Alan Hudson’s 2023 – Systemic practices for complex social challenges
SSIR Causal pathways event – sharing recording Fri, Jan 27
Date of engagement
Fri, Jan 27
My comment
If you registered for the SSIR Causal Pathways webinar on Wednesday but weren’t able to attend, the recording is well worth a watch.
Great presentations, and wonderful discussion of the challenge of generalizability and how causal analysis – even in the challenging realm of complex, contextual causality – can be helpful in that regard. I loved the responses from Jewlya Lynn and Matthew Carr!
“We’re always trying to generalize. Much better to generalize, or not, on the basis of good causal analysis and methods that take complexity seriously.” I paraphrase :-)
The slide deck is here https://lnkd.in/e_AXpzXm
And the website for the Causal Pathways initiative is here https://lnkd.in/e-XphaGe
Get involved and help to shape the emergence of monitoring, evaluation and learning that can better support effective and collaborative engagement around complex and systemic challenges.
Thanks to Stanford Social Innovation Review for hosting the event, to the Walton Family Foundation for supporting such an important initiative, and to everyone who’s been involved.
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
complexity
evaluation
context(s)
causality
Engagement stats
16
SSIR Causal pathways event, and intro to that LinkedIn group Fri, Jan 27
Date of engagement
Fri, Jan 27
My comment
Glad to be part of this group.
I’ve followed the evolution of the initiative pretty closely, including via Tom Aston (thanks Tom!) and appreciated the SSIR webinar a couple of days ago.
I was particularly interested to hear the discussion around generalization/external validity in the Q&A, a set of issues that’s been a significant focus for me for many years [one of my go-tos on this is Martin J. William’s mechanism mapping paper, which is very similar to the Mary Ann Bates and Rachel Glennerster SSIR paper on the generalizability puzzle which came out at the same time].
While there’s more to discuss about what sorts of generalizations might (and won’t) be possible in the realm of complex contextual causality – Matthew and Jewlya’s responses (from minute 42 to 47 of the recording) were really great. I also very much appreciated Jewlya’s clear response to the question about the relationship between systems mapping and causal analysis.
FYI, I wouldn’t describe myself as an evaluator (and am pretty sure that most evaluators wouldn’t put me in that category!), but supporting collaborative learning that can strengthen the capacity of systems to address complex challenges is very much my thing.
So, working out what sort of MEL can support that collaborative learning (and action) is definitely something I’m exploring, on various fronts, including the UNDP M&E Sandbox work that Søren Haldrup is leading.
Looking forward to seeing how this important initiative evolves, and has an impact, and to staying involved.
Oh, until recently I was the Executive Director of Global Integrity, with a strategy centred on supporting adaptive approaches to addressing complex challenges. I’m now freelance, exploring similar terrain, but with more flexibility to focus on the things I’m truly passionate about.
I’m based in Brighton, by the sea, in the UK, having spent 6 years in DC (which makes deciding on centred or centered a pain!)
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
complexity
evaluation
context(s)
causality
Engagement stats
4
Comment on “political settlements and development” book review on Duncan Green blog Mon, Feb 6
Date of engagement
Mon, Feb 6
My comment
Political settlements analysis is an important and conceptually strong strand of political economy analysis more broadly, so it’s interesting to hear and read about the latest evolution of thinking on political settlements and to read the back and forth in the comments.
For me, typologies of contexts are useful to the extent that they support the emergent learning in particular contexts that is needed to address specific challenges with complex and contextual causes. And, to go a step further, if they are found useful by people in the particular contexts who are trying to address specific challenges.
I guess this is a more general version of Kathy Bain’s question about whether national PSAs are useful for addressing specific problems at more local levels.
So then the question is what sorts of typologies of context can best support efforts to understand and address the dynamics that hold specific challenges in place in particular contexts?
Thanks for the RISE link too Brian. Perhaps that will convince me of the practical value of typologies of context, perhaps in support of in-context emergent and collaborative learning.
On reflection, perhaps this makes ideal types more useful.
Have participants in particular countries consider where they/their country is in terms of the ideal type and then use that analysis to inform the approach they take
So, the ideal typing is a way of helping users to make use of information/examples from various contexts.
In effect they would be doing a short-hand version of what Martin J Williams talks about as policy adaptation assessment
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
context(s)
political economy dynamics
typologies
Comment on Systems Innovation Network post on new organizational forms as ways of addressing "failing systems"
Date of engagement
Tue, Feb 7
My comment
With reference to the piece by Systems Innovation on Decentralizing Organizations, the "failing" of systems can also be because what might seem like a dysfunctional system to some people (even many or most people) works rather well to serve the interests of some powerful players.
So then the question for initiatives that seek to change systems by organizing them differently, is whether and how new organizational models (e.g. more decentralized, distributed) can help to shift the power dynamics within a system that is shaped by powerful actors who feel it serves their interests, and whether/how those changes can be made in the context of powerful opposition.
Most of my work has focused on corruption and related governance challenges in the global development space – oh, and I live in a post-Brexit UK beset by governance challenges – so that’s where I’m coming from.
How do you get the (powerful and corrupt) turkeys to vote for christmas (measures that will address corruption and curb their power) as Dan Hough from the University of Sussex Centre for the Study of Corruption put it in relation to the 2022 Transparency International International Anti-Corruption Conference https://lnkd.in/e-eCDuug
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
power
organisations
Engagement stats
10
ChatGPT and causal analysis Wed, Feb 8
Date of engagement
Wed, Feb 8
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
artificial intelligence
Comment on “the systems work of social change” book review on Duncan Green’s blog Thu, Feb 9
Date of engagement
Thu, Feb 9
My comment
Comment on Duncan’s blog
Great to see your review of this excellent book Duncan. I also featured it in my monthly updates in 2021 – https://www.globalintegrity.org/2021/11/08/open-and-adaptive-november-reads/ and my full notes are here https://tinyurl.com/yfsn43dr
As well as the book, I’d strongly recommend other work from the Collective Change Lab (where Cynthia Rayner is based, with a focus on systems and storytelling), which has been very inspiring for me over the last 18 months and informs my current explorations around embracing complexity, nurturing relationships and catalyzing collaborative learning for social change.
John Kania and team (including Katherine Milligan, Juanita Zerda, Cynthia Rayner and more) have put out a series of excellent blogposts, podcasts and webinars over the last year, including “the relational work of systems change” which was the most popular Stanford Social Innovation Review piece of 2022. https://ssir.org/articles/entry/the_relational_work_of_systems_change
I’ve got a stash of most of these resources, and notes from many of them. Happy to share with anyone who’s interested. Oh, and there’s a another good review of the book from the Daily Maverick, in South Africa https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-10-19-the-hidden-systems-work-that-has-the-potential-to-change-the-world-as-we-know-it/
Comment on LinkedIn
Great to see Duncan Green’s review of the Systems Work of Social Change by Cynthia Rayner + Dr. François Bonnici today.
It’s a wonderful book, and through it I got to know the amazing work of the Collective Change Lab, including the most popular Stanford Social Innovation Review piece of 2022, on the relational work of systems change. https://lnkd.in/dgBNEhed
My notes from the book are here https://t.co/ygiRFu3BG1
I’ve also got a stash of notes from podcasts, webinars and blogposts from the Collective Change Lab, which I’m happy to share. Feel free to drop me a line.
