In these days of numerous phone and Zoom calls, I’m struck by how common it is for simple “catch-up” calls with colleagues or loved ones to evolve into in-depth discussions about the systems around us (health, economic, education, and more). COVID-19 is forcing us, on a daily basis, to take note of the interconnections and dependencies, and the mindsets and assumptions, that underlie our social and economic systems. This is a disruptive, uncomfortable, and bizarre time. It’s a time of uncertainty--but also one of possibility--as we find ourselves thrust into large-scale experiments with online education, virtual / remote work, telehealth, universal basic income, and more.
Here are a few approaches and mindsets that could help us navigate these “unprecedented” (are you sick of that word yet?) times:
Systems thinking (a way to approach complexity by looking at how different parts interact to form a whole, and how the whole interacts with its wider context) is a critical skill for social innovation. Addressing the root causes of today’s “messy” problems requires an ability to zoom in and out, recognizing patterns and potential leverage points within our systems. It seems like our current moment in history is giving us all a chance to flex and develop our systems thinking muscles. Check out this short and informative info sheet from Alberta CoLab to help you get started with taking a systems-thinking approach to an issue / topic you are passionate about.
The three horizons framework is a helpful way to structure our thinking about the current reality and possible future states of our systems. In this framework:
The first horizon represents “business as usual”: our existing assumptions, interactions, and systems. Some elements of these existing systems are worth conserving, and others lose their relevance as the world around us changes. In a crisis like COVID-19, work is needed here to constantly respond to and mitigate the worst effects and maintain critical operations, while also recognizing which elements of our existing systems may be losing relevance or may need to adapt and change.
The third horizon represents an “emerging future”: visionary alternatives that might eventually be possible as our culture and systems transform. A major crisis like COVID-19 gives us a unique opportunity to reflect on how we might move towards new / better / more equitable systems rather than returning to “business as usual.”
The second horizon represents “disruptive innovations” and can be seen as a “bridge” between the first and third horizons. We ask ourselves: what innovations and adaptations might we harness to help us shift towards the third horizon we envision?
Consider joining Edmonton’s Systemic Design Exchange (SDX) community of practice next week (May 7) for a deeper dive into the three horizons framework and systems thinking. This short video from Doughnut Economics Action Lab also provides a great overview of the framework and how it can be used to prompt meaningful conversations about the future. Want to bring this into your facilitation practices? This toolkit from the International Training Centre offers a great overview of the three horizons framework and a simple approach to facilitating discussions using this model.
Reflective practice involves recognizing and reflecting on the assumptions that shape our thinking and action, and using what we learn about ourselves and the world around us to guide continual learning and improvement. In these COVID days, many people have commented to us about how valuable it has been to return to (or begin anew) reflective practices, including journaling and participating in sense-making calls / chats with colleagues and peers.
Three horizons: image courtesy of International Futures Forum (www.iffpraxis.com) and H3Uni (H3Uni.org), retrieved from https://www.h3uni.org/practices/foresight-three-horizons/ used under creative commons CC By-NC-ND 4.0
It’s been exciting to see the above practices gain new / renewed relevance to changemakers across our province and country as we step into this truly unprecedented moment in history. Moving forward, we’re exploring how ABSI Connect might be able to listen, share, and contribute to important questions about the current and future reality of our systems: Who is most vulnerable in this moment, and what does that say about our systems? What future do we want to create together as we recover from this disruption? What promising innovations are emerging? We’d love to hear from you, our community of changemakers across Alberta, about the questions you’re exploring and lessons you’re learning during this time.
Our invitations to you
Engage in reflective practice, and share a question you’re sitting with on our podcast! Our next season of Pause will be a mini-series of short episodes with questions Albertan changemakers are grappling with about the work they’re doing and the systems they’re working within. Is there a question on your mind as you adapt to our COVID-19 times? Contact Elise to learn more about this project and how you can participate by sharing your question and reflections. It should only take 5 - 15 minutes of your time.
Explore some of the tools and practices social innovators use to navigate uncertainty and find / test new solutions. Our resource library gives a great overview of systems thinking, human-centred design, and other social innovation approaches that are particularly relevant to our changing times. Are there other practices or resources you’ve found valuable? Let us know!
This blog post was written by Naomi Mahaffy, ABSI Connect’s facilitator. Contact Naomi to share your story and reflections or to learn more about ABSI Connect.