SOCIAL INNOVATION

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SOCIAL INNOVATION

• Getting to Maybe.

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We know two things with absolute certainty1)
that in twenty years, even ten, our world will
look very different2) that the decisions and
actions we take today will significantly shape
our emergent future.
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However, we can have no certainty about what the
future will be. It is not a good time for control
freaks. Eric Young
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Social Innovation GenerationSiG_at_WaterlooSiG_at_McC
onnellSiG_at_PlanSiG_at_MaRSSiG_at_Tides
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Social InnovationTHINKINGRELATIONSHIPSPASSIO
N
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SOCIAL INNOVATIONInterconnected, complex
solutions to complex problemsNew IdeasNew
ResourcesNew CollaborationsNew Processes
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Necessary conditions for social innovation

• Pull in the form of effective demand
• Push in the form of effective supply
• Effective strategies and organizations to
  connect the two (bees and trees)
• Agency/leadership in the form of innovators and
  institutional entrepreneurs

12/12/2009
NESTA -www.nesta.org.uk
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COMPLEXITYsimple, complicated, complexComplex
problems must be addressed with complex solutions.
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Single individuals, single actions, single
organizations have a role to play,
howeverComplex systems comprise RELATIONSHIPS.
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If building a house was like social innovation,
at one point, the house would begin to build
itself.Eric Young
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Applications to social innovation
Dynamics of social innovation - organizational
level
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The idea is developed
An established innovation
Stored
Capital
Released
Variety
Sameness
The idea is launched as a product, process or
organization
An idea is born
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What is needed

• More mature sources of finance, including sources
  of finance that allow genuine risk taking
• More developed exchanges and intermediaries
• Stronger knowledge and experience base
• Stronger incentives and encouragement for other
  organizations to adopt innovative policies and
  practices.

12/12/2009
adapted from NESTA-www.nesta.org.uk
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Group Activity

• Put on a social innovation lens and discuss at
  your tables how this community (individuals,
  organizations, networks, sectors, the WHOLE) take
  steps forward to work together in NEW and
  DIFFERENT ways to achieve desired impacts for
  this poverty reduction plan.
• Concentrate on assigned focus area but feel free
  to discuss others as well.

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What kind of leadership is needed to to
guide successfully towards and throughout new
ways of doing things?
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Social Change Model of LeadershipConsciousness
of SelfCommitmentCongruenceCollaborationContro
versy with CivilityCommon PurposeCitizenship
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CHANGE-MAKERSGoing forward, we must learn to
be adept at making CHANGE. Its an essential
modern competency.
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GROUP ACTIVITYTake a few minutes to consider
what role or roles youand your organization can
play in moving this poverty reduction strategy
forwardWhere can you show leadership - in
increasing knowledge and understanding- in
developing necessary skills- in initiating or
confirming various relationships - taking action
steps forward
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Getting to Maybe
Getting to Maybe

• Community Conversations May 08
• Cheryl Rose
• SiG_at_Waterloo

How the World is Changed
Cheryl Rose - Social Innovation Generation-
University of Waterloo
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- Believe in yourself, your neighbors, your work,
?your ultimate attainment of more complete
happiness. ?It is only the farmer who
faithfully plants seeds in the ?Spring, who reaps
a harvest in Autumn.?- B. C. Forbes
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• Farmers dont grow crops. They create the
  conditions for crops to grow. - Gareth Morgan
  

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Social Innovation
Getting to Maybe
Stand Still
The Door Opens
Powerful Stranger
Hope and History
Let it Find You
Cold Heaven
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The door itself makes no promises - it is only a
door - Adrienne Rich