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
complexity
systems change
relationships
collaboration
Engagement stats
23 (linkedin)
OGP Strategy and Systems Innovation Network paper on governance in an age of complexity Mon, Feb 13
Date of engagement
Mon, Feb 13
My comment
Today, I’ve had a look at a paper on Governance in an Agenda of Complexity, by Misha Kaur, Adriana Rantcheva + Joss Colchester at/for the Systems Innovation network, a network that I’ve been pleased to get to know over the last year or so.
Lots to like in both, and so many connections and opportunities for learning about new (more systemic, more participatory, more adaptive, more learning-centred) models of governance and public policy that are better able to address complex social, economic and environmental challenges.
Sign up for a session on the Systems Innovation Network’s paper, and about a Governance Hub that the network is planning to launch, this Friday at 2.30 UK time. https://t.co/qBtSCidrWY
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
complexity
systems innovation
open governance
Engagement stats
37
Polarities in action, continuums in context Mon, Feb 20
Date of engagement
Mon, Feb 20
My comment
Polarities in action, continuums in context
Another great piece by Rachel Botsman about strengths and weaknesses being two sides of the same coin, and that the appropriate mix of behaviours or actions depends on the context in question.
Rachel’s piece reminds me, as various things do at the moment, of the super-interesting work of Barry Johnson on polarities. Or, as he puts it in the sub-title to his "And" book: making a difference by leveraging polarity, paradox or dilemma.
For a while, I had a diagram on my whiteboard setting out one of the key polarities (and two associated continuums) that I was grappling with – autonomy and interdependence [my Ph.D. was on sovereignty and globalization, so this is a long-standing interest …]
I would then use that framework to reflect on whether I was comfortable with how things were going in that regard, how I was managing (aka living) that polarity, and what actions I might take to get back into what felt like an appropriate balance/flow. Me and my coach Becky Pfordresher spent several sessions exploring this framework, with Becky helpfully nudging me beyond analysis and to action!
I’m gonna dive back in to Barry Johnson’s work. I’d be interested to hear from others who have made use of his, and similar, frameworks for reflection. I’m also gonna listen to Rachel’s conversation with Susan Cain about quiet, bitter/sweet and "rethinking dualities". Podcast here: https://lnkd.in/eWGBydBC
As Rachel puts it: “When you start to reframe ideas and concepts around continuums, it is absolutely transformative in how you think.”
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
polarities
continuums
Engagement stats
3
What does radical collaboration really mean? Wed, Feb 22
Date of engagement
Wed, Feb 22
My comment
What does radical collaboration really mean? And, HOW to make it happen.
Such a great piece by Cynthia Rayner + Katherine Milligan at Collective Change Lab, from September 2022, in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals.
Top tips for nurturing radical collaboration:
1) Start with rituals
2) Be heart-centric
3) Set your intention to share power
4) Invest in the relatedness of everyone involved
5) Recognize that each of us is part of the problem as well as the solution
“Will these baby steps catalyze radical collaboration? Not overnight they won’t. But try sticking with them and keep experimenting with radical ways of supporting the broader set of partners you are working with to step out of their default transactional mode.”
Intrigued? Video of rich discussion with John Kania + Juanita Zerda addressing: "How Can We Move Beyond Transactional Towards Relational Collaboration?" here https://lnkd.in/euvdtxQk
Pairs very nicely with the wonderful work of the The Relationships Project on moving away from transactional quid pro quo relationships to ones that are about kindness, love and collaborative learning. https://lnkd.in/efCUUjYW
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
collaboration
systems change
compassion
Engagement stats
9
Collective Change Lab resources and notes stash Thu, Feb 23
Date of engagement
Thu, Feb 23
My comment
The work of the Collective Change Lab has been a big inspiration for me over recent years.
A couple of weeks ago, I offered to share my stash of Collective Change Lab resources. A few people expressed interest, so I’ve pulled together the various resources along with my notes on some of the Lab’s wonderful work.
There are other and better entry points to the work of the Collective Change Lab, for instance
However, maybe my sharing will inspire someone else to dive deeper into the work of the lab and the relational work of systems change.
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
systems change
compassion
relationships
Engagement stats
20
Randomista Mania – resharing of Tom Aston blogpost Mon, Feb 27
Date of engagement
Mon, Feb 27
My comment
Randomista Mania
“The RCT-industrial complex has truly gotten out of control”.
Powerful piece by Thomas Aston.
Is it too much to hope for more evidence-based analysis of when experimental approaches are, and are not, appropriate, from those who proclaim the importance of evidence-based analysis?
Plenty of opportunity here for those in powerful positions at funders (perhaps USAID), foundations (perhaps Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) and leading development think tanks (perhaps Center for Global Development), whose approach to RCTs has evolved from methodological ideology to reasoned pragmatism to step up and contribute to a more constructive conversation.
Pretty soon – 3 years? – it’s gonna be embarrassing (as well as seriously damaging) to still be making the case for RCTs as the preferred means (the Gold Standard, lol) of evaluating efforts to address complex social challenges.
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
complexity
evaluation
RCTs
Engagement stats
14
Reposting re Toby Lowe MLE wasafiri event Wed, Mar 8
Date of engagement
Wed, Mar 8
URL of engagement
My comment
This should be great – a wonderful opportunity to hear Toby’s take on the role of measurement (also, data and its use, please), evaluation and learning in initiatives that are intended to help people to address complex and systemic challenges.
Will be interesting to compare, contrast and collaboratively learn about the Human Learning Systems approach (with learning as management strategy) that Toby has led, and Wasafiri’s Systemcraft framework.
Hoping very much that the session will be recorded, please!
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
complexity
monitoring, evaluation and learning
Engagement stats
5
Awareness, resonance, engagement, reflection (Article – Intro to LQs) Thu, Mar 9
Date of engagement
Thu, Mar 9
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
complexity
systems thinking
awareness
relationships
reflection
learning
learning questions
Engagement stats
25
Continuums, complexities, contexts (Article – LQ 1) Fri, Mar 10
Date of engagement
Fri, Mar 10
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
complexity
systems thinking
integrity
polarities
relationships
context(s)
Fractal Question(s)
Continuums and complexity: How can thinking in terms of continuums help us to understand and act more effectively in the contexts of complex social systems? 🌿 Plant
Engagement stats
11
Patterns, power and systems: Shifting the deckchairs or turning the ship? (Article – LQ2) Mon, Mar 13
Date of engagement
Mon, Mar 13
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
governance
power
systems change
complexity
Fractal Question(s)
Forms, models and power: To what extent and how can new models of governance, and different organisational forms, help to shift the power dynamics that hold systems in place? 🌿 Plant
Engagement stats
23
M&E Sandbox, amplifying and connecting, inc. re Toby’s question re complexity and MEL approaches (do the approaches go far enough?) Tue, Mar 14
Date of engagement
Tue, Mar 14
My comment
This was an excellent discussion, with wonderful presentations from the various speakers. Thanks so much for facilitating these important conversations Søren Vester Haldrup, and for a great write up!
There was also some interesting chat in the margins about whether the approaches to monitoring and evaluation that were presented – and which are so so so much better than mainstream approaches, because, I’d suggest, they’re primarily focused on supporting learning to inform adaptation and action – are ones that are really appropriate for complex (rather than just complicated) situations of radical uncertainty.
Check out the question from Toby Lowe at 1 hour and 22 minutes and the clear and pragmatic response from Kecia Bertermann.
