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Five insights for innovative systems change | Apolitical

Five insights for innovative systems change

Deep rooted problems demand deep rooted solutions

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This article is written by Dan Jones, Associate, Social Finance

Covid-19 has exacerbated the challenges we face, but they are not new.

Many have deep and complex roots, and have resisted repeated attempts to address them. Public servants around the world are increasingly interested in systems change —  reorienting our whole approach to this kind of intractable problem, across the public and voluntary sectors, in order to tackle it at the roots.

More than 100,000 people in the UK are at high and imminent risk of being murdered or seriously harmed by a current or family partner or another family member. With no change in this number over the last 15 years, it is clear that the existing approach to domestic abuse is not working.

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The Drive partnership has helped change the UK’s response to domestic abuse at a local and national level. We’ve developed new ways of working with perpetrators, to change their abusive behaviour, which are now being widely adopted.

We’ve influenced policy and funding streams, and reframed the narrative on domestic abuse —  from “Why doesn’t she leave?” to “Why doesn’t he stop?”.

Drive began with partners coming together around a problem they had already identified independently, and a shared ambition for system change

We want to share five insights from our recent report on Drive and systems change, for policymakers and practitioners trying to develop new, more effective responses to intractable social problems:

• Start with a problem, and stay focused on solving it:
• Show that change is possible

• Link local and national
• Get the relationships right
• Tell as well as show

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Five insights for innovative systems change | Apolitical

Self-organisation and political systems Aidan Ward Following Nov 23 · 9 min read

Self-organisation and political systems | by Aidan Ward | GentlySerious | Nov, 2020 | Medium

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Anticipatory innovation governance team is recruiting (due date 16 December)  | LinkedIn

Anticipatory innovation governance team is recruiting (due date 16 December) 

• Published on November 27, 2020

Status is reachablePiret TõnuristInnovation Lead at OECD1 article Following

We are looking to build up our team at the OECD based on the strong interest and growth in the topic of  anticipatory innovation governance. We are looking for specialists in a variety of fields connected to futures thinking, foresight, organisational change, radical innovation, emerging tech, and technology assessment.  

The anticipatory innovation governance team works with governments on understanding transformative change to shape the future in the present. Anticipation is the act of creating knowledge about plausible futures, but innovation is needed to take action based on that information and start actively shaping the future today (read our recent policy note here). Our mission is to help governments be more proactive, rather than reactive and we work with leading governments around the world to help them build up their institutions that would allow them to do that. We are currently working with Finland, Sweden, Slovenia, Ireland, Latvia and many others.  

The team uses a mixture of approaches and methodologies based in innovation theory, futures thinking, foresight, technology assessment, systems thinking, designing thinking, and action research. We use both qualitative and quantitative analysis methods. We care about implementation, not just ideas. We value rigor, creativity, diversity, new perspectives, experimentation and collaboration, but first and foremost a supportive team environment that encourages curiosity and ambition around our mission. 

If this speaks to you and you would like to help us push governments to dare a bit more, consider joining us. In addition to general requirements and core competencies for OECD policy analysts, our team is specifically interested in:  

• Experience in fields related to futures thinking, foresight, organisational change, innovation, emerging tech, and technology assessment 
• An advanced academic degree in related field would be a plus, but is not a requirement 
• Ability to look at problems in a new perspective and an experimental mind-set 
• Experience working in government on the related fields would be highly appreciated, but not a must 
• Proven track record in drafting analyses, information visualisation, presenting findings, and communicating to different audiences 
• Process design and facilitation experience would be an asset  

Our project portfolio is broad and there is ample opportunity to propose new ideas and areas of research. Tasks will vary depending on the projects at hand, but involve research design, action research, data analysis, sense-making, proposing and creating new frameworks, setting up experiments, liaising with governments, building networks of experts and public officials, and leading workshops and seminars. 

This position is based in Paris, France and is on a one-year fixed-term contract with option to renew. OECD is also open to teleworking arrangements. The starting  monthly salary could start at 6130 EUR, plus allowances based on eligibility, exempt of French income tax. While either English or French fluency is required by the OECD, the anticipatory innovation governance team’s current daily working language is English. While we will make our decisions as quickly as possible, the full OECD recruitment process could take several months.  

How to apply: 

• Submit your application to the OECD centralised application  by 16 December (23:59 pm CET) under the call for Policy Analysts at the Public Governance Directorate (Job Number: 13980) 

If you have any questions, please e-mail us at opsi@oecd.org 

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Anticipatory innovation governance team is recruiting (due date 16 December)  | LinkedIn

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Programme Manager for Map the System | Saïd Business School, University of Oxford | LinkedIn

Programme Manager for Map the System

Saïd Business School, University of Oxford

Oxford, GB

Saïd Business School, Park End Street, Oxford

Grade 7: £32,817 – £40,311 (with a discretionary range to £44,045) p.a.

