Vector Theory of Change sounds like Action Research by a new name to me :) David
*David R. Osborne* Organization and Leadership Development 6400 Arlington Blvd., Suite 665, Falls Church, VA 22042 703-939-1777 | [email protected] | change-fusion.com On Mon, Aug 22, 2022 at 11:04 AM Chris Corrigan <[email protected]> wrote: > Thanks for the shout out Marc. If anyone has further questions about this > I’m happy to weigh in as well. > > On Mon, Aug 22, 2022 at 7:16 AM Marc Rettig <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> Hello, >> >> I can offer a framework that is serving well in some of our work. >> >> We are in a long-haul culture-shifting effort with a local organization, >> and the group has now done the repair and relationship skilling needed for >> them to start thinking about creating together. Which has raised questions >> like, “Where do we want to go together?” “Who do we want to become?” >> “What’s worth trying?” Strategic questions! >> >> >> >> As you say, frameworks help. We’ve drawn from Dave Snowden’s vector >> theory of change >> <https://cdn.cognitive-edge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2022/02/02160119/VTOC-paper-2022.pdf>, >> which—now that I think about it in light of your question—has nice >> resonance with OST. We’ve certainly been taking an open-space-ish approach >> with this organization. >> >> The idea is that in social complexity we’re working with emergence, so >> it’s not helpful to invest in trying to implement a pre-imagined >> destination. We can’t see the other side of this forest until we get there. >> So we need a way to navigate in our desired *direction,* responding to >> surprises and what we learn along the way, going at the *pace* of our >> ability to live into our questions together. That’s the “vector”—direction >> and velocity. >> >> This was seeded over a series of group sessions. >> >> - It took almost a year for this group of people to become able to have >> honest, generative conversations about race in their organizational >> culture. People talk about “describing the current state of the system” and >> “noticing recurring patterns.” In some contexts that may be >> straightforward. For these folks it has been a long and courageous road. >> Real fear in real bellies. >> >> >> - Small- and whole-group conversations about values and principles: even >> before we name the direction we’d like to go, can we say how we would >> recognize whether we’re making progress? What would we look at to notice if >> we’re traveling in our desired direction? When we allow ourselves to dream, >> what are the common themes that emerge? >> >> - Small- and whole-group conversations about directions. Never mind the >> destination, what direction do we want to travel together? What are our >> shared longings? In their case, their questions have to do with racial >> equity and belonging. So their directions included desired qualities for >> things like the diversity of their teams, relationships among colleagues, >> self-care and self-forgiveness, relationship with the communities they >> serve. >> >> - The next step will have parallel tracks: >> -- A rhythm of experiments shaped by the question, “What’s worth >> trying now (to move us a little further in a desired direction)?” >> -- A way to collectively handle specific incidents and scenarios as >> they arise along the trip >> >> -- Building a sub-group’s capacity to host these kinds of >> conversations and processes themselves >> -- Building the whole organization’s level of relationship skills >> >> >> >> So the strategic framework is pretty simple: >> - a set of vectors or directions, >> - principles for noticing how you’re traveling, >> - a set of roles, rituals, rhythms and artifacts for deciding what to >> try, how to try it, who’s involved, and how you’ll learn from it. >> >> Then it’s a (difficult!) matter of holding a long-lived container for >> managing this portfolio-walk through the woods together. >> >> >> >> Here is Chris Corrigan’s helpful summary >> <https://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot/towards-the-idea-that-complexity-is-a-theory-of-change/> >> of the approach. >> >> >> >> My example is of course a bigger deal than one open space session. But as >> a framework or approach, maybe it’s helpful. >> >> Cheers. Thanks for all you do, all of you. >> >> Marc >> >> >> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >> Marc Rettig >> Fit Associates LLC >> >> www.fitassociates.com >> marcrettig.me >> >> SVA Design for Social Innovation <http://dsi.sva.edu/> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> *From: *Jake Yeager <[email protected]> >> *Reply-To: *<[email protected]> >> *Date: *Sunday, August 21, 2022 at 8:04 AM >> *To: *<[email protected]> >> *Subject: *[OSList] Strategy frameworks? >> >> >> >> Hi beautiful people, >> >> >> >> Are there any strategy frameworks you like to couple with OST? I've used >> OST with a group to create OKRs and it worked well. Wondering if there's >> anything else out there that you like. >> >> >> >> If I remember correctly some folks here have also mentioned simply >> theming the sessions during convergence and using the themes as strategic >> pillars. Could couple with dot voting and/or opening space for action. >> >> >> >> Thanks! >> >> >> >> Much love, >> >> Jake >> >> -- >> >> ________________ >> >> >> >> When the mind is quiet, the sun of your heart will shine once again, and >> you will be free of problems. >> >> - Robert Adams <http://www.robert-adams.info/> >> >> _______________________________________________ OSList mailing list -- >> [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to >> [email protected] >> _______________________________________________ >> OSList mailing list -- [email protected] >> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >> > -- > ____ > CHRIS CORRIGAN > Blog and resources: http://www.chriscorrigan.com > Harvest Moon Consultants: https://www.harvestmoonconsultants.com > > Registration now open: Complexity Inside and Out online program Fall 2022 > <https://www.harvestmoonconsultants.com/complexity-inside-out.html> > > Register now for the Art of Hosting September 26-28, 2022, Vancouver BC, > Canada <http://aohbowenisland.weebly.com/> > > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list -- [email protected] > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >
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