This has nudged me to ponder – and have interesting chats with Zazie Tolmer – Director at CoIntent, Michael Moses, and Marcus Jenal – about how such approaches might be further developed and implemented in ways that ensure that they are stepping stones on the way to approaches that are even more fully aligned with and appropriate for complex contexts and causalities. Thanks Zazie, Michael and Marcus!
If you missed the event, the video is well worth 90 minutes of your time.
For more on this, tune in to the presentation that Toby Lowe is doing on 21st March, organized by Kate Simpson at Wasafiri - details here https://lnkd.in/eurvRHDE
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
complexity
monitoring, evaluation and learning
Engagement stats
18
Harmony/Integrity, resharing of Dan Siegel re IDGs Wed, Mar 15
Date of engagement
Wed, Mar 15
My comment
Love Dan Siegel’s work on the integrity and harmony that emerges when the opposing and complementary forces of differentiation and linkage (autonomy and interdependence) find a healthy balance, and make a system more than the sum of its parts.
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
integrity
harmony
polarities
Engagement stats
4
International Happiness Day (Article) Mon, Mar 20
Date of engagement
Mon, Mar 20
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
integrity
kindness
happiness and wellbeing
compassion
Engagement stats
12
Images
Screen Shot 2023-03-20 at 5.42.52 PM
Screen Shot 2023-03-20 at 5.13.10 PM
Measurement, learning and systems change – amplifying Toby/Kate Mon, Mar 20
Date of engagement
Mon, Mar 20
My comment
Tomorrow’s conversation between Toby Lowe and Kate Simpson at Wasafiri should be great; 11am UK time. I’ve changed my travel plans to listen live :-)
Sign up here https://lnkd.in/eXfWpW3Y
Here are a couple of questions that are on my mind:
First, what does Toby see as the role for measurement in supporting more effective action by the people participating in human learning systems? Whose actions are going to be informed and improved by what data and how? And what does this mean for the approach to measurement?
Second, what is his take on the question of whether measurement should: a) focus on particular causal connections and assumptions about how a system works and/or b) take a more open and exploratory approach of noticing more broadly what’s going on?
These questions are inspired by the UNDP M&E Sandbox discussions convened by Søren Vester Haldrup, and conversations with Zazie Tolmer – Director at CoIntent and Marcus Jenal, including this recent piece by Marcus. https://lnkd.in/erhCFBsz
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
monitoring, evaluation and learning
Engagement stats
5
Contexts, typologies and learning: Grains of truth for better public policy (Article – LQ3) Tue, Mar 21
Date of engagement
Tue, Mar 21
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
complexity
governance
context(s)
political economy dynamics
comparative learning
learning
Fractal Question(s)
Context analysis and emergent learning: How might typologies of different political economy contexts support the in-context emergent learning that is needed to address complex challenges? 🌿 Plant
Engagement stats
19
Results, sense-making and learning (sharing Robbie G’s piece) Thu, Mar 23
Date of engagement
Thu, Mar 23
My comment
Results, sense-making & learning.
Integrating evidence & experience to support more effective engagement in complex, multi-level, systems.
This is a fantastic piece by Robbie Gregorowski at Sophoi
h/t and thanks Marcus Jenal for sharing in his super-helpful recent piece on Systemic Enquiries https://lnkd.in/erhCFBsz
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
complexity
monitoring, evaluation and learning
sensemaking
Engagement stats
26
Understanding and evaluating complexity: Data, evidence and models (Article – LQ4) Tue, Mar 28
Date of engagement
Tue, Mar 28
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
complexity
systems thinking
measurement
evidence
evaluation
learning
Fractal Question(s)
Evaluating complexity: How might we further develop and encourage the use of approaches to evaluating and understanding change that are suitable for the complexities of living and learning systems? 💩 Compost
Engagement stats
42
Awareness, engagement and emergent learning questions (Article – LQ synthesis) Wed, Apr 12
Date of engagement
Wed, Apr 12
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
awareness
emergence
learning questions
fractal inquiry
Engagement stats
5
Joseph Rowntree Foundation – Grassroots Poverty Action Group – write up of meeting Thu, Apr 20
Date of engagement
Thu, Apr 20
URL of engagement
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
data governance
Evaluating research for development: Innovation to navigate complexity Mon, Apr 24
Date of engagement
Mon, Apr 24
My comment
Evaluating research for development: Innovation to navigate complexity
Great discussion last week hosted by Dr. Mieke Snijder + J Marina Apgar at Institute of Development Studies
Loved the four creative tensions set out by Marina (and I suggested a fifth, re understanding the past and shaping the future), the discussion of Impact Weaving by Genowefa Blundo Canto, and the notion of building blocks for impact.
Video here: https://lnkd.in/dt8yQ9UT
Special issue of European Journal of Development Research, with some great pieces, here: https://lnkd.in/ez5fx7Dy
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
evaluation
complexity
Engagement stats
17
Yarning – storytelling and weaving (tweet) Thu, Apr 27
Date of engagement
Thu, Apr 27
URL of engagement
My comment
Double meanings, weft + warp
Yarning – storytelling + weaving – inspired by chatting w @annhjenkins cc. @cynthiasrayner
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
storytelling
Omidyar videos on complexity and systems thinking Fri, Apr 28
Date of engagement
Fri, Apr 28
My comment
An introduction to complexity and systems thinking at the Omidyar Network
I really enjoyed these three short videos from Jessica Kiessel: what we mean by systems and complexity; understanding a system; and, deepening our systems practice.
Great presentation, with fresh perspectives and helpful insights. Thank you!
Highlights for me:
- we are “thinking nodes in a system, all interacting dynamically with each other”
- "the link between nodes is an ontological equal [hell yeah, perhaps more?!] to the nodes themselves" – thanks Gibrán Rivera
- giving “more attention to the space that is alive between us” – thanks again, Gibran, and for resonance with Rumi and his fields
- acting systemically is all about perspective taking at different levels and harnessing collective intelligence – thanks Eleni Sotos
- funders’ role as including slicing the oranges for the real players (in a dynamically interacting soccer team) to nibble at half-time :-)
Thanks so much for sharing your work in progress, Jessica, and to Dave Algoso for sharing. If the powerpoint slides with more about tools and patterns are shareable Jessica, I’d love to see those too!
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
complexity
systems practice + system practices
philanthropy
emergence
systems thinking
Engagement stats
63
Living in systems: Complexity, contexts and experience (Article) Wed, May 3
Date of engagement
Wed, May 3
My comment
Results, sense-making and learning – an inspiring approach to supporting collaborative learning and adaptive actions to address complex social challenges.
Happy to have come across this framework, and to share my reflections on why it appeals.
Thanks to Robbie Gregorowski and the Sophoi team for the inspiration, and to J Marina Apgar, Marcus Jenal and Gurpreet Singh, for related conversations.
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
complexity
sensemaking
collaborative learning
Engagement stats
21
CPI, Global Development podcast, re-sharing with comments Thu, May 11
Date of engagement
Thu, May 11
My comment
Thanks Morag Mwenya M. Neill-Johnson and Javiera Godoy - it was a great listen and an exciting glimpse of the inclusive, ambitious, and important journey of connecting, convening and collaborating that the Global Development Initiative is embarking on!
