CANet
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EducationEventsCANet Innovation Lab, July 2008
"As a scientist, this is a new way of thinking about problems -- especially taking time to consider the human element. Thank you for opening my eyes. There are so many ways to apply this – both at work and in life! " -- Lab Participant "This event was great for identifying and distilling the problem and players. How do you become an agent of change, especially when you want to change an entrenched corporate culture?" -- Lab Participant Event agenda Members came together in July around the topic of Sensing and Making Sense: The Key to Insight & Design in Complex Systems.  
We began the day exploring the value of a design lens for navigation of complex systems. As part of this overview, participants learned about CANet’s design experiment methodology for application of complexity-based design methods and frameworks within project teams in organizations. Then with the help of Professor Lisa Fortini-Campbell of Kellogg School of Managements Management & Strategy Department, we explored the roles and methods of successfully “reading” the players and motivations involved in complex business ecology, a vital first, and often missed, step to designing any successful innovation. During the evening, participants embarked on a Chicago river and lakefront architectural boat tour to see applications of design methods and the evolution of both intended and unintended consequences in a city ecology. The event concluded the 2nd day as participants gathered in teams based on their business problems and applied of 2 CANet tools for gaining insights: Framing Design in Complex Environments and Complex Adaptive Systems Ecological Analysis. 
Photos of the Chicago Architecture river & lakefront boat tour provided by Glenn Miller. CANet Conference 2007Participant Comments"I believe that complexity will become a very, very significant topic in management. The time is now." 
"What an eye-opener! I was introduced to a whole new field." "Every presentation provided a 'nugget' that is actionable during my return to work." "Having attended some of the past CANet events, this one was especially good at addressing the tough question of: What does a manager need to focus on (critical 'leverage points') in the organization?" Event Presentations Daniel Diermeier, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University: We Saw It Coming - Applications to Risk & Reputation Management Bruce Sawhill & Jim Herriot, DayJet: The Flexible Airline - Applications of Complexity in Building a New Business Model 2 video clips referenced in the presentation can be found at:
Tim Vlamis, StrategyScape: Seeing Business Valuation through a Glass, Darkly: New Insights from Complexity Theory in Business Valuation & Analysis Seyed Iravani, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University: Improving Design & Quality at General Motors John Batten, Glamorgan Business School: Moving from the Traditional to the Organic: An Engineering Case (Pembroke Engineering) Paul Thomas, Glamorgan Business School: Using Complexity to Change Welsh Manufacturing: A Non-Academic Approach Noshir Contractor, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University: Enabling Knowledge Networks to Enhance Innovation Recommended Readings For additional recommendations of complexity reads, click here. If you would like further information about this event, please contact Ali Niederkorn at a-niederkorn@northwestern.edu. CANet Innovation Lab"Our group session was very interactive, insightful, and really opened
up new thoughts and concepts relevant to my organization." "The networking and 'community' that developed were the best part of
the event. The diversity of participants resulted in very interesting
conversations on varied topics." "Our group session was very interactive, insightful, and really opened
up new thoughts and concepts relevant to my organization." "The networking and 'community' that developed were the best part of
the event. The diversity of participants resulted in very interesting
conversations on varied topics." Event agenda Members came together in June around the topic of Co-Development in Complex Systems: Co-Creation through Strategic Relationships. We began the day with Rex Chisholm, Professor of Cellular & Molecular Biology in the Feinberg School of Medicine, who told us about the compelling similarities between our organization’s co-development efforts and the development of slime mold. This analogy provided a powerful example of many principles that translate across complex systems. Participants then learned about the use of networks in the science of collaboration from Wally Hopp, professor of Industrial Engineering and Applied Science. In efforts to apply the ideas learned, the group engaged in a design process working on their own business problems related to the event’s main topics. The synthesis and implications led to our own co-development of a framework of principles and strategies for co-development in complex systems.
CANet Innovation Lab
Event agenda This day and a half event provided an opportunity for our members and faculty to gather for an intensive workshop around the theme of Accelerating Internal & External Market Uptake: Tapping Key Network Leverage Points for Adoption of Ideas & Products. Participants learned about innovation diffusion and participated in a lively computer-based simulation with Professor Brian Uzzi of the Management & Organizations department in the Kellogg School of Management. The following day, Marketing Professor Greg Carpenter taught participants how complexity can be harnessed to anticipate and tap key people, moments, and timing in the market to position for the spread of new ideas. In addition, special guest Ron Burt, discussed his current research around second-hand brokerage. Throughout the event, several cases and examples were unpacked to both demonstrate and apply complexity-related concepts such as networks, epidemics, tipping points, viral marketing, and adaptation.
CANet Conference 2006October 9th – 10thNorthwestern University James L. Allen Center Evanston, IL
This day and a half event provided the opportunity to host our members, prospective members and key faculty in focusing more deeply on complexity science basics as well diving into successful cases of complexity application in specific member and non-member organizations. The first ½-day included a comprehensive complexity primer establishing a common conceptual framework. The 2nd day focused on a variety of applications and cases with insights from several faculty and interactive participation responses. Representatives from PFC Energy and IBM presented
CANet Member Innovation LabEvent agenda Thursday, June 29th, 2006 Northwestern University James L. Allen Center Evanston, IL
The Complexity in Action Network held the second of its semi-annual innovation labs in June. The topic and tools of Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) were applied to problems of innovation diffusion. In contrast to other forms of modeling, ABM allows the modeler to enhance the accuracy of the model over time through the variation of behavior at the level of the individual, not limiting the model to an average of a population. Participants learned more about the complexity roots to ABM, how to approach the modeling process, how to frame the problem in terms of agents, and practiced building their own models with the help of instructors from Northwestern’s Center for Connected Learning & Computer Based Modeling. Each participant presented a working model by the end of the workshop that they can continue to iterate in their organizations, with support of CANet collaborative networks.
CANet Engineering Science Launch EventEvent agendaThursday, February 9th, 2006 Northwestern University James L. Allen Center Evanston, IL
This event brought together forward-thinking academics engaged in the study of complexity theory applied to complex engineering and science business problems together with innovative leaders in business and government are striving to take complexity to the next level of practical application. The launch day introduced participants to the content, the people and the activities of The Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems and the Complexity in Action Network.
CANet Member Innovation LabEvent agenda.Thursday, September 22nd, 2005 Northwestern University James L. Allen Center Evanston, IL The CANet Innovation Lab is one of the offerings included in the suite of network membership benefits. The theme of this event was, “How Breakthroughs Happen: The Use of Complexity Science to Recognize Patters & Generate New Insights.” This event provided the opportunity for members and faculty to gather for an intensive and lively day-long workshop conducting real time innovation. Informed by our members, we chose a particular theme of business issues that could be framed and understood in new ways by applying concepts and methods from complexity science.
CANet Management Launch EventEvent agendaThursday, April 28th, 2005 Northwestern University James L. Allen Center Evanston, IL This event provided first-hand experience and a sampling of the benefits offered by the Complexity in Action Network. New concepts, tools, models and frameworks were introduced and applied to business problems. Participants gained wide and deep exposure to expertise from across Northwestern. In addition, leaders had the opportunity to network with like-minded innovators from business, government and research. |
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John Ward, Route One: 
