“The map is not the territory” – Korzybski

In 2006, I visited Kyoto for the first time. After walking a couple of kilometers, I realized I was far from my intended destination. Without a map, I was lost. Only after retracing my steps did I realize the map I had seen was not oriented North/South. On this map, North was down and to the right – clearly to the cartographer, another perspective was more important to emphasize.

To solve complex problems, innovators go through a similar process of wayfinding and navigating. To innovate solutions to problems we haven’t seen before, we often need to learn to see old things in new ways. Converging on the true nature of the problem, navigating ambiguity and uncovering the insights that drive innovative solutions, we need to become more comfortable leaving old maps behind and finding new ways of navigating.

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This past week Chaordix was represented at the WorldBlu 2010 Awards in Vegas.

The event was to honour those who made the 2010 list (we did ) and to hear first hand stories amongst the honourees about what makes their company democratic. A complete list of the companies that made the 2010 WorldBlu list is available here

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Originally posted at Convince & Convert on June 23rd, 2010 with some great discussion.

What is the next generation of crowdsourcing?

Crowdsourcing is evolving beyond the shiny contest model (Doritos’ “Crash the Super Bowl”) and into something more meaningful to the brands embracing it and the consumers contributing to it. There is no better ‘bang’ for your buck than a well thought out and properly executed crowdsourcing initiative. Read More…

As Chaordix understands, unleashing human potential in the workplace is a delicate balance between two seemingly oppositional human needs. On one hand, all of us want to have the freedom to be in control of our own environment and have a say in determining the shape of the world around us. And alongside our need for freedom, there is an equally pressing human desire – for structure, for clarity of purpose, and for a sense of order to the world in which we live and work. Read More…

It isn’t every day that I’m willing to sit through a talk on leading a culture of innovation. It isn’t that I think I know everything already, but more that I’m keen to learn new things and often leave disappointed.

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