Some of the convo – especially the bit with Sanjay Purohit on nurturing an ecosystem of context-specific solvers, made me think of the work of Yuen Yuen Ang on directed improvisation, in China, and elsewhere.
Engagement stats
3
Warm data – sharing Nora Bateson’s Unpsychology piece Thu, May 11
Date of engagement
Thu, May 11
My comment
New words to hold the invisible realm of possibility: Warm Data
This is part 1 of an excellent and accessible trilogy, introducing the work of Nora Bateson on living and learning systems.
Strongly recommended if you’ve ever been curious about Nora’s explorations, but struggled (as I have) to get your head around symmathesy or aphanipoiesis.
Part 2 (symmathesy/a living and learning system): https://lnkd.in/eDhDD2B7
Part 3 (aphanipoeisis/the messy mud from which life emerges?): https://lnkd.in/egzvyZQa
Still confused? Check out and chill with the the dynamic living graphic on the homepage of the International Bateson Institute! https://lnkd.in/eCnDpKrZ
h/t for these unpsychology pieces and more, to Adam Kahane and his crowd-sourced list of interesting references on "everyday practices for systems transformation" [not a framing that appeals to Nora, but helpful all the same to find these pieces on it!]
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
living systems
warm data
Engagement stats
53
The Relationships Project – sharing their framework Fri, May 12
Date of engagement
Fri, May 12
My comment
Do you think that better relationships (with clients, patients, partner organizations, funders, grantees, citizens) are key to social change and systems change?
Interested in sharing and learning about relationship-centred practice, and how you might improve your practice?
Check out the progress being made by the wonderful folks at The Relationships Project; a framework for thinking, sharing, learning and practicing better relationships.
Also, the best illustrations of what they’re up to!
Have a look, read the feedback, and add your thoughts.
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
relationships
Engagement stats
1
Yuen Yuen Ang’s ideas – sharing Fri, May 12
Date of engagement
Fri, May 12
My comment
Complexity, patterns and the political economy of development
Adaptation, emergence, co-evolution, directed improvisation, corruption, contexts.
Feeling inspired by the way that Yuen Yuen Ang presents the ideas that she’s exploring, and which are emerging from her work! https://lnkd.in/edGGenMr
And this, specifically on “directed improvisation”.
Lots of interesting and important things in here to inform the future of global development – Javiera Godoy + Morag Mwenya M. Neill-Johnson, and food for thought for my growing digital garden.
Engagement stats
14
Harnessing complexity for better outcomes – book review by Adrian Brown Mon, May 15
Date of engagement
Mon, May 15
My comment
Interesting book review by Adrian Brown at the Centre for Public Impact, of Harnessing complexity for better outcomes in public and non-profit services, by Max French, Hannah Hesselgreaves, Rob Wilson, Melissa Hawkins and Toby Lowe
Adrian questions whether the public management framing provides enough space for the evolution in thinking and practice – including as regards the politics of service delivery – that harnessing complexity requires.
Review: https://lnkd.in/ghhwCW7G
Book: https://lnkd.in/gScvdBfG
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
complexity
emergence
political economy dynamics
Engagement stats
5
Yasmeen Lari – building on local experience and expertise Mon, May 22
Date of engagement
Mon, May 22
My comment
‘The international colonial charity model will never work’
Building on local experience and expertise – in architecture and development.
Love this piece on the work of Yasmeen Lari – https://lnkd.in/eyj-GB-x – with thanks to Javiera Godoy for sharing
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
localisation
Engagement stats
54
Evidence portals (comment on Tom Aston’s post) Tue, May 30
Date of engagement
Tue, May 30
My comment
Great piece Tom.
The slow pace of change in a conversation dominated by powerful players with (perhaps in part because of their accountability incentives?) some pretty fixed notions of rigour, can be dispiriting.
I appreciate your persistence and efforts to be part of a constructive conversation about evidence and what rigour might mean when dealing with complex issues that are not amenable to cookie cutter solutions.
See my piece from a couple of months ago for some glimmers of hope, including from Ruth Levine’s recent reflections on the medical model of evidence-based policy https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/understanding-evaluating-complexity-data-evidence-models-alan-hudson/
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
evidence
evaluation
Engagement stats
NA
Systems thinking in Tana (sharing Felipe’s newsletter) Wed, May 31
Date of engagement
Wed, May 31
My comment
Systems thinking and practice in Tana. Acting in alignment with a complex reality.
Yep, everything is a node, and everything is also (more or less, and in different ways) connected.
Great food for thought, and alignment with my efforts, from a new connection with Felipe Fraga https://lnkd.in/egUqDyvd
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
systems practice + system practices
alignment
Engagement stats
5
Anti-corruption and inattention to reality Thu, Jun 1
Date of engagement
Thu, Jun 1
My comment
Interesting post by Alexey Konov about the failings of the anti-corruption agenda.
I appreciate the phrase “inattention to reality” as a high-level diagnosis. It’s hard-hitting, and seems accurate far too often.
The work of the SOAS-ACE (Anti-Corruption Evidence) programme on "Making anti-corruption real", led by Mushtaq Khan and Pallavi Roy is very much about taking reality – particularly the landscape of power, capabilities and interests – seriously.
For those who aren’t familiar with it, I strongly recommend having a look. https://lnkd.in/eRdjbD6Z
There’s even a short on-line course which is a very helpful intro to their work https://lnkd.in/ehM4Zm4y h/t Duncan Edwards for helping to make this happen.
The work of Cheyanne Scharbatke-Church and Diana Chigas strikes a similar note, including as regards the possible evolution of the anti-corruption agenda at USAID. https://lnkd.in/enXGqNU5
And, I’ve found the work of Yuen Yuen Ang on "unbundling corruption" – and much more besides – to be very useful too. https://lnkd.in/eE7xu_ub
Looking forward to further installments from Alexey, and associated conversations.
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
corruption
power
Our seeds for storytelling – sharing post about School of System Change Mon, Jun 5
Date of engagement
Mon, Jun 5
My comment
“We exist to nurture a systemic, living paradigm, where learning is change.”
Great piece by Saskia Rysenbry on the evolution of the School of System Change, the path ahead, and the areas of inquiry and communication.
Loving the systemic ambition, and the focus on relationships, stories, infrastructure, power and equity.
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
infrastructure
learning is change
Engagement stats
9
Systemic meandering (Article) Mon, Jun 5
Date of engagement
Mon, Jun 5
URL of engagement
My comment
Emerging reflections on paradoxes and polarities – and a scattering of nuggets unearthed over the last month – nudged along through collaborative reflection with Emma Proud, Marcus Jenal + colleagues.
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
polarities
paradox
continuums
Engagement stats
11
Systemic meandering
Intro
I was glad to be part of a conversation hosted by Emma Proud and Marcus Jenal last week which brought together for come collaborative reflection a number of colleagues whose work is informed by, and perhaps embodies, a systemic perspective on things.
The ice-breaker, as it were, was the question: “what body of water do you feel like now and why?” The answers ran from clouds and rain, through small creeks, mountain streams, waterfalls, whitewater rapids, calm lakes, meanders, canals and oceans, with some problematic plumbing also landing us with a blocked toilet.
I was a set of meanders, perhaps Cuckmere Haven [image], for those who know East Sussex. I opted aspirationally for meanders because of the way in which they naturally find a balance between operating with focus, direction, purpose, and intentionality on the one hand, and in ways that are loose, exploratory, uncertain and emergent on the other.
