It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change – Charles Darwin
For me 2008 was about two major themes, both of which were exemplified in the election of Barack Obama.
The first is the idea of change. From the current economic disruption, which has only entered into its first innings, through global warming where “In nearly all areas, the developments are occurring more quickly than it has been assumed up until now”, to mass species extinction, and resource scarcity, major change is happening whether we like it or not.
And the second is a fundamental perspective shift from thinking about Me to thinking about We, shown both in Obama’s calls to service, and in the way he utilized the organizing power of the internet. Or as Clay Shirky refers to it ‘Here Comes Everybody‘.
Luckily enough I think that the second is the best strategy to respond to the first – an idea envisioned by Douglas Englebart over 40 years ago. “The problems we’re facing as a species are complex and urgent,” said his daughter Christina recently. “We need to speed up innovation—to accelerate our ability to work together to solve complex global problems.”
Is your organization agile, collaborative, and resilient enough to deal with massive change?
Can your organization think like a swarm?
Related posts:
Pingback: what would nature do? :: The Idea Hive
Pingback: Becoming Future Compatible | The Idea Hive