Human Dynamics Institute

This week I spent 2 half days with Royce Holliday from they Human Dynamics Institute. She gave my team at work an overview of Complex Adaptive Systems and the use of simple rules in strategic thinking. Our conversations with her were great. She was able to take scientific theory (complexity, chaos) and connect it concretely to human systems and real world applications.

Overview Outline

Here is the outline for my overview paper:

Carla Colmenarez
KA-Systems Thinking and Intervention
Overview Paper-Outline

1) What is systems thinking: describe the paradigm shift we are in. from historical perspective.
o Paradigms: Kuhn/Bohm-process and structure
o From what to what
o Newtonian/Quantum
o Aristotle
o Open/closed-parts to connectedness

2) What is the landscape of theories. How are they similar/different (Science, Human, Ed.)
a) Science
i) Cybernetics/macy conferences
ii) General systems-across scientific disciplines
iii) dissipative structures,
iv) Complexity-non-linearity, attractors
v) Chaos/order-Bohm, self-organization, emergence
vi) Complex Adaptive: structure (dissipative), pattern (autopoeisis), process (cognition)
vii) Living systems-ecology
b) Human
i) Design and planning
ii) Organizational development
iii) Culture, behavior
c) Cognition
i) Bateson-characteristics and learning
ii) Gardner-creativity
iii) Mind/Brain/Education

3) What is the evolution of thinking---what are they like today? Applications
a) World Café
b) Future Search
c) Networks/communities of practice


Pay attention to/Themes: what is essence of systems thinking, how change over time, variety of fields it touches,





References:

Bateson, G. (1972). Steps to an ecology of mind. New York: Ballantine.

Bohm, D. (1983). Wholeness and the implicate order. New York: Ark.

Bohm, D. (1987). Science, Order and Creativity. New York: Bantam Books.

Brown, J. & Isaacs, D. (2005). The world café: Shaping our futures through conversations that matter. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

Capra, F. (1996). The web of life. New York: Anchor Books.

Capra, F. & Flatau, M. Emergence and design in human organizations: Creative tension “At the edge of chaos.” Unpublished manuscript, Center for Ecoliteracy, Berkely, California, and University of Hertfordshire, England.

Fisher, K.

Gardner, H. (1982). Art, mind and brain: A cognitive approach to creativity. New York: Basic Books.

Immordino-Yang

Kuhn, T. (1970). The structure of scientific revolutions. Chicago: Chicago University Press.

Jantsch, E. (1975). Design for evolution: self-organization and planning in human systems. New York: G. Braziller

Thompson, W.I. (Ed.). (1991). Gaia 2: Emergence the new science of becoming. Hudson, NY: Lindsfarne Press.

Shwartz

Weisbord, M. & Janoff, S. (2000). Future Search: An action guide to finding common ground in organizations & communities. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

Wheatley, M. (1999). Leadership and the new science: Discovering order in a chaotic world. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler.

Wheatley, M. & Kellner-Rogers, M. (1996). A simpler way. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

Meta Map for Systems Thinking

Here is my meta map for the systems thinking overview paper. As I was creating this map, I realized that I know a lot about systems. It was very confirming. The experience of creating this was much easier than the first one I did. I used the same process. I read all of my concept maps from each reading first and then looked for themes, concepts and patterns and tried to create a more global picture. I think the difference this time was that instead of trying to fit, integrate, all of the concepts, I reflected on my own conceptual schema and started there. Then as I read concept maps, I refined my concept.

I have started writing the paper and hope to have at least half of a draft by next week.

Design for Evolution

Reflections on the summer:

I felt way out of the groove on my Fielding work this summer. I worked very hard on work stuff and attended some great learning opportunities that connect to work but didn't spend time collecting notes, reflections and learnings. I completed the work for my application in systems with great success. Now that my life is settling down, I will need to do alot of writing.

Here is a concept map for Design for Evolution by Erich Jantsch. I connected to this author in a unique way. I felt in a lot of ways that he was using my language, or I was using his, and say a deep connection to my work and thoughts at this point.

Summer Reflections

Over the summer, I attended two conferences and completed the application of KA-SIT. I attended a conference by the Mind, Brain and Education department at Harvard and learned about the brain as system and the connection of mind, brain and education. I have not completed capturing my syntheses, reflections and learning but have posted some concept maps of lectures I attended.

First is a lecture by Kurt Fischer, director of the Mind, Brain, Education program at Harvard:

Next is a lecture by Mark Shwartz, professor at the Mind, Brain, Education program at the University of Texas at Artlington:

And finally, is a lecture by Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, a cognitive neuroscientist and educator who studies the neurology and psycholphysiology of emotion, social interaction and culture and implications for devlopment at the Brain and Creativity Institute at USC. I saw Mary Helen speak again at the Syfr conference in Vail, Colorado. Here are some notes from her lecture at Harvard

The second conference I attended by the Syfr Corporation, focused on creativity in education. Mary Helen spoke as well as other authors. Some of the topics covered were brain plasticity, learning differences and thinking tools for creative thought.

I leave these conferences with a greater understanding of the human system.

Three books read

I have read three books in the last few weeks. I was interrupted with a short vacation due to my son's graduation and all the festivities and family involved in that celebration. A fun time. I have also begun working on the community of learners network in Rowland which is a whole-systems transformation effort.

Here is the concept map of Art, Mind and Brain by Howard Gardner:

Here is the concept map for Science, Order and Creativity by David Bohm:

Finally, here is the concept map for The World Cafe by Juanita Brown:

Systems KA

This week I finished reading Gaia 2 Emergence: the New Science of Becoming and Future Search: An action guide to finding common ground in organizations and communities. I also attended a San Diego sub-cluster meeting on Saturday. This was the first time the cluster met and I was very pleased to see the San Diego ELC folk. We plan to meet about every 6 weeks to share knowledge about our work, how to get through the program, to encourage each other and hold each other accountable. It was nice to meet people at different stages of the program. I look forward to our next meeting.

Here is my concept map for Gaia 2 Emergence: The New Science of Becoming edited by William Irwin Thompson.

And here is my concept map for Future Search: An action guide to finding common ground in organizations and communities by Marvin Weisbord and Sandra Janoff.

I have begun reading Art Mind and Brain by Howard Gardner and hope to finish this week. I will also begin a book study with my team at work and Sandra Janoff on Marvin Weisbord's book Productive Wordplaces in the next few weeks.