Social Innovation in Complex Systems

Introduction to complexity theory and its application to social systems
Introduction to resilience theory as a framework for designing change
Exploration of emerging theories of social innovation to explain how change happens
Cases and exercises to demonstrate the practical applications of theory
Consideration of the role of leadership and entrepreneurship in successful innovation

Design Thinking for System Change

An overview of the history of design thinking as a tool for supporting system change
Examples from designers like Bruce Mau and what he calls “massive change”, to complexity thinkers like Brian Arthur, exploring the nature of technological innovation
Practical frameworks for taking a design approach
Exercises to practice design thinking in small teams
Implications of design thinking on strategy development and implementation plans

Learn and practice specific strategies for acting effectively in complex social systems and institutions
Managing conflict
Negotiation
Collaboration among diverse partners
Decision-making

Challenges of scaling up social innovations from limited, local impact to broader, durable impact within a system
The role of the institutional entrepreneur
Influencing changes resources flows, the cultural understandings of the problem, and shifts in the laws and policies that govern the problem domain
New approaches to generating revenue for social good, developing policy for change, and creating narratives to shift values
Real world examples from Canadian and international contexts

Opportunity for applied, action-learning
Collaborative research and the design of a strategy for social innovation
Strategies focus on specific problem domains and integrate cross-sectoral perspectives (private, public, not-for-profit)
Expert panels frame issues, offer insights, pose challenges, and review presentations

1.	Custom designed for tri-sector collaboration and to mobilize cutting edge knowledge for high impact

2.	External, tri-sector expert panels will frame issues, offer insights, pose challenges, and review the final project presentations

3.	Participants will work in small tri-sector teams to design and develop a social innovation strategy that will focus on a specific problem domain and integrate the team’s multiple perspectives

4.	Each team will be supported by a professional coach with proven expertise and competency in organizational leadership, diverse team development and system change

5.	Participants will have the opportunity to experience the problem domains first hand through specially designed learning journeys into real world environments

6.	In addition to the program faculty, guest lecturers will include some of the world’s leading consultants as well as some of its most recognized social innovators