In the previous posts in this summer series, we looked at what it means to understand complexity and how it affects our world. In this post we connect systems thinking, strategic design and transformation together to show how they fit and why its useful to think of them together. Much of our professional world is […]
Systems Thinking, Strategic Design and Transformation Read More »
In this latest in our series on strategic design in complex times, we look at the ways in which design methods, tools, and thinking can shape systems and channel our intentions. This is strategic design. For more information, check out the earlier posts on complexity, strategy and introductions to strategic design. The aim is to
Strategic Design: Bridging Complexity, Planning, & Evaluation for Impact Read More »
Leadership in complexity comes down to three words that, if lived by, can transform organziations and navigate uncertainty with grace. These are: humilty, inquiry and agility. Strategy involves leadership. Knowing what to do when there is uncertainty is among the great challenges that complexity poses. There aren’t ‘best practices’ that enable tried and true results,
Leadership for Complexity: Humility, Inquiry, and Agility Read More »
Among the great challenges of compexity and disruption is knowing what to look at and how to make sense of what you see. Without training your senses, you may be going in blind. The idea of seeing things might be natural, but it still requires work. Many natural things require our effort, which is why
The Strategy Blindness Problem: Training Your Senses for What Counts Read More »
Strategy isn’t just about planning—it’s about preparing to meet the future, to shape it, and not just react to what comes our way. In conditions of complexity, the organizations that invest in thinking clearly are the ones that perform better, adapt faster, and lead with confidence. Why engage in strategy making? Just as a sailor
Strategy for Leadership By Design: A Brief Introduction Read More »
There are many myths about what makes a strategy and it’s role in dealing with complex (and non-complex) situations. Understanding strategy is how we navigate and journey through complexity; thus, it’s important to look at what it is and isn’t. To begin our series on strategic design and leadership in complex times, I referred to
From Complexity to Action: The Role of Strategy Read More »
In the previous post, we looked at what complexity is and left with a metaphor of sailing to describe the ways in which we can understand complexity. In this post, we look at how to navigate complexity and ask: what does that mean for what we do and how we do it? Complexity is a
Navigating Complexity: Using Strategic Design Read More »
Complexity is a word we hear more and more. Understanding what it means in practice can help us navigate it with greater confidence. What do we mean we talk about complexity? It’s everywhere living systems reside, yet it’s also a deeply misunderstood or even mysterious subject. There is an entire field of study that looks
What We Talk About When We Talk About Complexity Read More »
Most of us have not seen a rhinoceros in the wild. We might have seen a rhino at the zoo and maybe on television. Only a few of us who live outside Africa have been fortunate enought to see one of these beautiful creatures in its natural habitat. Imagine we’d never seen a rhinoceros in
Rhinoceros In The Wild: System Models and Reality Read More »
When undertaking strategic planning for organizations operating in the complex space of health and human services, how do you account for creating meaningful ways to learn and adapt? Developmental Evaluation is how. Developmental Evaluation is a means to provide evaluative insight to guide the evolution of your program, but did you know it can be
Developmental Evaluation and Strategy Read More »
