August 2009
8 posts
“1) The brain, now it is finally beginning to be understood, turns out to...”
– So what does this imply for our investment decision making processes in times of rising complexity?
RSA - Social Brain
“The most important current struggle is that between the two hypothetical...”
– An excerpt of an interesting interview particularly relevant to the increasing systemic shifts and the potential move away from capitalism and the systems that supported it.
Theory Talks: Theory Talk #13: Immanuel Wallerstein
“And, in place of transactions and supply chains (which are, essentially, series...”
– This low-level web of constant relationships is I think a nugget of what’s new in this ‘intersection’. A ‘new’ basis of exchange that describes connection and relationship. The layer of social media, and public micro-messaging in particular, is that it brings it beyond...
Intersections of interest in ComplexityRising.
We recently kicked off our interviews with Stephen Huddart of the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation.
Through that conversation the intersection of evaluation and metrics and social media (especially public micro-messaging) in the context of complexity became particularly interesting.
We’re left with the questions of the role of this intersection in:
Reducing lag in the...
Snapshot of complexity theory.
In dealing with the notion of ‘complexity’ in the ComplexityRising theme here is a quick snapshot.
One approach to understanding complex systems is ‘panarchy’. Paul Hartzog describes it through this formula:
Complexity + Networks + Connectivity => Panarchy.
This points to the central role of networks and connectivity in understanding and addressing complex systems and why social...
A snapshot of social metric developments.
Complexity is rising. Measurement and evaluation is responding.
Here are few examples.
Moving from simple – to complicated – to complex there are developments in 3 main areas according to the recent FSG Impact Advisors report.
1. Shared Measurement Platforms (leading to increased efficiency). For example:
Impact Reporting and Investment Standards
Pulse
Canadian Index of Wellbeing
2....
The "We"
The curiosity to launch this exploration comes from Michael Lewkowitz and Jeremy Heigh.
A venturer interested in shifting systems, Michael has been exploring the role of venturing, investment, and the mode of organizing in situations with complex ambiguity. Recently drawn to public micro-messaging as a medium for change, Michael comes to this with a sense that emerging forms of communication hold...
Wise investments + mission impact.
It’s your goal.
The complexity of impact is rising faster than ever. Even if you’re getting smarter and your teams are getting better – are your tools keeping up?
Global transparency, immediacy of media, and the closing proximity of issues makes monitoring, managing and acting on alternatives incredibly challenging. In response, the sophistication of the tools we use to sense change, track...