‘We started by trying to amend our existing structure, but it wasn’t working. We know that we need to start with a blank sheet of paper but where do we start?’ This insight, and variations upon it have been a recurring feature of the conversations we have been having over the past few weeks. A…
I must admit I was slightly taken aback with the response to my post last week about organising creatively, it certainly seems like there is an appetite to rethink the way we are organised. To pinch a phrase from TED there is an energy to ‘build back better.’ I have been increasingly involved in organisational…
Five tips for re-opening your office As organisations are starting to think about and plan for a return to work, this is a really timely reminder that along with new equipment we will have to establish some new habits. Keeping employees and customers safe and healthy while doing business in an ongoing pandemic will not…
‘Everyone can make art, but I think that most people forget.’ (Damien Hirst quoted in The Daily Telegraph, 4 May 2020) When I was a child and then a teenager, I used to make a lot of things: cross stitch birthday and Christmas cards, American block patchwork cushions and quilts and embroidered cushions and hangings. …
I’m seeing a lot of discussion at the moment about how we take the arts and culture sector forward; that this moment of massive disruption should be used as an opportunity to make some important changes happen. I have seen pleas to give more recognition to our massive range of amazing freelancers (thumbs up from…
Another collection of goodies to amuse, intrigue and inspire. NASA If you want some perspective, or just to look at amazing photos from space, I really recommend signing up for the NASA Earth Observatory weekly email. From thinking about the next normal to making it work: What to stop, start, and accelerate A really useful…
As we’re keeping it practical this week, I thought it might be worth looking at a couple of tools that are useful when you’re working through the Double Diamond process. One approach you might not have come across before – the Charrette. The other is probably very familiar – traditional brainstorming. Something we all know…
Another great question from our UK Theatre /SoLT webinars. Given the push on cashflow during the lockdown period, it’s likely we’re not going to have the cash pile to burn like a well-funded start-up. I’m concerned that there might be an underlying assumption of having cash. Does this work if you don’t have the cash…
One of the participants at our UK Theatre/SoLT webinars asked Any thoughts on how we support our teams to go on the journey of the Double Diamond? We have written before briefly about the importance of Design Thinking and the Double Diamond Model so thought we would take the opportunity to share some more thoughts…
Responding to COVID-19: Social capital and the social sector in the 21st century from Andy Haldane FAcSS What better time than now, with social capital propping up our economies and societies, to recognise its role when keeping score on success. We should use this opportunity to broaden our measurement horizons, perhaps putting well-being and broader…
Not to be missed! If you work in a museum in London and are interested in learning more about planning for alternative futures Susan will be delivering a short, two session online course for Supporting London Museums – Museum of London on 3rd and 4th June. For further details and how to apply – follow…
A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new. Albert EinsteinOrganisations that have a habit of ‘shooting the messenger’ will discourage the process of seeking out failures. (Cannon and Edmondson, 2005) The final question we are picking up this week is a really good one and we think very much relates to those we…
We have already shared some thoughts about the power of imagining alternatives but looking at the questions people raised at the UK Theatre/SoLT seminars last week we thought that a deeper dive might be helpful. In this blog we have tried to offer some practical help in the context of working from home rather than…