Group facilitation & Collaborative Design: Definitions - or Weird words and phrases that we use around here

This is a new and growing set of definitions categorized under a concept we call “COLLABORATIVE DESIGN”. Since our brains seem to learn best by discovering the -differences- between two or more things, you’ll find that we use an opposite or a comparison to help define some of the definitions below. This is called ‘comparative language’. We find this approach useful in helping people to understand (or gain clarity on) various words or phrases that deal with new, tough, or abstract concepts. This method also keeps the learning process dynamic, fluid, and flowing. Rather than static and ‘locked behind a dam’, as it were. Not that volume or capacity isn’t important (i.e. the ‘fill’ of water contained behind the dam). But rather, there also needs to be regular pulsating movement. It’s kinda like a river without a lake … You’ll never see it because neither can exist without the other.

Later, this glossary will become an interactive wikipedia of living definitions that we can all share in its creation. Why is this so important to collaboration and sustainable innovation? Because, we are coming into an era on this planet where change is more important than consistency, where process is more emphasized than structure, and collaboration has a focus more than individuality. Now, don’t take this wrong here! I am saying that the duality of each of these concepts is crucial; like a tide moving in and out from the sea. Think ‘and’ rather than ‘either/or’. But in that eb and flow, tendencies can be recognized. During this part of the eb, it is important to not let yourself get caught into static thinking. Always keep it moving. Do you understand what I’m trying to say here?

So, now then. Let’s continue building the glossary of “Collaborative Design” …

Remember: This is only the beginning of a new dictionary of (w)holistic meaning. Tell me what words or phrases you would like added? Email me at [ Glossary @ DiscoveryFuel.com ] and let me know.

Collaboration

A process where two or more people work together to achieve a common goal.

Collective Intelligence

Collective intelligence also known as “The Group Mind” is a form of intelligence that emerges from the collaboration and competition of many individuals. Collective intelligence appears in a wide variety of forms of consensus decision making such as in bacteria, insects, animals, humans, and even computers.

Communities of Practice

This concept (often abbreviated as CoP) refers to the process of learning that occurs when people who have common goals interact as they strive towards their common goals.

Stakeholders

Individuals with an interest in a group or an organization’s success. Stakeholders influence programs, products, and services.

Facilitate

To assist in accomplishing an objective. To increase the likelihood of reaching a goal.

Facilitation

The empowering and guiding of a group of people to realize their own genius and reach their objectives.

Facilitator

A person who utilizes various forms of facilitation (see above) to help a group of people understand their common objectives and assists them in achieving them while remaining a neutral position in the discussion. The facilitator will try to assist the group in achieving a consensus on any disagreements that preexist or emerge in the meeting so that it has a strong basis for future action. The role has been likened to that of a midwife who assists in the birthing process but is not the producer of the end result.

Innovation

The term innovation may refer to both radical and incremental changes in thinking, in things, in processes or in services. Invention that gets out in to the world is innovation. Usually, something new must be substantially different from what already exist to be innovative. The goal of innovation is positive change, to make someone or something better. Innovation that leads to increased productivity is the fundamental source of increasing wealth in an economy.

Open Innovation

The central idea behind open innovation is that in a world of widely distributed knowledge, companies cannot afford to rely entirely on their own research, but should instead buy or license processes or inventions (i.e. patents) from other companies. In addition, internal inventions not being used in a firm’s business should be taken outside the company (e.g., through licensing, joint ventures, spin-offs). In contrast, closed innovation refers to processes that limit the use of internal knowledge within a company and make little or no use of external knowledge. Some companies promoting open innovation include Procter & Gamble, Innovation Exchange, NineSigma, InnoCentive, and IBM.

Sustainable Innovation

A term used to describe products and processes that contribute to sustainable “green” development. It is often used to describe a range of related ideas, from environmentally friendly technological advances to socially-acceptable innovation.

Triple Bottom Line

A new accounting term derived from the principles of sustainability, which encourages expanding typical account reporting (financial only) to factor in the effect of a business on the environment as well as the community. An easy way to view this is: People, Planet and Profit. More about the concept of “Triple Bottom Line”

Sustainability

A strategy by which communities seek economic development approaches that also benefit the local environment and the quality of life for people and animals. It’s also a process of conducting business with conservation of resources in mind so that day to day business operations do not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Whole System Innovation

Whole system innovation is all about “Design” - any kind of design - from widgits to group process. The basic premise asserts that to design well, one must start with the entire system. It is the process whereby the connections between the idea, process, or product being designed, related processes, and any patterns that emerge, are recognized and intentionally incorporated into the design process. True innovation therefore, taps into the emergent properties that are latent within all systems and is literally one vast inexauhstable resource that is available to all humanity for creating a sustainable and livable future.