Complexity, risk and collaboration

04/18/2304/18/23 Christopher Wilson & AsscoaitesChristopher Wilson & Asscoaites 11

Complexity, CollaborationComplexity, Collaboration

& Learning While Doing& Learning While Doing


Not all Issues are AlikeNot all Issues are Alike Simple IssuesSimple Issues

Straightforward, ends and means are clearly evident, problem solving Straightforward, ends and means are clearly evident, problem solving is recipe-like and easily replicable, no special expertise is required, is recipe-like and easily replicable, no special expertise is required, experimentation is possible although there is little need for it and experimentation is possible although there is little need for it and there is high confidence of success. Eg. Baking a cake.there is high confidence of success. Eg. Baking a cake.

Complicated IssuesComplicated Issues Ends may be clear but the means are less so, requiring a process Ends may be clear but the means are less so, requiring a process

among experts to define. Many logically connected elements. Experts among experts to define. Many logically connected elements. Experts lay out a narrow path for success that has little tolerance for lay out a narrow path for success that has little tolerance for experimentation but high confidence in success if all the right experts experimentation but high confidence in success if all the right experts have been brought together. The process is transferable to other have been brought together. The process is transferable to other similar circumstances if followed exactly. Eg. Building a bridge.similar circumstances if followed exactly. Eg. Building a bridge.

Complex ‘Wicked’ IssuesComplex ‘Wicked’ Issues Uncertainty is high because both ends and means are unclear and Uncertainty is high because both ends and means are unclear and

must be learned simultaneously. Issue elements may be unknown or must be learned simultaneously. Issue elements may be unknown or unknowable and may evolve over time. Solutions require the unknowable and may evolve over time. Solutions require the construction of positive relationships in order to share multiple construction of positive relationships in order to share multiple perspectives and contributions. Experience is no guarantee of perspectives and contributions. Experience is no guarantee of success. Solutions may be optimized for a given moment but are success. Solutions may be optimized for a given moment but are imperfect or incomplete. Each situation is unique and solutions are imperfect or incomplete. Each situation is unique and solutions are rarely transportable. Eg. Transforming a community.rarely transportable. Eg. Transforming a community.


Issue Issue ComplexityComplexity

Context

Technology

Resources

Business

Action

Interdependence

Political

Stakeholders

Knowledge

Shared Goals

Complexity Increases with Increases in the Number of Risks and Uncertainties

Work Coupling

Time


Complexity Encourages Complexity Encourages CollaborationCollaboration

Complexity breeds uncertaintyComplexity breeds uncertainty Since the goals and the means to achieve them must be Since the goals and the means to achieve them must be

learned together, one is never certain whether the right learned together, one is never certain whether the right goal is being pursued or whether one has sufficient goal is being pursued or whether one has sufficient knowledge, resources or power to achieve it. This risk is knowledge, resources or power to achieve it. This risk is mitigated somewhat by distributing it among others.mitigated somewhat by distributing it among others.

Ashby’s law of requisite varietyAshby’s law of requisite variety Match the complexity of the issue with the complexity of Match the complexity of the issue with the complexity of

the solutionthe solution With the distribution of knowledge, resources (both With the distribution of knowledge, resources (both

human and financial), and power (authority and human and financial), and power (authority and mandate), no one is fully in control. Shared mandate), no one is fully in control. Shared governance becomes the only effective means of governance becomes the only effective means of coordination.coordination.

With the awareness that we can’t do it alone, we open With the awareness that we can’t do it alone, we open ourselves to the idea of collaborationourselves to the idea of collaboration

And yet…And yet…


A Practitioner’s View of A Practitioner’s View of CollaborationCollaboration

“ “Collaboration is an unnatural act between Collaboration is an unnatural act between non-consenting adults.”non-consenting adults.”

“ “We all say we want to collaborate, but We all say we want to collaborate, but what we really mean is that we want to what we really mean is that we want to continue doing things as we have always continue doing things as we have always done them while others change to fit what done them while others change to fit what we are doing.”we are doing.”

