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Towards the idea that complexity IS a theory of change

November 7, 2018 By Cynefin, Design, Emergence, Evaluation, Featured, Learning 20 Comments

In the world of non-profits, social change, and philanthropy it seems essential that change agents provide funders with a theory of change.  This is nominally a way for funders to see how an organization intends to make change in their work.  Often on application forms, funders provide guidance, asking that a grantee provide an articulation of their theory of change and a logic model to show how, step by step, their program will help transform something, address an issue or solve a problem. In my experience, most of the time “theory of change” is really just another word for “strategic …

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Tuesday Ryan-Hart’s work on power

October 22, 2018 By Art of Hosting, Democracy, Power

Since October 2011, when I first lay on the floor and listened to Tuesday Ryan-Hart teach at the Art of Social Justice in New York  held thirty-five blocks from where Occupy Wall Street was just getting started, I have been intrigued, challenged and enamoured by her work on these issues. She has been working hard for the past 8 years to articulate a model of power, justice and relations that can deeply inform the Art of Hosting community of practitioners, certainly in the North American context if not elsewhere in the world.  Tuesday’s work has made me a better person. She …

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Working with principles: some thoughts and an exercise

October 15, 2018 By Chaordic design, Cynefin, Design, Featured 2 Comments

I’m continuing to refine my understanding of the role and usefulness of principles in evaluation, strategy and complex project design.  Last week in Montreal with Bronagh Gallagher, we taught a bit about principles-based evaluation as part of our course on working with complexity. Here are some reflections and an exercise. First off, it’s important to start with the premise that in working in complexity we are not solving problems, but shifting patterns. Patterns are the emergent results of repeated interactions between actors around attractors and within boundaries. To make change in a complex system therefore, we are looking to shift …

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Struggling to pick up the trash in the face of weaponized evaluation

October 7, 2018 By Democracy, Evaluation, Featured 5 Comments

Most of my work lies with the organizations of what Henry Mintzberg calls “The plural sector.” These are the organizations tasked with picking up the work that governments and corporations refuse to do. As we have sunk further and further into the 40 year experiment of neo-liberalism, governments have abandoned the space of care for communities and citizens especially if that care clashes with an ideology of reducing taxes to favour the wealthy and the largely global corporate sector. Likewise on the corporate side a singular focus on shareholder return and the pursuit of capital friendly jurisdictions with low tax …

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Welcoming you to another Art of Hosting

October 2, 2018 By Art of Hosting, Facilitation, Featured, Leadership, Learning

Its that time of year when we are getting ready to invite people back to Bowen Island for our annual Art of Hosting.  Since 2004, folks have travelled from all over the world to come to this gathering. Over four days and three nights, we will be diving in with each to explore powerful tools for participatory leadership, engagement and hosting conversations. Our team this year consists of myself, Caitlin Frost, Amanda Fenton and Teresa Posakony, four long time Art of Hosting stewards who have extended their practice into other related fields. These are some of my closest colleagues in …

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