Sue Stephen Christine Gelowitz Update on Strategic Conversation Charting the Course A Strategic Conversation A Presentation for the Provincial Leadership Forum Delivered by Sue Stephen & Christine Gelowitz November 2008 Looking Back at Looking Forwards Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 3 A quick history: The why & what of the project Todays presentation: What weve achieved: A year of accomplishments Found in translation: Learnings from the data Looking Ahead: Whats Next Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 4 A quick history: The why & what of the project Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 5 Building pressure in our operating environment A quick history: The why & what of the project Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 6 In response, a process of internal change began Under the banner of the Road Ahead: Recognized people as the foundation and strength of the organization; initiated conversations about our Vision, Mission & Values. We began challenging our mental models: Lou Tice, Investment in Excellence, Pacific Institute; Seeing the gorilla - exploring and encouraging Innovation. A quick history: The why & what of the project Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 7 In response, a process of internal change began Began building a culture of learning: began growing a community of Learning Organization Practioners and internalized a new set of collaboration tools (Bob Chartier). Explored application & use of new theory: David Snowden gave us a model for dealing with complexity; and via a pilot project known as the Narrative Inquiry we explored our past for answers. THE CYNEFIN FRAMEWORK A quick history: The why & what of the project Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 8 In response, a process of internal change began And then we began the process of looking forward to the future and initiated the Strategic Conversation. The Strategic Conversation capitalizes on prior initiatives: it builds on the momentum already created in staff to think differently (momentum created through initiatives like the Road Ahead, Investment in Excellence, and efforts to create a culture of learning); it utilizes our learning organization tools and practioners to engage staff in the futures work; and it builds upon our knowledge of complexity theory; and combines the principles of scenario development. A quick history: The why & what of the project Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 9 What weve achieved: A year of accomplishments Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 10 During the past year 10 Full Scale Strategic Conversation Workshops hosted involving a variety of districts, branches, business areas 700+Approximate number of direct participants in Strategic Conversation workshops 1789Tagged Data Items Collected 1482 future scenarios, 114 stories, 156 perceptions 10 Other Strategic Conversation Sessions we supported provided advice, materials and support to 10 other sessions initiated & led by other branches & districts worked in conjunction with the LO Community inside MOFR and in other ministries What weve achieved: A year of accomplishments Several large scale future investigations: Engaged many staff, Collected lots of data Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide Snapshots & Discussion papers written 9Interpretive data samplers (reports) 50 Deputy & Executive blog posts What weve achieved: A year of accomplishments During the past year 128 Comments in response to blog posts 19Maximum number of responses to a single blog (Do You Know Our Mission Statement?) 16 Comments in response to Brazil blog series Broad Environmental Scanning: We developed and shared a lot of information Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 12 Found in translation: Learnings from the data Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 13 A few interesting observations 0 Scenarios written by senior managers that were tagged impossible to occur in the future 8Scenarios written by senior managers that were tagged unlikely to occur in the future VERSUS 87Scenarios written by staff that were tagged impossible or unlikely to occur in the future Found in translation: Learnings from the data 21 % Future scenarios that senior managers tagged staff would feel attacked if they heard about it for the 1 st time 452 Future Scenarios relate to the topic First Nations (80 submitted by staff from FN BA) Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 14 What challenges & topics did we (Senior managers) write about last year? Of the major challenges and topics that Senior Managers wrote about in their scenarios at PLT last year, which do you think was most popular? Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 14 Found in translation: Learnings from the data 1.First Nations 2.Stewardship 3.Economics 4.People Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 15 Do you think last year the Senior Managers Imagined a Financial Collapse? How many scenarios do you think were written last year at the Provincial leadership Session about a economic collapse? Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 15 Found in translation: Learnings from the data 1.Zero 2.Less than 10 3.Less than 50 4.More than 100 Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 16 Exploration of a Scenario Titled: Recession Found in translation: Learnings from the data Scenario Highlights: Reduced product costs Company & industry consolidates; foreign companies take ownership Increase supply of majority of products; Low price for commodity; less focus on dimensional Reduced operable land base; Larger percentage of land base left intact Community impact on forest jobs Different economic spin-offs Why arent we seeing global connections early? Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 17 Learning from the data Questions to ask ourselves Found in translation: Learnings from the data Are there areas in our scanning we dont see? Why arent we seeing them? What might be the underlying reasons? Do we avoid seeing the seemingly impossible? Do we avoid talking about the unlikely? Do we often think outside our boundaries and see beyond our border? Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 18 What do some people think we dont talk about in the Forest Service? What sort of items do you think staff said the Forest Service is often not talking about? Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 18 Found in translation: Learnings from the data How can we widen the scope of what we think and talk about in the ministry? 1.A smaller Forest Service 2.People Practices 3.Timber being valued less in relation to other resources Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 19 Some insights on Interagency Collaboration Found in translation: Learnings from the data Based on an inter-agency Strategic Conversation, some of the things people worry and are concerned about: The risk to crown land and resources is being underestimated and going unnoticed by everyone; Pressures for access to Crown land and resources are overwhelming; and In their current work environment, they dont collaborate across ministries, wouldnt know who to contact and are frustrated by it. Some of the risks staff worry about are: related to water resources, First Nations, stewardship, climate and land use. Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 20 Some insights on items tagged with the topic of Technology Found in translation: Learnings from the data Technology is viewed positively for helping to address future issues and there appears to be a technology saves all perspective Staff are more likely to engage and shift priorities on issues linked to technology Some business areas view the application of technology as a natural shift in their business, something they are already prepared for, and in their eyes, something long overdue More recently, there are scenarios appearing tagged negatively due to foreseeing centralization of technology Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 21 A new Emerging Data Set Exploring Perspectives on Tenure Found in translation: Learnings from the data Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 22 What are some examples of positive insights for going forward? Found in translation: Learnings from the data Strong culture: on many indicators there are very narrow ranges present (i.e. small standard deviation from the mean) A positive situation for being able to move to action and get things done. We may need to ask ourselves if our thinking, and pool of ideas, may need to show more diversity. Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 23 So what does this interesting information mean to the Forest Service? Found in translation: Learnings from the data It provides significant insight into our underlying culture; it can confirm, or challenge assumptions. And as a result, It can tell us a lot about how we have to adapt ourselves going forward in order to mitigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities; and it can measure change: after only one year of data collection, we are already showing more awareness of the future. Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 24 CHANGE Perspective Widens TAKEAWAYS Some Larger Scale Data Conclusions Found in translation: Learnings from the data We need real innovation for the tough times and challenges that lie ahead STARVATION A Need A Lacking Of PRESSURE The trick will be not allowing the pressure to go backwards and feed the status quo Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 25 TAKEAWAYS : Some Larger Scale Data Conclusions Found in translation: Learnings from the data We need industrial strength tools to aid us We need to adopt new tools of technology to do our business But technology alone wont save us Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 26 TAKEAWAYS: Some Larger Scale Data Conclusions Found in translation: Learnings from the data We need to move knowledge around fast i.e. the blog, just in time information sharing We must accept ambiguity will be a part of moving forward, along with the uncertainty of complex challenges Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 27 TAKEAWAYS : Some Larger Scale Data Conclusions Found in translation: Learnings from the data We must use the strength of our culture to grow outward We must widen the scope of perspectives that we gather, and do so in a purposeful fashion Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 28 Looking Ahead: Whats Next Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 29 This is only the beginning. Next Steps Found in translation: Learnings from the data Expand site Conduct more analysis, and broaden the analysis team Data collect from clients and partner ministries Data collect on specific topics Continue the tenure project Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 30 - Charles Darwin It is not the strongest of the species who survive, nor the most intelligent; rather it is those most responsive to change Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 31 MANY MATERIALS AVAILABLE