Sue Stephen Christine Gelowitz

1. Sue StephenChristine Gelowitz Update on Strategic Conversation

2. Charting the CourseA Strategic Conversation A Presentation for the Provincial Leadership Forum Delivered by Sue Stephen & Christine Gelowitz November 2008 Looking Back at Looking Forwards

3. Today’s presentation: A quick history: The why & what of the project What we’ve achieved: A year of accomplishments Found in translation: Learnings from the data Looking Ahead: What’s Next Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 3

4. A quick history: The why & what of the project Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 4

5. A quick history: The why & what of the project Building pressure in our operating environment… Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 5

6. In response, a process of internal change began… Under the banner of the Road Ahead: Recognized people as the foundation and strength of the organization; initiated conversations about our Vision, Mission & Values. A quick history: The why & what of the project • We began challenging our mental models: • Lou Tice, “Investment in Excellence”, Pacific Institute; • Seeing the ‘gorilla’ - exploring and encouraging Innovation. Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 6

7. In response, a process of internal change began… Began building a culture of learning: began growing a community of Learning Organization Practioners and internalized a new set of collaboration tools (Bob Chartier). A quick history: The why & what of the project • Explored application & use of new theory: • David Snowden gave us a model for dealing with complexity; and • via a pilot project known as the Narrative Inquiry we explored our past for answers . THE CYNEFIN FRAMEWORK Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 7

8. In response, a process of internal change began… A quick history: The why & what of the project And then we began the process of looking forward to the future and initiated the Strategic Conversation. • The Strategic Conversation capitalizes on prior initiatives: • it builds on the momentum already created in staff to think differently (momentum created through initiatives like the Road Ahead, Investment in Excellence, and efforts to create a culture of learning); • it utilizes our learning organization tools and practioners to engage staff in the futures work; and • it builds upon our knowledge of complexity theory; and combines the principles of scenario development. Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 8

9. What we’ve achieved: A year of accomplishments Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 9

10. During the past year… 10 Full Scale Strategic Conversation Workshops hosted involving a variety of districts, branches, business areas 700+ Approximate number of direct participants in Strategic Conversation workshops 1789 Tagged Data Items Collected 1482 future scenarios, 114 stories, 156 perceptions 10 Other Strategic Conversation Sessions we supported provided advice, materials and support to 10 other sessions initiated & led by other branches & districts worked in conjunction with the LO Community – inside MOFR and in other ministries Several large scale future investigations:Engaged many staff, Collected lots of data What we’ve achieved: A year of accomplishments Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 10

11. 13 Snapshots & Discussion papers written 9 Interpretive data samplers (reports) 50 Deputy & Executive blog posts During the past year… Broad Environmental Scanning:We developed and shared a lot of information What we’ve achieved: A year of accomplishments 128 Comments in response to blog posts 19 Maximum number of responses to a single blog (“Do You Know Our Mission Statement?”) 16 Comments in response to Brazil blog series Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 11

12. Found in translation: Learnings from the data Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 12

13. A few interesting observations… 0Scenarios written by senior managers that were tagged impossible to occur in the future 8 Scenarios written by senior managers that were tagged unlikely to occur in the future VERSUS 87 Scenarios written by staff that were tagged impossible or unlikely to occur in the future Found in translation: Learnings from the data 21%Future scenarios that senior managers tagged ‘staff would feel attacked if they heard about it for the 1st time’ 452 Future Scenarios relate to the topic ‘First Nations’ (80 submitted by staff from FN BA) Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 13

14. What challenges & topics did we (Senior managers) write about last year?Of the major challenges and topics that Senior Managers wrote about in their scenarios at PLT last year, which do you think was most popular? First Nations Stewardship Economics People Found in translation: Learnings from the data Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 14 Slide 14

15. Do you think last year the Senior Managers Imagined a Financial Collapse?How many scenarios do you think were written last year at the Provincial leadership Session about a economic collapse? Zero Less than 10 Less than 50 More than 100 Found in translation: Learnings from the data Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 15 Slide 15

