21st Century Organization

WICKED PROBLEMS 2.0

I met Jeff Conklin a few years ago when he did a presentation of dialogue mapping using the open source software Compendium developed in conjunction with Verizon - yes the telecommunications company.  Dialogue mapping enables a facilitator to track the iteration of conversations about complex problems or "wicked problems" as multiple speakers work through their understanding of the issue and derive an approach or design not necessarily a solution. 

As we all know, dialogues such as these generally do not flow in neat linear progression nor do they have "air tight" solutions. Complex problems have a way of morphing just when a few people think they have a break through in understanding the issue let alone a solution.  So we are mostly coming up with best case approximations of an approach over time.

Just communicating the difference between a linear approach compared to a non-linear is in itself a "wicked problem"!  I often find folks are so overschooled in  linear models or as Jeff depicts a stair step, cascade or "waterfall" solution that they can not imagine another way.

His diagram is masterful.  What takes place as we makes sense of a problem  is the back and forth pattern shown here as a designer works through an approach.

For a complete explanation of working through wicked problems using Compendium software, I highly recommend Wicked Problems and Social Complexity by Jeff Conklin of CogNexus Institute.

I tried the Compendium software in its early versions and am happy to report some very neat applications beyond that of dialogue mapping. ECOSENSUS is a project which is integrating a GIS (Geographical Information System) tool to support participatory environmental decision-making between UK researchers and Amerindians  in Guyana.  It could be more robust if it were a real time mash up with say Google Earth for topography and more realistic geographical data, but it gives you a good sense of the possibilities for a virtual collaborative discussion connected to geographic data.

Bear with the feature heavy  screencast of ECOSENSUS to see some of the benefits to using the Compendium software for projects with disparate stakeholder groups - school, community, environment, political or health care systems.

ECOSENSUS was co-developed by Simon Buckingham Shum who researches and teaches at the Knowledge Media Institute part of the Open University in the UK.  If you have been looking for for a group that have transcended the "dismal abyss" which lies between KM (knowledge management) and social media you will find KMI the bridge spanners.

There are free demos of Compendium which I recommend you explore for your own "wicked problems" or a the very least, read through Jeff Conklin's Wicked Problems and Social Complexity.

~ Victoria G. Axelrod

Simon Wardley & Tim O'Reilly are talking, & I'm thinking about "Whole New Minds"

Simon Wardley has kindly and thought provokingly responded to my questions about open source lessons for organizations more broadly. My challenge this past week:

When Simon talks there is so much to ponder. Where does one start?

The joy of the Web, wise advisors to fuel thinking without their even knowing it.  Deb Schultz making the case for creativity and authenticity trumping technology, and Jon Husband' writing about more or less hierarchy helped but listening to Tim O'Reilly's interview with Steve Hargadon made me wonder:

Is the key lesson from listening to Simon Wardley and the open source movement about new talents and minds?

In a "Whole New Mind" Dan Pink makes the case for "Moving from the information age to the conceptual age".  Simon Wardley lists "a couple of Masters (Cambridge & Glasgow) that I don't believe are in computer science. In the Steve Hardagon interview Tim O'Reilly talks about his college education in Greek and the classics and argues for the value of "mental models of how the world works" and figuring it out.  O'Reilly also expresses skepticism about formal education, and describes observing in the computer industry how creativity comes from those with different backgrounds, with their formal education almost always not in the area where they have made an impact.  Important is the ability to apply knowledge in a new context, to bring fresh thinking.

Simon Wardley offers much to consider in his post expanding on: 

i. "you cannot efficiently plan out the process of development as it is more akin to research and therefore dynamic".
ii. "three axis of technology, people and requirements being relatively unknown"
iii. "try, measure and adapt".

I see open source movement lessons for organizations in how to balance managing core intellectual assets and brands, the equivalent of the "kernel", against encouraging grassroots collaboration and innovation to fuel continued growth. But having met Simon and listening to Tim O'Reilly I'm sensing open source movement successes also teach the importance of engaging people with fresh talents and mental models to addressing business problems.  Curious what you think.

~ Jenny Ambrozek