I've moved this blog to our website www.visualinsight.net -- please visit us there!

Sketch created during our planning session for Program for the Future 2010
CoLABoration at The Tech Museum www.programforthefuture.org
Coss-discipline, cross-industry groups experimenting with new collaboration tools and processes to help our own organizations -- while working together to solve global problems

1990-2010 Click to enlarge for details of the wild ride technology has taken us on


Looking back over the 20 years since the advent WorldWideWeb, I remember back when scientists were the only ones who had this magical thing called "bitnet" that let them send messages instantly by computer. Then came the days of dial-up and amazement when "you've got mail." In the late 1990's and early 2000's when we were forecasting the impact of technology on education, school administrators were worried about how to wire their buildings. Who knew that soon wires and computers would become passe for students who can do it all with cell phones. So much of what seemed outrageous at the time is commonplace today: "Your Life on a Card," "Video Games Prepare You for the Workforce." In 2001 our Window Into Talent forecast Social Networks at the center of workforce issues, and no one was sure what that meant (years before Facebook).

Now I'm wondering: Which ideas that seem outrageous today will be commonplace in 10 or 20 years? How about "we raised our collective IQ with new technologies and systems for improving human interactions that will enable us to solve global problems"....or at least figured out how to keep cell phones from going off during concerts.

The concept of "triangle leadership" came up during this 2006 visit to Bear Island, Buckminster Fuller's family home. Three of us were talking after visiting the geodesic dome: Bonnie DeVarco, visionary and Fuller scholar, Lauralee Alben, designer and leadership consultant, and me. We were inspired by the geometry of the dome to start thinking about the structure of relationships in an organization. Interlocking triangles are strong!

The idea seemed beautifully simple. A very strong triangle of people is a solid beginning. Then the organization builds as each person brings in someone else, and a new triangle (with two of the three originals and the new person) is formed. That way, the relationships are all "interlocking" (everyone is part of a trusted group of three). There may be homogeneity within a triangle, but as the organization grows, a great diversity of people will come together. As the organization grows, each person may not be "bonded" with all the other parts -- but they have a secure initial spot.

In theory, it works to the extent that there is attention to maintaining the closest bonds. In the beginning, each person bonds with two others. Ultimately each person would be connected to adjacent triangles: That would require maintaining bonds with six people. That's a lot to maintain for the bonds to hold. We've put it into practice in a couple of volunteer organizations and it works, but the challenge is to sustain the bonds when there's limited time and energy for the work. A common challenge with any structure.

Bob Johansen of Institute for the Future has written about the "Fishnet Organization"-- the idea being that you could pick it up at any point and the organization could mobilize to serve the whole.

My good colleague Joel Orr wrote a book with the title "Structure is Destiny" and I've observed his ability to apply Nature's principles of design to human endeavors.

GE's former CEO Jack Welch was famous for talking about the importance of human factors in business. But anyone leading an organization knows it's hard. Harder than geometry.

Dogu, the 2500-5000 year old clay figurines from Japan, tell the story of a culture that celebrated women and fertility. I was enchanted by these artifacts at the National History Museum in Oeno Park, Tokyo, Japan last week. And found myself wondering what story historians 2500 years from now (yes - I'm a optimist) will tell about us, based on our artistic artifacts?
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Background: Quote from Suite 101 The Power of Dogu – Exhibition Preview: Ancient Japanese Ceramic Figurines Will be Shown at British Museum

© Frances Spiegel

Dogu are ceramic figures with animal or human features. They were produced using high quality pottery in a wide variety of shapes and sizes with curious decoration and intricate geometric designs. A number of techniques were employed including modelling, clay appliqué, decoration with twisted plant fibres (jomon means ‘cord-marked’) and burnishing. Many were painted, usually with red pigments, or covered with lacquer.

Some have definite female features while many others are not gender-specific. Some figures wear facial masks, while others have heart-shaped faces or triangular heads. Some dogu appear to be praying while many females squat as if in childbirth.

Confessions of a Paper Lover



Recalling the Native American tradition of giving thanks for animals who gave their lives to be a meal -- I'm ready to start doing the same for the trees that produced my main source of sustenance. Yes I consume paper and cannot live without it. I want to be green and save trees. Yes the virtual world works in many ways (e.g., right now -- writing this confession to paper addiction). But cannot imagine ever replacing paper for:

Writing on the Walls: I work on 4 foot by 8 foot (or looooonger) sheets of paper on the walls, weaving words and images to help people at meetings see how their ideas fit together. Yes, there are tree-saving alternatives: Erasable white boards, tablet PCs, even mini e-drawing tablets with mock pastels. But for me the magic seems to be in the paper. I have to touch it with my hands, spread pastels with my fingers, and hear the squeak of the marker on the paper. Awaiting the electronic solution that will leave my hands and conscience clean.

Binders: For every book and research project, I create binders with print-outs of writing -- yes, paper, paper, paper. The thicker they are, the more I feel I've accomplished. The final publication is usually a slim volume, but the binders behind it let me feel the weight of the work behind it. I understand the new Microsoft table shows the "layers" of work, but will it be the same if you can't feel how heavy it is?

Then of course there are books, newspapers, letters, postcards....I could write more but am running out of ideas and must return to my notebook and pen.

Please see our new blog www.writingonthewalls.com

LOOKING BEYOND THE TRENDS--Joel Orr of Cyon Research identified that fascination with new trends + ennui with old ones = shallow thinking. For example, the term "globalization" has been on the lips of most business and thought leaders for a few years. Been there, done that. But in reality we have only begun to fathom the impacts and implications. At Cyon's annual "Conference on the Future of Engineering Software" (for which we created this mural), the focus was on deeper thinking, stronger networks, and better data for getting the big picture of the sea change we're experiencing.