Emma: Waterfall – energy, stillness & depth
Inna: Mountain stream – fast, active, exploratory, bubbling up
Bhav: Blocked toilet
Leni: Whitewater rafting
Nina: Small creek, with little room for manoeuvre
Zazie: Calm lake
Marcus: Cloud and rain or sun
Ian: River and/or canal
Laura: Ocean, deeper undercurrents and distant moony relationships
Grappling with and perhaps embracing the paradoxes, polarities and creative tensions that seem to drive the dynamics of systems is emerging as one of my primary areas of focus in my efforts to play my part in co-creating living, learning and loving systems. I will share more on my explorations in the coming weeks, but if you’re super-keen have a look at this by X, this by Y and this by Z.
For now, I thought I’d share a few of the things that have been bubbling up for me – points of light, becoming constellations – and which over time I’m connecting, comparing, synthesizing and sharing to support others who are finding their flow in the water of systems change.
Points of lights
1. The role(s) of evidence, by Marcus Jenal – a short piece which outlines Marcus’s seemingly contradictory views about evidence, informed by his efforts to make systemic inquiries central to the Botnar Foundation’s ways of working.
2. Stories and sensemaking, by Jody Aked – a short piece which outlines Jody’s work with the B-Team, making stories and sensemaking, as well as a dashboard, central to the B-Team’s MEL efforts.
3. Transforming systems through whole power, by the Collective Change Lab – a conversation which explores a relational approach to power, which might enhance collective agency to shift system dynamics. Questions from me and Kathy Bain at minute X.
4. Centre for Public Impact podcast on global development – my brief comments on the recent 50 minutes podcast
5. Harnessing complexity for better outcomes – book review by Adrian Brown Mon, May 15 https://www.linkedin.com/posts/alanhudson_book-review-harnessing-complexity-for-better-activity-7063885507574861825-0ak7?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
Points of light and emerging constellations
Points of light (inc. recommendations made to Kecia)
Sense-making
Emerging constellations (quote re constellations)
Has direction, but is taking a winding and somewhat unpredictable route to get there, with that route itself changing over time with the seasons and the conditions in the wider watershed
Perhaps channeling [pun intended] Dave Snowden’s work on estuarine mapping
My spiral diagram
Complexity Outcomes event, post with photos Thu, Jun 15
Date of engagement
Thu, Jun 15
My comment
A lovely few days in Newcastle, seeing old friends and making new friends. Lots and lots of food for thought and new connections from the Northumbria University conference on Towards Relational Public Services: Cultivating outcomes through engagement, learning and systems. https://lnkd.in/eYUtjE2C
Congrats and thanks to Hannah Hesselgreaves, Toby Lowe, Rob Wilson, Melissa Hawkins, Max French, + team, for pulling together a great event with a wonderful bunch of folks looking to shift the paradigm on public management and the implementation of public policy.
Some of my notes from the sessions https://lnkd.in/e7V9RRNh
Notes from Toby Lowe’s summary https://lnkd.in/e64sC2_M
Until next time!
Now, off to see transparency champions, anti-corruption colleagues, and school-days friends in Cumbria :-)
Engagement stats
17
Impact in complex systems (my comment Toby Lowe’s piece) Fri, Jun 23
Date of engagement
Fri, Jun 23
Source
My comment
Great piece Toby. I particularly appreciated three things.
First, your measured take down of contribution analysis and the nodding heads and closing off of discussion that the mention of that (or of “mixed methods”) too often leads to.
Second, the idea that operating with a flawed model of how change happens, and collecting data around that model, corrupts the information that is generated, and doesn’t help in terms of being able to engage effectively in complex systems to improve how things are working.
And third, your sharing of alternative ways of operating – and being accountable for collaborative experimentation and learning – that stop pretending that impact is delivered and that causality in living systems is simple and not thoroughly embedded in context.
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
impact
complexity
complex contextual causality
Engagement stats
9
Sharing of Making Anti-Corruption Effective online course Fri, Jun 30
Date of engagement
Fri, Jun 30
My comment
Making anti-corruption effective
Just finished a great online course from the Anti-Corruption Evidence (ACE) Research Consortium – SOAS team.
It’s well worth watching. Clearly presented, with excellent examples, and plenty of food for thought and action.
Pairs very well with the toolkit too https://lnkd.in/eT3Rw3CA
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
corruption
Engagement stats
11
Community and diversity – my comment on Fabian Pfortmuller’s piece July 2023
Date of engagement
July 2023
My comment
I appreciated your thought experiments Fabian, and always appreciate your thoughts and experience as regards community building and purpose. And the joint/cumulative distinction you make definitely seems important.
What the thought experiments brought up for me was that I wanted to know more about the diversity of the group.
I mean, yes, groups of people that are connected and have a common purpose are the ones that I would bet on, given the information you provided.
But if their connection were because they are all, let’s say, to pick on me, middle-aged white british blokes who voted against Brexit, then – regardless of whether they/we were in a shared whatsapp group – that would not be the sort of already inter-connected group whose efforts I’d want to bet on.
So, community yes, but not at the expense of diversity. (Obviously it need not be, and should not be, either/or).
More broadly, as well as wanting to know about the diversity of the group, along various dimensions, I’d also want to be sure that the close connections allowed for plenty of challenge and constructive disagreement, and did not settle into some comfortable group think about the purpose to be pursued or the paths to be explored.
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
diversity
relationships
Engagement stats
1
My note to Fabian on 18/7/23
Hi Fabian – I just wanted to drop you a line to let you know how much I appreciated your recent piece on community and the sorts of communities (made up of what sorts of relationships and people) that might be best at addressing complex challenges. The diversity issue which I commented on is the thing that came to mind when reading your post, but that didn’t take away from my appreciation for your post. I’m hoping that you took my comment in the constructive spirit it was intended, but concerned that that spirit may not have been clear, particularly as we have not yet met. Anyway, wishing you well and looking forward to following along with what you’re up to.
Yuen Yuen Ang’s interview re political science – shared on LinkedIn Mon, Jul 3
Date of engagement
Mon, Jul 3
Source
My comment
China (and everywhere else), Political Science (and its blinkers), and the meta-institutions that can enable adaptive processes of problem-solving in complex social systems.
Such a great interview with Yuen Yuen Ang!
More on the ideas that she is exploring, developing and testing, here https://lnkd.in/e8p2Q43E
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
complexity
adaptdev
Engagement stats
3
Interventions – comment on Tom Aston’s piece Mon, Jul 10
Date of engagement
Mon, Jul 10
Source
My comment
Nice piece Tom – thanks for sharing your reflections.
I’ve always had an intense dislike for the language (and much of the practice) of interventions.
In a way that has strong echoes of the so-called “Good Governance” agenda, and the long-history of imperial interventions around the world, it suggests that the intervenors (“external”, powerful, and relatively ignorant of context) know “what works” and it’s simply a case of getting the patients to take the medicine and all will be well.
When the reality of social change is one of complex contextually-embedded causality, in which effective ways forward emerge/are crafted in specific contexts, a focus on interventions is unlikely to be helpful.
The language and practice of interventions is also based on a rather simple and misleading understanding of how change happens, as your discussion about CMO and CMIOs, and the embeddedness/ meshing of causal mechanisms in particular contexts makes clear.
