VIsionary evaluation is about putting data to our principles and actions and seeing where we’ve come from and where we’re going at the same time. This article explores what it is and what we need to do.
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Big change might come from small actions and the trust-building that comes from making those actions visible. Here’s how to make a big difference as one person.
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Some problems have deep roots, seem intractable and resist change. Our first social innovation might be understanding that change is
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The business of futures is to see what possibilities lay ahead to better anticipate how to meet them when or
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If you’re working toward some sort of collective goals — as an organization, network or even as an individual —
Read moreChange-making is the process of transformation and not to be confused with the transformed outcome that results from such a
Read moreIn social innovation we are at risk of confusing our stories of success for real, genuine impact. Without theories, implementation
Read moreYes, but does it scale? – Question asked at nearly every presentation on a social innovation ever made* It is
Read moreThe same might be true of design, evaluation and complexity if we let it. It’s not a surprise that these three concepts are intimately tied together, as those training to apply design thinking and strategic foresight learn. Perhaps its time to start giving these ideas away, but to do so we first need to rehab their image and apply some design thinking and brand development strategy to all three ideas. As practitioners in any or all of these fields, giving away what we do by educating, reinforcing, and ensuring that the work we do is of the highest quality is a way to lead by example. None of us is likely to change things by ourselves, but together we can do wonders.
Read moreJust as we create path dependencies for one set of values, so too can we do the same for others and with other people. The focus on the outcomes of systems rather than their design is problematic if we want change. Starting with design and values at the outset, being conscious of who we invite in and how we engage them and by remaining contemplative about how these systems unfold and the emergent patterns that shape them, designers of all stripes may be better positioned to create social change rather than just for social norms.
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