We are looking for an innovative, outgoing and highly organised Programme Manager to join the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship on a fixed term contract to July 2021, the Skoll Centre has been funded by the Skoll Foundation since 2004 on a 3-year rolling basis. The current 3 year period comes to an end on July 31 2021 and the Skoll Centre Team are in the process of submitting a new grant application. This position, like all others in the Skoll Centre, is funded until 31st July 2021.

An initiative of the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, Map the System is a global competition that challenges students to think differently about social and environmental change. Tackling global challenges starts with understanding a problem and its wider context, rather than jumping straight into a business plan or an idea for a quick fix. Students identify a social or environmental issue they care about and work together to explore, probe, and research all the connecting elements and factors around it. Students compete to present their findings at a Global Final event in Oxford.

An explosion of interest in Map The System’s novel approach has fuelled the programme’s rapid growth. Engaging over 1,100 groups of students at 34 universities worldwide in 2019, the programme is expanding by over 50% annually. The Programme Manager for Map the System will play a leading role in the programme’s continued growth and impact.

The Programme Manager will be an integral part of the growing team at the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, one of the world’s leading university social impact centres. The Skoll Centre accelerates the impact of entrepreneurial activity that drives systemic solutions to society’s greatest challenges.

The successful applicant for this role will have experience in designing and leading strategic, social impact-related programmes or projects, experience of managing budgets, be both strategic and hands on and have excellent interpersonal skills.

To apply for this role please submit a CV and covering letter by 12.00 noon on Monday 7 December 2020.

Contact Person : Bryony Groves Vacancy ID : 148521

Contact Phone : 07710181944 Closing Date & Time : 07-Dec-2020 12:00

Contact Email : bryony.groves@sbs.ox.ac.uk

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Programme Manager for Map the System | Saïd Business School, University of Oxford | LinkedIn

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Overcoming Rancor

Following up on the American Cybernetic Society’s very successful Global Conversation in September, on Saturday December 6th at 12 pm (EST), ASC will be hosting  a presentation by outgoing president Michael Lissack. The presentation will be approximately 30 minutes to be followed by a 60 minute faciliated conversation. 

We are exploring the idea of continuing the Global Conversation by initiating a 
Ongoing series of presentations/conversations, with the goal of increasing the opportunity for conversation about cybernetics. 

Details 
Date:  December 6, 2020

Time: 12 noon Eastern Standard Time (9am Pacific, 5 pm Greenwich, 6pm Berlin) 

Presenter: Michael Lissack

Connecting: Via Zoom. Link will be emailed shortly before the talk. 

Open To: Registrants for the September Global Conversation, as well as other ASC Member wishing to participate.  (Registration is not required.) 

Progress seldom comes from hate: how to use a Cybernetics perspective to overcome rancor 

2020 can be described as the year of Covid-19 but it likely will also be regarded as a year in which societal and political divisions in the US devolved into unmitigated rancor.  Hatred may fuel emotions but seldom does it lead to meaningful change.  At the level of a group or society, meaningful change can only happen when members have a way to work together.  The energy required for hatred and for deliberate indifference toward those with whom we disagree can be better employed in the development of the new.  Historically this tends to happen through the creation or elevated focus on an external common enemy.  Cybernetic thinking suggests an alternative: through an examination of presuppositions and entailments observers can discover and amplify hidden commonalities amongst differing perspectives and positions.  The talk will focus on how to do this with a goal of promoting such dialogical exercises in the months ahead.

See materials to be posted at http://overcomingrancor.com

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Overcoming Rancor

pdf: http://www2.math.uic.edu/~kauffman/VarelaCSR.pdf

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A CALCULUS FOR SELF-REFERENCE: International Journal of General Systems: Vol 2, No 1

A CALCULUS FOR SELF-REFERENCE

J. FRANCISCO &G. VARELA

Pages 5-24

Received 15 Aug 1974, Accepted 03 Oct 1974, Published online: 31 May 2007

• Download citation
• https://doi.org/10.1080/03081077508960828

Abstract

An extension of the calculus of indications (of G. Spencer Brown) is presented to encompass all occurrences of self-referential situations. This is done through the introduction of a third state in the form of indication, a state seen to arise autonomously by self-indication. The new extended calculus is fully developed, and some of its consequences for systems, logic and epistemology are discussedINDEX TERMS: Self-reference, self-referential systems, calculus of indications, paradoxes, autonomy

pdf: http://www2.math.uic.edu/~kauffman/VarelaCSR.pdf

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A CALCULUS FOR SELF-REFERENCE: International Journal of General Systems: Vol 2, No 1

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Christopher Alexander: Life in Buildings (Extended Trailer)

We are honored to be able to premiere the extended trailer for this documentary film project:

Christopher Alexander: Life in Buildings
The film is an insightful profile of one of the most important and fascinating figures in the design world over the last half century.  It is a comperehensive exploration of Christopher Alexander’s ideas, building project, publications, influence, and legacy, with extensive details and interviews.   Sections will deal with his remarkable influence on the software world, as well as his more recent work and its potential significance.