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
causality
complex contextual causality
Engagement stats
15
Context changes everything (Alicia Juarrero) Thu, Jul 13
Date of engagement
Thu, Jul 13
My comment
Excited to get my virtual hands on what looks like an important and insightful book about the role that context plays in the way change happens in complex adaptive systems.
Basically, it develops a complex, systemic, multi-level and contextually-embedded/enmeshed understanding of causality, amongst other things.
Available free, on open access, or via all good (and some not so good) book sellers.
I’ve read the first two chapters in preparation for the first installment of a Cynefin-community reading group later today.
Much of the discussion may go over my head, but I figure that putting our collective heads together might help!
The plan is to record the sessions, so let me know if you want details of how to join, how to access the recordings, or how to view the Miro. [it’s not my show, so I’m hesitant to simply share the zoom link far and wide].
And/or for a short summary of Alicia’s thinking from 2010, check out this https://lnkd.in/evzaW4vP
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
context(s)
constraints
Engagement stats
7
Accessing research publications – sharing Bianca Pereira’s piece Fri, Jul 14
Date of engagement
Fri, Jul 14
My comment
How to (legally) access research papers for free as a non academic.
Super-helpful and thoroughly practical piece by Bianca Pereira – https://lnkd.in/eak2FyYQ
Bianca has a newsletter too, sharing her experience on research, knowledge management, and tools for networked thought.
Engagement stats
46
Digital Gardening – LinkedIn post Mon, Jul 17
Date of engagement
Mon, Jul 17
Source
My comment
Such a great piece on digital gardening – a way of sharing a collection of interconnected + evolving ideas, and learning in public – by Maggie Appleton
LOVE the illustrations!
Excited to be nurturing a garden about systemic practices for embracing and participating in complex social systems.
Happy to be developing a learning infrastructure in Tana, in collaboration with a growing community of supportive gardeners.
Want to learn more? Drop me a line.
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
knowledge garden
Fractal Question(s)
Knowledge gardens: What is the best way of nurturing a useful knowledge garden? 🌿 Plant
Engagement stats
26
Selected seedlings: Complexities, causalities, corruption and practicalities (Article) Tue, Jul 25
Date of engagement
Tue, Jul 25
Fractal Question(s)
Knowledge gardens: What is the best way of nurturing a useful knowledge garden? 🌿 Plant
Causality and complexity: How might we think about causality in complex social systems and what are the practical implications of that? 🌱 Seedling
Engagement stats
40
Love, bell hooks and Ruth Levine Thu, Jul 27
Date of engagement
Thu, Jul 27
My comment
Interesting to see a post focused on love, by Ruth Levine, inspired by bell hooks. As Ruth puts it, "If love is important in every part of our lived experience, shouldn’t we think and talk about it in public policy?"
"all about love" is one of the few books that made the cut to return from Washington DC to the UK with me in 2020 – see here for more
… reflecting the fact that love, and the qualities of relationships that make lives and systems and societies what they are, has been an increasingly important part of my work since 2020 at Global Integrity
… for instance, in my reflections on integrity as the strength and quality of a system’s integration; the nature and inclusiveness of the relationships and processes that connect the various actors and make the whole system more than the sum of its parts.
And now, inspired by the work of the Collective Change Lab on a relational approach to systems change, (my collated resources, here), the The Relationships Project and many more
… love is one of the key strands of my freelancing efforts to contribute to the co-creation of living, learning and loving systems
… as well as in my more personal pursuit of systemic happiness, locally and globally, and at all points in between.
So, I’m feeling further emboldened to focus on nurturing systems that are more about love and compassion than power and control, through an approach to social change and systems change that centres on kindness and relationships. Thanks Ruth!
cc. Kyende Kinoti and Yeukai Chiweshe for our past and future explorations of ubuntu!
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
web of love
love
loving systems
compassion
Fractal Question(s)
Love: What’s love got to do with it? 🥜 Seed
Engagement stats
21
Complexity and granularity – comment on Beth Smith’s post Fri, Jul 28
Date of engagement
Fri, Jul 28
My comment
Thanks for this Beth. The level of abstraction, or granularity, is key.
However, reading this, and given the importance of the issue, I felt the need to double check my understanding of granularity, and “reduce the granularity”.
That phrase (which is sort of a double negative, along the lines of “increasingly slow”?) could be understood as either: 1) look at things in more detail (reducing the size of the things you focus on), or 2) look at things in less detail (reducing the degree to which you focus on the micro/granular components of things).
I think that "reduce the granularity" means the latter, and this diagram – taken from here https://sites.ualberta.ca/~obilash/granularity.html – would appear to confirm that.
Is that (my option 2) what you mean, Beth? I imagine some will see this as a very basic question, but given it’s importance, I thought I’d check. cc.
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
granularity
abstraction
Engagement stats
10
Screen Shot 2023-07-28 at 12.05.53 PM
Small organizations: the change that systems change needs (Roddenberry Foundation) Mon, Jul 31
Date of engagement
Mon, Jul 31
My comment
Loving the work of The Roddenberry Foundation and their +1 Global fund.
And finding their arguments that small can be beautiful and that supporting small organizations is key for locally-led systems change very compelling.
Great piece by Lior Ipp – wonderful graphic too!
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
philanthropy
localisation
Engagement stats
21
Causality in complexity – response/question to Dave Snowden Thu, Aug 10
Date of engagement
Thu, Aug 10
My comment
Dave – I appreciate your fitness landscapes suggestion, and agree that (particularly if dynamic versions are shown) they can be very helpful. So thanks very much for that.
I’m a bit troubled by your last sentence though – “the main deficiency is that it keeps them in a causal understanding” – which may mean I’ve misunderstood.
For me (and I thought for you – and, for instance, Alicia Juarrero, in Context Changes Everything, even though she chooses not to use the word as it can lead to confusion) causality of a sort does operate in complex systems, although it is about constraints and contexts (complex contextually-embedded and recursive causality?) rather than an Action-A leads-to Impact B.
As such, one can throw out the bathwater of A leads to B causality when it’s not appropriate, while retaining the baby of causal relations, including in complex domains.
Did I get that wrong? And, if so, in what way(s)? Perhaps you think that retaining any notion of causality as regards complex systems is a) unrealistic and/or b) not useful?
Actually, just seen your slightly different response, which may answer my question:
“Mapping modulating factors and dispositional states makes sense. Creating a map based on linear causality will only take you over a cliff”.
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
causality
complex contextual causality
Fractal Question(s)
Causality and complexity: How might we think about causality in complex social systems and what are the practical implications of that? 🌱 Seedling
Corruption and evidence – On Think Tanks reflection Fri, Sep 15
Date of engagement
Fri, Sep 15
My comment
A connection I might make here is to the literature on the politics of evidence. I’ve often felt that the narratives around evidence-informed policy sometimes neglect the political economy dynamics of the policy process and can be overly-optimistic about the chances of good evidence leading to sound policies that are effectively implemented. This is one of the reasons why I’ve always been pretty wary of EIP discussions, and more comfortable with a framing that centres on governance (or systems dynamics) rather than evidence.
The idea that corruption might distort the policy process, including the use of evidence in that process, is simply an extension – an important extension – of the idea that policy processes are about power and incentives, as well as being about evidence. The approach of Mushtaq Khan and Pallavi Roy at SOAS-ACE (anti-corruption evidence programme) to understanding the ways in which corruption can distort the policy process seems highly relevant here.
