health psychology

The Food Bank Model of Education and the Tyranny of Resiliency

September 5, 2009May 23, 2012 Cameron D. Norman 856 Viewsadaptation, community, education, food banks, food security, food systems, innovation, learning, psychology, resiliency, social determinants of health, systems thinking

Resiliency enables us to bounce back from adversity, but like an elastic band too much stretching can lead to breakdown. Food banks, once a stop-gap for food security are now a model for education. Are we stretching a little too far?