Civic Intelligence and Social Innovation
The template for the basic "perspective" chapter follows this paragraph. The original template (possibly revised) is in Introduction_to_Section_II. (After the chapter is further along — and the template structure is more-or-less finalized, we can remove this extra verbiage.)
The basic Plan has four parts:
(1) A Introduction to the perspective
(2) One or more case studies that show different facets of this perspective. Our decision was, as much as it's possible, not to artificially separate thinking and doing. At the same time we do want to present a variety of approaches, some of which will be better suited for think-work and some will be better suited for action (that plays out in the "real" (or material?) world.
(3) Conclusions
(4) Finally, a section that includes text book like end-of-chapter exercises, questions for the student, suggested activities, etc.
The intersecting fields of organizational theory, personal and collective healing, and spiritual integration are all intrinsically contained within this movement toward greater civic intelligence we are attempting to map. Any instance of social transformation has roots in the personal growth, empowerment and integration of the individuals involved, and there are patterns that invite further exploration of ways to nurture this sort of healing and transformation at both the personal and the community, or civic level.
Here's a link to Symbionomics, just to get this started... This project has its own set of pattern cards that are in development, that seek to illuminate how these concepts are being used to transform the ways we live to be more in alignment with a healthy way of being. Of particular interest for this class, perhaps, is the Rapid Prototyping card, near the bottom...
~Leon
Civic Intelligence and Social Innovation "If we can't imagine a better world, we won't get it." - John Robinson of UBC's Institute for Resources, Environment, and Sustainability
Civic Intelligence is a set of skills and ideas that organizations and society use to find solutions to environmental (social and physical) issues collectively. Civic intelligence is important for social changes because these set of skills and ideas are key to the success in finding solutions and changes to unmet needs. This includes finding what exactly is the problem, where we can make changes, and what we need to do to make these changes.
Civic intelligence and social innovation can easily be overpowered by talk of utopian visions in attempting to make this world as best as it can. The problem with this vision is that people get too deeply devoted to making this world perfect. (No flaw) And this is impossible to do. The best way to try rid this world of environmental issues is to use social innovation and civic intelligence not necessarily to find set solutions, but to find change.
The most effective way to create these changes we need for finding solutions to social issues is organizations. Civic intelligence Organizations promote social innovation with strength, support and passion. Organizations are usually small and take time to progress but they are effective in a way that no other action can accomplish. Through hard work, dedication and passion organizations are filled with people who are motivated and feel personally connected to the issue. This is what makes organizations so powerful. As networks are created the power of the organization spreads. Social innovation is all around us, big and small. Social innovation can range from self-help health groups, to fundraising, to charity shops, to community wind farms. (Mulgan 7) An importance part of the process of organizations are creating awareness of social issues. Connections are key to this process and without them these organizations would cease to exist.
The Problems that arise As we make changes and advances to our world we face new problems where we thought we were finding solutions. Ironically, advances we make such as technology, has brought upon new problems that we now have to address. Not only has technology made issues such as plagiarism easier to do, it is affecting civic intelligence at the same time. technology is "dumbing down" workers as they get their jobs taken from them by machines. This general process removes the "politics" of labor, leisure, and learning; indeed it naturally results in the "de-skilling" of the citizen. As this continues people start to think about getting jobs more than the social consequences that comes from the jobs.
