CIVIC INNOVATIONS ~ by Delore Zimmerman
- 1. CIVIC INNOVATIONS Delore Zimmerman, PhD President Center for the Study of Government and the Individual University of Colorado at Colorado Springs April 29, 2009
- 2. AMERICA’S TRADITION OF CIVIC ENTREPRENEURIALISM Americans of all ages, all stations in life, and all types of disposition in life, are forever forming associations. There are not only commercial and industrial associations... but others of a thousand different types-religious, moral, serious, futile, very general, and very limited, immensely large and very minute. Democracy in America – Alexis de Tocqueville
- 3. CIVIC ACTIONS Civic Engagement : actions taken as a result of an awareness of, and responsibility to, the community where one works and/or lives. Civic Leadership : The formal/informal process of identifying key issues with community-wide impact, and thereafter, acting proactively Civic Innovation : Fresh thinking that creates value through 1) new organizations or processes and 2)organic changes that create wealth or social welfare. Ideas into action.
- 4. HIGH PERFORMANCE COMMUNITIES NETWORKS
- 5. “ The difficulty lies, not in the new ideas, but in escaping from the old ones.” John Maynard Keynes, The General Theory (1936)
- 6. Local Maximum Principle Mathematical solutions only as powerful as the equations used
- 7. TODAY Operating Principles Key ingredients for success Case examples Mobilizing for civic innovation
- 8. Community Operating Principles A community like an individual has a work to do. Communities don’t act, the parts do. Performance is facilitated by seizing momentum and aligning actions with trends that work in your favor Success is increasingly determined by the power of connections elsewhere. A compelling story commits people to the possibilities
- 9. Network Operating Principles Empower the parts Connect the parts connectors play a key role Coordinate networks Strive for minimally centralized networks, i.e. loosely unified Evangelize the interests of the network Networks = Possibility Factories
- 10. Civic Action Coalition Purpose – aligning objectives with ideals Community forum , which assembles the community into an informal assembly where participation is by virtue of participants knowledge and interest, not by virtue of their position. foresight exercises Capacity for technical analysis — so that the members of the forum can undertake studies, assessments of local problems at the local level by local people –> facts-driven Access to risk capital – so that tests and trials of community innovations can be launched.
- 11. Red River Valley – North Dakota & Minnesota Hands on, purpose-driven leadership Science & tech “triple helix” working University, Industry, government Specialized research, training, facilities Human capital (Brain Belt) Quality people Education is highly valued Higher ed, k-12 engaged Dynamic regional business sector Outward oriented and globally savvy Demonstration effect of Great Plains -> Microsoft
- 12. Crop Farming & Animal Husbandry 1870’s 1950’s 2000 Crop & Livestock Science Machinery & Equipment Agri-business Management & Finance Food processing Biotech Services Genomics, vaccines Digital imaging Business solutions software/systems Nanotechnology Electronics Polymers & coatings Wireless technology A Short History of Technology: Red River Valley Corridor
- 13. Jobs with higher earnings Preservation of quality of life Diversification of economy Improved coordination & processes of civic and government sectors Vision of the Future
- 14. Success on Multiple Fronts Waterfront development results in $400 million investment in residential, commercial Economic growth in technology, higher-value industries, including fruits and viticulture Advanced Vehicle Innovations Consortium testing and demonstrating Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV's); nurturing business focusing on PHEV's, biofuels, and solar energy; and educating the public about these new exciting technologies.
- 15. Yahoo! Picks Wenatchee, Washington for New Facility We chose North Central Washington for this important facility because of the great quality of life here, the immediate availability of suitable space , the 'can-do' spirit of community leaders, the cost and reliability of electricity , and the access to a world-class fiber optic network . They've taken all the right steps to create a terrific environment for us.
- 16. Greenwood, Mississippi Viking Conquers the Kitchen Landscape Fred & Margaret Carl and small group of friends Built a global brand – superior product quality processes Aligned strategy with cooking and food Boutique downtown --> part of Fred Carl’s dream Restoration of historic buildings Focus on southern hospital ity and cuisine Use history & tradition Cotton Capital of the World Support from community, state, federal leaders WE
- 18. Alcaeus 600 BC Greece Seize Opportunity Now Not houses finely roofed Nor the stones of walls well built Nor canals nor dockyards make the city But men able to use their opportunity
- 19. “ If you want to have good ideas you must have many ideas.” Linus Pauling Quantum chemist & biochemist Nobel Prize Winner (2 times) Become a possibility factory! High Throughput – Combinatorial
- 20. Machinery & Equipment Electronics Find Opportunities at the Crossroads of Industries Agriculture Production Information Technology Precision Agriculture Instrumentation Data Services Application Services For Example
- 21. Mobilize leadership coalitions on multiple fronts
- 22. William Gibson author, coined term cyberspace “ The future is already here. It’s just not equally distributed yet .” Learn from The Success of Others
- 23. I’ll believe it when I see it. I’ll see it when I believe it.” Tell a compelling story that commits people to the possibilities People must first share a story which they are all a part and relate their course of action to that story . Howard Gardner
- 24. Catch the wind and bend it to your will