Future-ready: responding to a fast-changing world
Download as PPTX, PDF0 likes374 views
The document discusses responding to fast changes in the world from digital revolution and the need for sustainability. It summarizes Forum for the Future's realization that their previous approach was becoming outdated and ineffective. They underwent a process to design a new direction, deciding to act as a "catalyst" to create proof points that inspire others and shift key sustainability issues by 2018. Their new approach focuses on high-potential areas, matching with pioneers, using change processes, and creating examples that enable wider changes.
Future-ready: responding to a fast-changing world
- 1. Future-Ready: responding to a fast-changing world ECF – 13 April 2016 David Bent - @davidbent
- 4. Responding to a fast-changing world We're in the middle of two transitions* Inevitable: digital revolution Required: sustainable economy Most organisations are failing on both The opportunity change ourselves so we can use the inevitable to change the world * we hope
- 5. 1. What’s going on in corporate sustainability and beyond?
- 6. A few leaders, lots of incremental effort. But not is enough.
- 7. Approach to sustainability efforts are changing Last 30 years Dominated by incumbents Incremental efforts Product and service innovation For-profit maximisation Emerging order New entrants (for good and bad) Whole system efforts Business model innovation For-purpose and for- long-term –profit No guarantee of success
- 8. It’s annoying we’re going in the wrong direction. There are plenty of people to blame. But ultimately we only control ourselves. We need to change ourselves so we can foster the transition to a sustainable future.
- 9. The inevitable transition – a new socio-technological basis. from Stern (2012) and Perez (2002).
- 10. Digital revolution is changing information flows, and therefore how to be organised What we’re used to Centralised / controlled Organised as siloes What’s coming Diffuse Organised as networks
- 12. “Computers and other digital advances are doing for mental power— the ability to use our brains to understand and shape our environments— what the steam engine and its descendants did for muscle power.” Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee, Andrew in The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies No organisation or society is ready for this.
- 13. “Computers and other digital advances are doing for mental power— the ability to use our brains to understand and shape our environments— what the steam engine and its descendants did for muscle power.” Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee, Andrew in The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies No organisation or society is ready for this.
- 14. The opportunity: use the digital revolution to create a sustainable future Status quo Definitely unsustainable Emerging order Hopefully sustainableTransition Choices and ‘winners’ here form the emerging order
- 15. 2. How has Forum for the Future responded?
- 16. We realised that our approach to change was going out-of-date • Our long-held beliefs were no longer true: ◦ Working one-on-one can help incumbents to be prime movers in change. ◦ We can be relevant, and have a global impact, from the UK. • If we had kept going then we would have been increasingly ineffectual, and would have deserved to die.
- 17. We asked ourselves some tough questions Diagnosis Direction Design for delivery • How do we believe change happens? • What change do we believe is needed? • What skills and assets do we have, or could grow over time? • What have we learnt so far? • Where have we failed, honestly? • What is the best match for what we can do (and get funded for) with what is needed in the world? • Where and how should we ‘play’? • How should we be organised to deliver that? • How can we have access to the skills and assets do we need? • How can we generate the income to cover the costs we have? • How can we get better as we go? • How can we evaluate our impact?
- 18. We’re definitely not ‘there’ yet Partner responsive Systems-led + Partner- directive “Catalyst” 2016-2010-20152006-2010
- 19. Catalyse the shift to a sustainable future Spot the areas of high- change potential Match with the pioneers who want to act Use our change processes Create proof-points that others can use By 2018 we aim for: Specific sustainability issues shifted, like protein and Indian energy People and organisations inspired and equipped to act themselves Created enabling conditions
- 20. Some hard-won lessons • It is difficult to see alternatives when you’re very used to the status quo • The commitment to ‘cutting-edge’ forces Forum forward • Experimentation helps make the case for the new
- 21. “In times of change, learners inherit the earth. The learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.” Eric Hoffer
- 22. 3. What can you do to respond to a fast-changing world?
- 23. Some questions What long-held beliefs are no longer going to be true? What is the best match for what your organisation can do with what is needed in the world? How can you start to experiment in roughly the right direction?
- 24. What long-held beliefs are no longer going to be true? Candidates: “It is OK for campaigning, media, volunteering, fundraising to act separately, even having very different messages" "It is better to act alone and specifically on one issue than act coherently with others on the big picture."
- 25. What is the best match for what you organisation can do with what is needed? Our skills and assets Way to create change 1 Way to create change 2 The impact we want Way to create change 3 ? ? ?
- 26. How can you start to experiment in roughly the right direction? Set up • Long-term intent: in 5 year's time, what will you be glad you learnt now? • Set your inquiry question: ‘how can we...?’ • Design for learning: budget time to learn; be ready to put insights into practice • Limit the risk: Show how the downside is controlled During • Be agile: Respond to changes • Be reflective Make time to learn as you go (and record it!) After • Evaluation: - How could we do things better? - How could we do better things? • Reward ‘good’ failure If you learn (and do things differently), it’s a success • Implement Put insights into practice • Progress: What's the next experiment?
- 27. Some questions What long-held beliefs are no longer going to be true? What is the best match for what your organisation can do with what is needed in the world? How can you start to experiment in roughly the right direction?
- 28. Responding to a fast-changing world We're in the middle of two transitions* Inevitable: digital revolution Required: sustainable economy Most organisations are failing on both The opportunity change ourselves so we can use the inevitable to change the world * we hope
- 29. And finally…
- 32. Putting the world on a sustainable footing is the task of our generation.
- 33. Are you going to be the one to change how things are done?
- 34. We need you to be amazing
- 36. Behind each problem is the mindset which drives ‘unsustainability’ Our diagnosis: Starting point Many areas need change Many efforts underway
- 37. Our diagnosis What will make a difference now Help specific challenges that are ready Help individuals and organsiations to create change where they are
- 38. Our diagnosis What will make a difference over time Help specific challenges that are ready. Help individuals and organsiations to create change where they are. Design each to shift the wider context too
- 39. Our diagnosis Shift to a sustainable future Help specific challenges that are ready. Help individuals and organsiations to create change where they are. Design each to shift the wider context too
- 40. Our diagnosis Shift to a sustainable future Help specific challenges that are ready. Help individuals and organsiations to create change where they are. Design each to shift the wider context too Will make changing easier
- 41. Catalyse the shift to a sustainable future • Spot the areas of high-change potential • Match with the pioneers who want to act • Use our change processes • Create proof-points that others can use By 2018 we’ll have impacts: 1. Specific sustainability issues like protein and Indian energy 2. People and organisations inspired and equipped to act themselves 3. Created enabling conditions