16. Exploration of a Scenario Titled: Recession Found in translation: Learnings from the data • Scenario Highlights: • Reduced product costs • Company & industry consolidates; foreign companies take ownership • Increase supply of majority of products; Low price for commodity; less focus on dimensional • Reduced operable land base; Larger percentage of land base left intact • Community impact on forest jobs • Different economic spin-offs Why aren’t we seeing global connections early? Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 16

17. Learning from the dataQuestions to ask ourselves… Found in translation: Learnings from the data • Are there areas in our ‘scanning’ we don’t see? Why aren’t we seeing them? What might be the underlying reasons? • Do we avoid seeing the ‘seemingly’ impossible? Do we avoid talking about the unlikely? • Do we often think outside our boundaries and see beyond our border? Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 17

18. What do some people think we don’t talk about in the Forest Service?What sort of items do you think staff said the Forest Service is often not talking about? A smaller Forest Service People Practices Timber being valued less in relation to other resources Found in translation: Learnings from the data How can we widen the scope of what we think and talk about in the ministry? Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 18 Slide 18

19. Some insights on Interagency Collaboration Found in translation: Learnings from the data • Based on an inter-agency Strategic Conversation, • some of the things people worry and are concerned about: • The risk to crown land and resources is being underestimated and going unnoticed by everyone; • Pressures for access to Crown land and resources are overwhelming; and • In their current work environment, they don’t collaborate across ministries, wouldn’t know who to contact and are frustrated by it. • Some of the risks staff worry about are: • related to water resources, First Nations, stewardship, climate and land use. Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 19

20. Some insights on items taggedwith the topic of Technology Found in translation: Learnings from the data • Technology is viewed positively for helping to address future issues and there appears to be a “technology saves all” perspective • Staff are more likely to engage and shift priorities on issues linked to technology • Some business areas view the application of technology as a natural shift in their business, something they are already prepared for, and in their eyes, something long overdue • More recently, there are scenarios appearing tagged negatively due to foreseeing centralization of technology Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 20

21. A new Emerging Data Set Exploring Perspectives on Tenure Found in translation: Learnings from the data Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 21

22. What are some examples of positive insights for going forward? Found in translation: Learnings from the data Strong culture: on many indicators there are very narrow ranges present (i.e. small standard deviation from the mean) • A positive situation for being able to move to action and get things done. • We may need to ask ourselves if our thinking, and pool of ideas, may need to show more diversity. Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 22

23. So what does this interesting information mean to the Forest Service? Found in translation: Learnings from the data • It provides significant insight into our underlying culture; • it can confirm, or challenge assumptions. • And as a result, • It can tell us a lot about how we have to adapt ourselves going forward in order to mitigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities; and • it can measure change: after only one year of data collection, we are already showing more awareness of the future. Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 23

24. TAKEAWAYSSome Larger Scale Data Conclusions Found in translation: Learnings from the data • We need real innovation for the tough times and challenges that lie ahead CHANGE Perspective Widens STARVATION A NeedA Lacking Of PRESSURE The trick will be not allowing the pressure to go backwards and feed the status quo Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 24

25. TAKEAWAYS :Some Larger Scale Data Conclusions Found in translation: Learnings from the data • We need industrial strength tools to aid us • We need to adopt new tools of technology to do our business • But technology alone won’t save us Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 25

26. TAKEAWAYS:Some Larger Scale Data Conclusions Found in translation: Learnings from the data • We need to move knowledge around fast • i.e. the blog, just in time information sharing • We must accept ambiguity will be a part of moving forward, along with the uncertainty of complex challenges Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 26

27. TAKEAWAYS :Some Larger Scale Data Conclusions Found in translation: Learnings from the data • We must use the strength of our culture to grow outward • We must widen the scope of perspectives that we gather, and do so in a purposeful fashion Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 27

28. Looking Ahead: What’s Next Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 28

29. This is only the beginning.Next Steps… Found in translation: Learnings from the data • Expand site • Conduct more analysis, and broaden the analysis team • Data collect from clients and partner ministries • Data collect on specific topics • Continue the tenure project Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 29

30. - Charles Darwin It is not the strongest of the species who survive, nor the most intelligent; rather it is those most responsive to change… Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 30

31. MANY MATERIALS AVAILABLE Ministry of Forests & Range, SPPB, November 2008 Slide 31