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
corruption
evidence
Stepping into systems (School of Systems Change videos) Tue, Sep 19
Date of engagement
Tue, Sep 19
My comment
Stepping into systems. Excited to participate in this forthcoming series of discussions hosted by the School of System Change, starting on October 4th.
Looking forward to seeing how Anna Birney and colleagues introduce systems practice, in ways that flow from their focus on living and learning systems, and their emphasis on systemic inquiry.
https://schoolofsystemchange.org/stepping-into-systems
Thanks to Sarena Chan for the heads-up!
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
systems change
systems
Engagement stats
26
Complexity, systems, learning and impact (Article) Fri, Oct 6
Date of engagement
Fri, Oct 6
My comment
Complexity, systems, learning and impact.
A very emergent post, not planned, just stimulated, by different reflections on impact and learning in systems.
aka I was supposed to be spending my time doing something else.
But “suppose” was crowded out by curiosity and enthusiasm.
Engagement stats
29
Image used on LinkedIn, twitter, mastodon
Relating Systems Thinking and Design (RSD-12) Thu, Oct 12
Date of engagement
Thu, Oct 12
My comment
Very much enjoying RSD-12, a multi-location and online conference on relating systems thinking (somewhat conceptual) and design (very practical).
Super-interesting with new perspectives and practices for engaging, and creatively entangling, in complexity.
Highlights for me so far include Emma Blomkamp and seanna davidson on "mapping capabilities: reflexive practices for co-design", and Peter Jones on four seasons of design evolution for complexity.
Also excited about forthcoming sessions on indigenous governance, mapping/working/living with complex information, and some Gregory Bateson inspired musings on ecologies.
It’s well underway, but with plenty more sessions to come, and recordings available at least through November, it’s still worth the entrance fee.
And if you’re in Washington DC, the culminating event is at Georgetown Uni, from 18-20 October. Tempting.
Engagement stats
6
Making details matter (Yuen Yuen Ang on aid agencies) Thu, Oct 19
Date of engagement
Thu, Oct 19
My comment
Making details matter: How to reform aid agencies to generate contextual knowledge
https://www.gdn.int/sites/default/files/NH%20Essay%20Contest%202014%20-%20Ang%2C%20YY%20-%20Final_0.pdf
by my now-friend Yuen Yuen Ang in 2014, winning a Global Development Network prize supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Still so good. Hoping some folks at aid & development agencies, including ones close to home in the UK, have seen it.
Video from Center for Global Development event, also featuring Dan Honig and more, here https://www.cgdev.org/event/what-should-tomorrow%E2%80%99s-aid-agencies-look
Yuen also has an awesome website, setting out the 7 ideas she is exploring:
https://sites.google.com/view/yuenyuenang/thinking?authuser=0
cc. Tom Wingfield – let’s chat!
#globaldev #complexity
Engagement stats
9
Collaborating for systems change – online course Fri, Oct 27
Date of engagement
Fri, Oct 27
My comment
Collaborating for systems change.
This looks like a great course from the wonderfully relational folks at Collective Change Lab, The Aspen Institute, FSG + Collective Impact Forum
It builds off two key articles:
- The water of systems change https://lnkd.in/e2_KtuTA
- The relational work of systems change https://lnkd.in/dgBNEhed
Very glad to see that they are making some cut-price ($75) places available.
“Scholarship priorities are to help subsidize registration for those whose annual organizational budgets are less than $500,000, or who are from an underrepresented group within nonprofit leadership. People of color, people with disabilities, and people who identify on the LGBTQIA spectrum (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual) are encouraged to apply.”
So, if you’re interested, and fit with their priorities – fingers crossed, for all participants, that these extend to geographical diversity (beyond north america and western europe) too – have a look!
Engagement stats
26
Towards a world of good relationships – Relationship Project event at LSE Fri, Oct 27
Date of engagement
Fri, Oct 27
My comment
Towards a world of good relationships
The team at Living, Learning and Loving systems (yep, just me) is very much looking forward to this event on Tuesday 31st at the LSE Marshall Institute, London, organized by The Relationships Project
Halloween fancy dress optional but ill-advised.
Engagement stats
13
Global Integrity sunsetting (Alan’s article) Mon, Oct 30
Date of engagement
Mon, Oct 30
Engagement stats
145
Tyson Yunkaporta Deep Transformation podcast Thu, Nov 2
Date of engagement
Thu, Nov 2
My comment
Excited to come across this Deep Transformation Podcast with Tyson Yunkaporta.
I loved Sand Talk, so I’m very much looking forward to getting hold of his new book, Right story, wrong story: Adventures in indigenous thinking.
Want to see my notes from Sand Talk? Just drop me a line. If more than a couple of people do, I’ll take the time to make them accessible. Oh, actually, here they are, courtesy of Tana (systemic software for systemic practice). Not at all comprehensive, but the things that jumped out at me especially. https://lnkd.in/eavwKm9q
Engagement stats
2
New ways of knowing (Alexander Beiner course) Mon, Nov 6
Date of engagement
Mon, Nov 6
My comment
New ways of knowing with Alexander Beiner looks like a super-interesting course – "an immersive process of learning and transformation" – on living in complexity, supporting systems change, and developing and practicing new ways of knowing and being.
There’s a great line-up of speakers/facilitators, for ten 90 minute sessions from December 13th to February 28th.
I also wanted to flag to others that there are fifteen scholarships with a 60% discount available, on a first-come first-served basis, which might help to expand the diversity of the folks who are able to participate.
Engagement stats
6
Love, inter-being and decolonization (Kyende Kinoti’s post) Tue, Nov 14
Date of engagement
Tue, Nov 14
My comment
Listening with love, inter-being and decolonization.
I loved this piece by my friend Kyende Kinoti when I read it three years ago. It’s even more beautiful now.
Glad to still be in touch to explore love, inter-being, public policy and open government!
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
web of love
inter-being
localisation
Engagement stats
13
Complexity, relationships, vulnerability and nonviolent communication (Oren Jay Sofer – my notes) Thu, Nov 16
Date of engagement
Thu, Nov 16
My comment
Complexity, relationships, vulnerability and non-violent communication
Sharing my notes from the wonderful book by Oren Jay Sofer – "Say what you mean: A nonviolent approach to communcation".
I’ve been diving deep into nonviolent communication in recent weeks, for personal and professional reasons, and – in addition to the wonderful work of Marshall Rosenberg – have found Oren’s book full of kind, compassionate and practical wisdom.
Lots of relevance for those of us trying to support change in complex social systems, where relationships, connection and communication are key.
Perhaps my favourite quotes:
- “Empathy is the resonant capacity of our heart.” (p.158)
- and, for the complexity kids, “Letting go doesn’t mean we give up on our values, stop caring or cease working for change. It means that we recognise that the outcome of our efforts is not completely in our hands because in many ways we don’t control the context” (p.125)
Lots of great resources from Oren, here https://lnkd.in/dF4zjyaA
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
relationships
non-violent communication
compassion
Engagement stats
15
Re-setting anti-corruption (Chandler Foundation and SOAS-ACE) Sun, Nov 19
Date of engagement
Sun, Nov 19
My comment
Re-setting anti-corruption.
Looks like an interesting and important initiative by the Chandler Foundation
I’m wondering whether these papers might include some consideration of the SOAS-ACE approach to understanding and addressing corruption?
