Author: neil

[Link] Diversity & Inclusion has a Polarisation Problem

A thoughtful essay from Lily Zheng on a thorny, polarising topic.

In this essay, I’m going to make the case that D&I workshops as we know it are designed to be unwelcome for people who haven’t bought in to their premise. I’ll start by diving into the most common assumptions embedded into today’s D&I programming. I’ll show how these assumptions can influence D&I programming in ways that can unwittingly can widen the gap in knowledge among employees, create polarization and resentment, and paradoxically, undermine future efforts at inclusion. Finally, I’ll present an alternative framework for D&I programming and explore the implications of adopting it.

HT to my AltMBA tribe member Aray M. Till

[Link] Why is the World So Beautiful

This is a fascinating conversation with Prof. Robin Wall Kimmerer, a plant ecologist, writer, and Distinguished Teaching Professor at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY and a member of the Potawatomi First Nation.

“Mosses have this ability, rather than demanding a lot from the world,  they’re very creative in using what they have, rather than reaching for what they don’t have,” Kimmerer told Tapestry.

“When there are limits, the mosses say, ‘Let’s be quiet for a while. Abundance, openness, water, will return.  We’ll wait this out.'”

Listen to this conversation

HT John Hagel

[Link] The Future of Analytics may be low/no code… at first

George Mount doesn’t buy the “point-and-click” story about analytics tools, making everyone an analyst.  Innovation in this space – like all others – happens in waves, & it’s happened before.  With several examples, including for Power Query, he recommends

data professionals learn a bit about coding. Maybe not every data solution requires it; that’s fine. But given where we’ve come from in the data world, I’m not inclined to say that the future is all low and no code.

 

[Link] The Three Elements of an Innovation Ecosystem

Note to self: Yeah, it has too many buzzwords in the title.  Read it anyway.

Developing an innovation capability within a large organization is a daunting prospect. In the past, many have tried but few succeeded. Often difficulties are linked to a too narrow and shallow approach, such as training a group of employees in an innovation methodology and expecting the organization to turn into an innovation powerhouse as a consequence. It’s become clear in the last few years that building a sustainable innovation capability requires a more systemic approach.