Classroom complexity is a term creeping into the educational policy landscape. With it, we’re seeing many ideas about solutions when what we might need are different ways of thinking. If you have been to school as a teacher, parent, or student recently, you’ll know that the classroom isn’t the same place it once was. As […]
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Preparedness and strategy need to be fit for purpose. This article looks at a recent event in Finland that parallels COVID-19 and illustrates how we need to think of health systems strategy as a dynamic, complexity-ready process, not a static plan.
Seeing What Isn’t Seen: Strategy in Complexity Read More »
The myriad layers of social, political, economic, and climate change are thrusting upon us new ways to learn, to live and to do both with complexity. These are days where even the most unique phrases developed for them seem insufficient. Entanglements, confusion, and uncertainty are all words that are being used describe what the world
To Live and Learn With Complexity Read More »
In a recent podcast, historian Margaret McMillan discusses the complexities of today’s world, observing that historical patterns do not neatly apply to current events. Despite her extensive knowledge, she finds it challenging to provide clear insights. This underscores the overwhelming nature of contemporary issues, further complicated by misinformation and faux wisdom, highlighting the need for wayfinding rather than certainty.
When Complexity Exceeds Wisdom Read More »
It is the time of year in the Northern Hemisphere when we are in our most darkest days and, appropriately, often surrounded with lights. It’s a time of food, reflection, and rest among the bustle of more modern trappings of the holidays and year-end commitments. We are part of the seasons, whether we’ve designed our
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The Fall Into Strategy series is both a play on the season and a metaphor for how we convert intention into action with a plan, by design. Today, we look at the bigger picture of complexity and its role in strategic design. More specifically, we’re going to look at three words: fumbling, stumbling, and forward.
Fumbling and Stumbling Forward: Strategy and Complexity Read More »
Caring is essential for effective leadership, enabling connection and engagement within organizations. It involves attentive listening and intentional actions that foster psychological safety and trust. By prioritizing relational leadership and supportive organizational systems, leaders can motivate teams, manage complexity, and drive innovation, making care integral to their strategic vision and organizational success.
This final post on Strategic Design in the series outlines the integration of theory and practice, emphasizing its adaptability to complex environments. It describes critical steps including context setting, engagement, and envisioning futures. Strategic design fosters effective decision-making and learning, positioning organizations to thrive amid uncertainty through collaborative and informed approaches.
Setting the Table: The Making of Strategy Read More »
As human systems grow increasingly complex, the need for learning and adaptation intensifies. Design-driven evaluation (DDE) merges design thinking with evaluation to enhance accountability and impact. By embedding evaluation within programs and prioritizing user feedback, DDE fosters continuous learning, enabling organizations to effectively navigate change and drive sustainable innovation.
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In this latest in the series on strategic design and complexity, we cast our gaze to the future and the role of foresight in contributing to strategic design. Strategic design involves developing a vision for what you want to become and where you wish to go as an organization, and then shaping a course of
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