Tuesday, March 11, 2014

LABS: FROM MESSY TO INNOVATION

SATSUKO VANANTWERP, MANAGER AT SOCIAL INNOVATION GENERATION (SIG) OFFERS A PRIMER ON SOCIAL INNOVATION LABS AND SHARES EXAMPLES OF CANADIAN LABS IN ACTION

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SATSUKO VANANTWERP

he problems we are facing bullying, climate change, isolated seniors are too big for any individual, organization or government to solve in isolation. Since the inception of our public institutions and services, we have been growing these systems to match the growth of our societal challenges. But we are getting to a point where our challenges are becoming bigger than these systems can handle. Wicked problems are forcing governments, foundations, businesses, and non-profits to accelerate the shift from activities ameliorating symptoms to addressing root causes and transforming systems. A promising pathway to do so is through a lab.

Manager, Social Innovation Generation

THINGS ARENT ALWAYS COMFORTABLE MANY LABS AIM TO KEEP THEIR PARTICIPANTS AT THE EDGE OF DISCOMFORT
A New League of Labs Social innovation labs (also called design labs and change labs) are an approach to tackling complex social and environmental challenges that require systems change. This new league of labs provides a structured process for approaching messy and complex challenges and a safe-to-fail creative environment to experiment and prototype radical innovations. And, importantly, it takes a user-centred approach to the solutions it develops, as opposed to an institution- or organization-centred approach, by involving and collaborating with the users throughout solution design and testing. A Lab is a physical and intellectual space designed to encourage and facilitate cooperation and the co-creation of meaningful and innovative solutions to complex problems Dr. Frances Westley, in the paper: What is a Change Lab/Design Lab? The following table highlights key characteristics of different lab processes, based on research by Dr. Frances Westley presented at MaRS Discovery District:
Image courtesy of Simone Sparks

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LABS: FROM MESSY TO INNOVATION

Change Lab Bias towards: Deep Collaboration Elements: Deep understanding of group dynamics Robust process Collaboration among diverse stakeholders Empowerment of those in the room and neutralize hierarchies Focus on common ground while building a shared understanding about past & present Less prototyping than other lab processes Less emphasis on implementation

Design Lab

Bias towards: Innovative Products and Services Elements: Broad research and deep understanding of the problem space Specialized physical environment (design studio feel) Robust methodologies for innovation Rapid prototyping and implementation Often technical types of solutions Less prototyping of intangible things (external influences, etc.)

Social Innovation Lab

Bias towards: Scalable Social Innovation Elements: Borrows the best of Change Labs & Design Labs Prototyping for complexity using simulations and computer visualization Looking to dislodge bottle necks and blockages across scales

Labs Enable Deep Collaboration Labs enable deep collaboration among multi-disciplinary teams and diverse stakeholders. A labs most valuable asset is its ability to bring together people from diverse worldviews and create an environment conducive to working together. Throughout a lab process, particular attention is placed on creating a respectful and open-minded space for sharing ideas, asking questions and providing constructive critique. Much planning and effort goes into neutralizing hierarchies and power differences that may exist among participants. Equally valuing top-down (education, training) and bottom-up (lived experience) expertise is emphasized. This isnt to say that things are always comfortable. In fact, many labs aim to keep their participants at the edge of discomfort, as it is believed we learn and innovate best at this juncture. Participants are encouraged to practice suspending their judgment and putting aside their differences, which enables them to see their own roles as part of a larger system. As a result, participants often let go of elements of a solution that may only serve their constituency in favour of elements that are beneficial to the greater whole. Labs create a space that enables diverse groups to learn, reflect, grow and effectively work together.

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LABS: FROM MESSY TO INNOVATION

Labs: An Emerging Practice Social change labs are part of a global movement (see this map, this essay and this book for a round up of the leading global labs). There are a number of formal labs and organizations using a lab-like approach sprouting up across Canada, including: LABIS out of Institut Nouveau Monde in Montreal, the United Way of Greater Calgary & Province of Albertas ChangeLab, The Natural Steps Sustainable Transition Lab in Ottawa, and Evergreen CityWorks Housing Action Lab and the MaRS Solutions Lab in Toronto. As groups around the world look to the promise of labs to help solve our most intractable societal challenges, we must remember that systems dont change overnight. Labs act as a vehicle for change: a space to learn, develop, test and scale complex solutions to match our most complex social and environmental problems. Interested in learning more about Labs? Check out these SiG resources:

Microtainer mini blog series: A collection of lab-related content curated monthly Learning As We Grow video series: 3-minute videos shining a spotlight on some of the lab activity in Canada Knowledge Hub section on Labs: Includes an introduction, a dip and a dive into the concept of labs

Sourcing bright ideas, fresh perspec tives and personal opinions on transformational change from Ontario and around the world

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