The full documentary is still under development.  Donations in support of its completion (including travel to conduct interviews and complete photography of works) will be gratefully received (see below).

View the extended trailer here:

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Christopher Alexander: Life in Buildings (Extended Trailer)

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Meekaale Brockman on Twitter: ““Alternating Repetition,” perhaps there is something monotonous about the mind map tree structure, a lack of some complementary alternation? https://t.co/2cF7Xl7DmF” / Twitter

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(1) Nuclear Disasters and Systems Thinking: Part 1/3: Three Mile Island, USA | LinkedIn

Nuclear Disasters and Systems Thinking: Part 1/3: Three Mile Island, USA

• Published on November 24, 2020

TJ GokcenAimi and Aimi Analytics Chief Software Architect4 articles Following

Lately I became interested in nuclear reactors. Well, nuclear reactor disasters to be exact. This led me to read about the nuclear reactor incidents happened in the last 60 years or so and slowly a pattern started to emerge.

A lot of the accidents may seem like they have a human hand in them but if you look at them closely you will find errors caused by the system and human errors are just a natural extension of the system and were preventable most of the time. At least, the consequences could have been much less.

I am not a nuclear reactor expert and this article is not about the pros and cons of nuclear energy; nor is it about better nuclear reactor design. It is, however, about systems thinking, the importance of understanding a system, and the errors that a system causes to implement a continual improvement culture.

I chose 3 nuclear disasters from 3 different countries to show that culture does not play a role when it comes to ignoring errors coming from a system.

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(1) Nuclear Disasters and Systems Thinking: Part 1/3: Three Mile Island, USA | LinkedIn

Truth and Trust: Maturana and Von Foerster

8 Aug 2012

ascybernetics

The first of a series of three 30 minute videos produced by the American Society for Cybernetics and Change Management Systems, directed by Pille Bunnell, 1998. This one is about Science and Reality.

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Truth and Trust: Maturana and Von Foerster – YouTube

Beer’s Principles For Good Government in the COVID-19 Crisis

Jeremy Gross

Beer’s Principles For Good Government in the COVID-19 Crisis Jeremy Gross

Beer’s Principles For Good Government in the COVID-19 Crisis

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What Is an Individual? Biology Seeks Clues in Information Theory. | Quanta Magazine

What Is an Individual? Biology Seeks Clues in Information Theory.

To recognize strange extraterrestrial life and solve biological mysteries on this planet, scientists are searching for an objective definition for life’s basic units.

Jordana CepelewiczStaff Writer

July 16, 2020

More than half a billion years ago, during the Ediacaran Period, a surreal world of life overran the ocean floor. Its bizarre, soft-bodied animals had physical forms that defy the imagination: quilted blobs and ribbed discs, segmented tubes and upturned bells, tapered spindles and slender cones. They were perhaps the planet’s first large multicellular organisms — but they soon went extinct without leaving behind any modern descendants; trace fossils in ancient slabs of sandstone and quartzite are all that remain of those utterly weird and fantastical creatures.

Because of that weirdness, paleontologists still debate even the most basic questions about them: how they developed, how they ate and reproduced, even where one fossilized individual leaves off and another begins. Were those animals single organisms or colonies of smaller individuals, akin to the Portuguese man-of-war? Where did their jellylike bodies end and their environment begin?

The task of distinguishing individuals can be difficult — and not just for scientists aiming to make sense of a fragmented fossil record. Researchers searching for life on other planets or moons are bound to face the same problem. Even on Earth today, it’s clear that nature has a sloppy disregard for boundaries: Viruses rely on host cells to make copies of themselves. Bacteria share and swap genes, while higher-order species hybridize. Thousands of slime mold amoebas cooperatively assemble into towers to spread their spores. Worker ants and bees can be nonreproductive members of social-colony “superorganisms.” Lichens are symbiotic composites of fungi and algae or cyanobacteria. Even humans contain at least as many bacterial cells as “self” cells, the microbes in our gut inextricably linked with our development, physiology and survival.

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What Is an Individual? Biology Seeks Clues in Information Theory. | Quanta Magazine