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Scholar Perspectives Webinar Series Archive
This free webinar series focuses on collaborative approaches for tackling challenges and thriving in the 21st Century. Leading thinkers, authors, and founders will share their experiences and reflections. Some of the featured guests traveled to South Africa in September to share and learn at the www.NEXUS4africa.org Conference.
In each of the Scholar Perspectives below, we took an evidence-based approach to engage in a lively conversation that gave participants “food for thought” and “practical ways” to enrich their collaborative efforts.
Fall 2011
The Economics of Abundance: The Circular Flow of Gifts, Talents, & Money
August 25, 2011 @ 2:00 PM EST – Complete
w/ Dr. Olivia Saunders & Peter Block
Olivia Saunders & Peter Block will discuss some ideas about the new economics developed in collaboration for their upcoming book on the same title.
In this session a different perspective of Economics is presented. It is a shift away from the core Economics principle of scarce resources to a principle of abundant/unlimited resources. The assumption of scarcity pervades all areas of society. It separates us. It produces unnecessary individualism and competition. It increases the cultural wounds most of us are trying to heal. Participants are engaged to challenge their thinking for communities and nations as regards the distributive effect of scarce resources vis-à-vis the distributive effect of abundant resources.
Stories of Collaboration from Africa: NEXUS Live Update, Johannesburg
September 12, 2011 @ 4:30 PM EST – Completed
w/ Dr. Steve Cady & NEXUS 4 Africa Keynotes
Join Dr. Steve Cady and other keynote convenors live at the NEXUS 4 Africa Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa. They will be sharing inspiring stories and the surprise of collaboration. Explore ways to move from a place of problems to one of nope and possibilities. Learn how collaborative methods and technologies are being used to make a meaningful difference.
About the NEXUS 4 Africa Conference
The purpose of Nexus Africa is to bring leaders, practitioners, activists, scholars and students together to advance the field of whole systems change and in doing so, address critical challenges and opportunities in our world. For more information about the NEXUS 4 Africa Conference visit: www.NEXUS4change.org.
About the NEXUS 4 Africa Key Convenors
A number of thought leaders in the field of Whole System Change will be keynote convenors throughout the conference, and will also conduct pre- and post-conference workshops and “supersessions” throughout the course of the week covering a variety of relevant and dynamic topics. Key Convenors attending the conference are listed below. Som of these key convenors will be attending the webinar session. For more information on conference key convenors visit www.NEXUS4africa.org.
- Jake Jacobs
- David Isaacs
- Diana Whitney
- Olivia Saunders
- Harrison Owen
- Leslie DePol
- Steven H. Cady, Ph.D.
- Prof. Freddie Crous
- Bonita de Klerk, Ph.D
- Alison du Toit
- Kgosi (Chief) Puso Gaborone
- Dr Andile Dube
- Roosevelt Finlayson
- Peggy Holman
- Gcina Mhlope
- Eriaan Oelofse, Ph.D
- Chene Swart, Ph.D
- Louise van Rhyn, Ph.D
- Merrill van der Walt, Ph.D
About the NEXUS 4 Africa Sponsors
Below are the following sponsors for the NEXUS 4 Africa Conference, for more information visit www.NEXUS4africa.org.
- ChangeWright Consulting
- Bowling Green State University
- ACMP
- ChangeAbility
- Drum Cafe
- LVMS Consulting
- The South African Organisation Development Network (SAODN)
- Tools of Greatness (TOG)
- Academy for Organizational Change (AOC)
Building Collaborative Spaces: A Relational Process
September 22, 2011 @ 2:00 PM EST – Completed
w/ Dr. Madelyn Blair & Dr. Mary Gergen
When you hear the word, ‘space’, does your mind turn to physical space – everything from the space in which you stand to outer space? But is physical space really where all space is? For example, when you can’t connect with your listener, do you feel they are just not opening space in their minds to hear your points?
Although physical space can affect collaborative action, collaborative spaces are not about physical spaces. Our talk will be about the non-physical spaces that we all live in day in and day out. And while they are not physical, they are as real as the pyramids.
If you are interested in
- what collaborative space looks like
- why collaborative space can exist
- how to create collaborative space
- what supports collaborative space
- how to maintain and repair collaborative space
Then this session will provide insights and examples.
Unlike a realist view that things are what they are, and we have to discover them, a social constructionist position holds that we create what is the “real” as we communicate with one another. The constructionist view is that within our various professional and social groups, we come up with our versions of the “real.” This provides a wonderful space in which we can collaborate with others.
Relational theory has been developed out of a social constructionist position. The emphasis is on the prime importance of relational processes in creating who we are and how we make meaning together. The importance of this idea for creating collaborative space is hard to over-estimate. It suggests that no matter how fixed a position may seem to be, the people with whom we are negotiating have other potentials for being — for speaking, for listening, for changing –that may come into the process.
Building upon these two theories, several practices will be explored – Appreciative Inquiry, narrative, and a new way of communicating as presented in Essays in Two Voices – all positive approaches that seek to create possibilities for synergy and mutual benefit that can be used to create, support, and maintain collaborative spaces. Examples of using such approaches will show their effectiveness.
Teaching for a Change: The Importance of the Classroom in Creating Leaders for Today…and Tomorrow
October 5, 2011 @ 2:00 PM EST – Completed
w/ Dr. Jane Wheeler
Dr. Wheeler is all about the students. She says as far as a professional achievement, “I am most proud of my students. Nothing makes me prouder than watching them graduate.” And she loves to teach. In fact, when asked to identify the most interesting place she has visited, she replied, “The classroom is the most interesting place I have visited. Although I have been to every U.S. state, Brazil, and Europe, the classroom is the best place that I have visited!! Watching the students become engaged with the material and watching them actually learn is wonderful.” Dr. Wheeler is know for “Jane-ing” her students – taking them deeper with that question. She utilizes theories from embodied learning, experiential learning, emotional intelligence, and more. In this session, you will learn about the evidence-based approaches that create dynamic learning – deep learning – learning that lasts a life time.
Dr. Wheeler has primary areas of expertise in organizational behavior, organizational development, leadership, teams, and emotional intelligence. She has been working on a CBA research grant, “The Importance of Political Skills for the Supply Manager”, which she and Dr. Hartley were awarded in 2009. So far their work has resulted in a few conference presentations, a refereed proceeding, and an article getting prepared for publication. Another research article she has co-authored, “Mission, Vision, and Values: What do they say?” is under review at Organizational Development Journal. A third scholarly work is entitled “Learning To Create an Effective Classroom Learning Event.” Other articles she is writing deal with emotional-social intelligence and social loafing.
The key business experience she brings to the classroom is her more than 20 years of consulting stories from her former positions at NYNEX Corporation (New England Telephone) and AT & T. There she received numerous awards and certifications in her positions as staff manager, staff director, account executive, and market administrator.