In my view, the approach that Mushtaq Khan and
Pallavi Roy have developed to finding feasible and impactful ways of addressing corruption, and, more broadly, enhancing the implementation of public policy, is amongst the best.
Katherine Bain and I are working with Anti-Corruption Evidence (ACE) Research Consortium – SOAS to make their approach more accessible, to support its application, and maximize its impact.
So, yes, a reset is needed. And that reset needs to based on an honest assessment of why the mainstream anti-corruption agenda – which fails to leverage the interests of powerful players who would like to see less corruption for their own self-interest – has had very patchy success.
Happy to be in touch
Tim Hanstad if you’d like to chat.
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
corruption
Engagement stats
20
Interconnectedness and sacred activism (Mallika Dutt) Tue, Nov 21
Date of engagement
Tue, Nov 21
My comment
Interconnectedness and sacred activism.
Loving this rich and beautiful conversation between Mallika Dutt and Thomas Hübl, PhD – one of Thomas’s Point of Relation podcasts. https://lnkd.in/e93Y_eem
Mallika is the Director of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation’s program on gender equity and governance.
Knowing that someone with a focus on interconnectedness, collective liberation, relationships, feelings, healing, presence and fractals of action, learning and impact, has a key role at an important philanthropic organization gives me hope.
It also further encourages me in my work to contribute to the emergence of living, learning and loving systems, and to (sometimes/often/always?) talk about it in those terms.
Here’s a (rather good) summary of the conversation, generated by Reader’s Ghost-reader AI:
Malika Dutt, a social justice activist and founder of organizations Interconnected and Breakthrough, discusses her journey towards understanding the interconnectedness of all things and how it has impacted her activism. She shares how her painful divorce 12 years ago brought the sacred into her activism and how she has learned to stay in interconnectedness while allowing herself to feel all her feelings. She also talks about using ancient wisdom, contemplative practices, and social justice activism to promote transformational change.
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
interconnectedness
Engagement stats
0
Deeper connections (David Brooks, and Action for Happiness) Thu, Nov 23
Date of engagement
Thu, Nov 23
My comment
Happier, kinder, together
I suppose this is "personal" rather than "professional", but whatever … relationships matter whatever the domain and often extend across boundaries https://lnkd.in/dsuJ8QME
Anyway, I’m a member of the Action for Happiness network, and pretty active in the Brighton community. https://lnkd.in/ezZg5CtH
It’s a fantastic initiative, supporting people to be and become happier and kinder, together. If you want to know more about it, feel free to drop me a line.
Last night they hosted a wonderful discussion with the author David Brooks about nurturing deeper connections https://lnkd.in/eCd7xs6z – it’s well worth a watch!
It builds on his recent book on "How to know a person" which also seems pretty awesome https://lnkd.in/e5E48zXJ
Engagement stats
2
Learning with integrity: Global Integrity’s learning journey (Alan’s article) Tue, Nov 28
Date of engagement
Tue, Nov 28
My comment
Amy Miller-Taylor and my former colleagues have been doing a fantastic job of sunsetting Global Integrity, in a wonderful way. I’m so impressed by how the board, Amy, and the whole team, have made the best of a very challenging situation.
Check out the excellent close-out report on “Learning with Integrity”. It’s a powerful story of important contributions and partnerships over the years. And it provides a valuable legacy for others to build on, with partners at the frontline of addressing development challenges very much in the lead.
Sending warm wishes to all my former colleagues, and folks who have worked with Global Integrity since 2005. You should be proud of what you’ve done and the difference that it’s made.
Direct link to PDF of “Learning with integrity: The Global Integrity learning journey”
Systems of corruption (Alan’s article) Wed, Dec 6
Date of engagement
Wed, Dec 6
URL of engagement
My comment
Systems of corruption: Patterns, yes, but also actors, actions and interactions
Reflections from Katherine Bain and I on the importance of ensuring that efforts to address corruption are informed by analysis of the actors, actions, interactions and causal dynamics which drive the emergence of patterns in complex social systems.
Shared with the aim of nurturing conversations, collaborations and cross-fertilization amongst various initiatives that are experimenting with different approaches to understanding and addressing the complex and power-laden systems dynamics that shape corruption and hinder the implementation of public policies.
Inspired by the work of the Corruption, Justice and Legitimacy Program, and the Anti-Corruption Evidence (ACE) Research Consortium – SOAS, with thanks too to Andrew Koleros, Niki Wood and Agata Slota
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
corruption
systems thinking
systems practice + system practices
Fractal Question(s)
Power and systems: What role does power play in shaping the dynamics of complex social systems, and how can such dynamics be changed? 🌱 Seedling
Decolonising systems thinking Fri, Dec 8
Date of engagement
Fri, Dec 8
My comment
Love this piece by Shruthi Vijayakumar, and the decolonised, richer and more fully integrated iceberg model from
Louise Marra to illustrate and explain an approach that centres on trauma, healing and integration.
“We need humility to see that the very way we approach complex challenges is part of the problem itself. We need to develop a mindset and a heart-set of restoration rather than solving.”
And love the broad and multi-level understanding of trauma as “any experience that creates a feeling of disconnection and separation”; in my language, anything that hinders integrity, inter-connection, and inter-being.
That encourages me to dive deeper into the work of Collective Change Lab and
Juanita Zerda on trauma.
Not sure who shared this -
Saskia Rysenbry perhaps? – but thanks!
Kickback 100 – anti-corruption reflections from leading thinkers, including Flor Guerzovich Mon, Dec 11
Date of engagement
Mon, Dec 11
My comment
Kickback episode 100 – insights from leading global thinkers on the state of play in the anti-corruption field, hosted by Liz David-Barrett is worth a listen.
Lots of interesting insights, from a refreshingly diverse collection of thinkers and practitioners, including Alina Mungiu-Pippidi, Paul M. Heywood, Delia Ferreira Rubio, Joseph Pozsgai-Alvarez, Dr Leena Koni Hoffmann-Atar and John Githongo.
The insight that resonated most for me was from M. Florencia Guerzovich at 15 minutes, 40 seconds, about the importance of the global anti-corruption agenda – and those who have the power to shape it – investing more in, and learning more from, practice and experimentation in the global south, in order to develop more effective approaches to addressing corruption and its political economy dynamics across diverse contexts.
Thanks Flor for persistently making this very important point.
Episode 101 promises reflections on the points made in this episode, so I’m looking forward to listening to that too.
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
corruption
Complexity on one slide (Dave Snowden video, Complexity Lounge) Today, Thu, Dec 14
Date of engagement
Today, Thu, Dec 14
My comment
“Complexity on one slide”
https://vimeo.com/894296025
This will require multiple iterations to get my head around, but this is a fantastic run through by Dave Snowden of patterns (assemblage theory), narratives, estuarine mapping (affordances AKA what’s possible), sense-making and agency.
It’s perhaps the clearest run through I’ve seen, with great questions and discussion including with Alicia Juarrero (at 1:03).
The notion of “deterritorializing” (breaking/decomposing things down to their smaller components) to open up possibilities for alternative arrangements that might otherwise be politically infeasible (including at 23 and 42 mins) is particularly interesting to me given my focus on the political economy dynamics of corruption.
I will add a link to the powerpoint slides once that’s made available
From the Complexity Lounge, organized by (Jocko) John Selberg
Related Knowledge – SN(A)CK (outgoing)
complexity
estuarine mapping
emergence