Former US Surgeon General, Jocelyn EldersFormer US Surgeon General, Jocelyn Elders


Collaboration Needs Re-Collaboration Needs Re-LearningLearning

While children collaborate spontaneously, While children collaborate spontaneously, most adults have been taught: most adults have been taught: someone is always in charge, someone is always in charge, problems have simple solutions,problems have simple solutions, people can be compelled to cooperate,people can be compelled to cooperate, accountability must be imposed & mistakes accountability must be imposed & mistakes

punished,punished, the problem lies in changing someone else’s the problem lies in changing someone else’s

behaviour, andbehaviour, and answers & actions are more important than answers & actions are more important than

dialogue.dialogue. Collaboration depends on our sense of Collaboration depends on our sense of

belonging (how we are together) and on the belonging (how we are together) and on the quality of our exchanges with each other (the quality of our exchanges with each other (the conversations we hold amongst ourselves). conversations we hold amongst ourselves).


Practices That Make It WorkPractices That Make It Work Socialization practicesSocialization practices

Pre-collaboration, getting to possibility, purpose, Pre-collaboration, getting to possibility, purpose, modicum of trustmodicum of trust

Design PracticesDesign Practices Structuring the process w/o structuring the Structuring the process w/o structuring the

outcomeoutcome Engagement PracticesEngagement Practices

Empowerment, personalizing, building Empowerment, personalizing, building ownership & commitmentownership & commitment

Trust practicesTrust practices Building confidence, re-affirming trustworthiness Building confidence, re-affirming trustworthiness

& moral contracting& moral contracting


Practices That Make It Work Practices That Make It Work (cont’d)(cont’d)

Governance practicesGovernance practices Purpose, principles, people, concepts, structure & Purpose, principles, people, concepts, structure &

processesprocesses Working to consensus & multiple accountabilitiesWorking to consensus & multiple accountabilities

Operational PracticesOperational Practices Appropriate & fair sharing of risks, rewards & Appropriate & fair sharing of risks, rewards &

workloadworkload Learning practicesLearning practices

Developing common languageDeveloping common language Learning while doing & double loop learningLearning while doing & double loop learning

Information practicesInformation practices Satisfying learning, contingent cooperation & Satisfying learning, contingent cooperation &

multiple accountabilitiesmultiple accountabilities


Collaboration is a process of Collaboration is a process of ……

Building trusted relationshipsBuilding trusted relationships Bringing into existence shared possibilityBringing into existence shared possibility Reconciling the metaphors which guide Reconciling the metaphors which guide

our various experiences & knowledge, our various experiences & knowledge, leading to discovery and shared leading to discovery and shared innovation innovation

Heuristic (trial & error) learning by doingHeuristic (trial & error) learning by doing Demonstrating our value to each otherDemonstrating our value to each other Community building & creating a sense Community building & creating a sense

of belongingof belonging


Collaboration Leads To… Collaboration Leads To… Effective dissemination and exchange of Effective dissemination and exchange of

information,information, Knowledge collaborationKnowledge collaboration and frame and frame

reconciliation,reconciliation, Collective learning, Collective learning, Shared ownership and decision making, Shared ownership and decision making, Rigorous feedback & accountability,Rigorous feedback & accountability, Innovation,Innovation, Shared commitment,Shared commitment, The development of new resources, and The development of new resources, and

most importantlymost importantly The effective and efficient implementation The effective and efficient implementation

of collaborative endeavours.of collaborative endeavours.


At Christopher Wilson & At Christopher Wilson & AssociatesAssociates

Let Us Help You To Collaborate…Let Us Help You To Collaborate… To forge better results To build a future you want to live

into To create a nourishing community And a place of belonging


Thank youThank you

Christopher Wilson & AssociatesChristopher Wilson & Associates

PO Box 62024PO Box 62024

Ottawa, ONOttawa, ON

K1C 7H8K1C 7H8

[email protected]@christopherwilson.ca

Tel: 613-355-6505Tel: 613-355-6505

mailto:[email protected]

Complexity, risk and collaboration

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