Brewed Fresh Daily

Yesterday, I went on a whirlwind visit to the Penn State and the wonderful people at the Office of Economic and Workforce Development.

During my presentation, I introduced a framework for thinking about how regions evolve toward open innovation. The first horizon involves changing the prevailing narrative to emphasize the importance of collaboration and finding new pathways. The second horizon involves establishing one or more civic spaces and practicing civility. During this phase, regions start uncovering their networks.

In the third phase, a region starts moving toward more strategic habits of thinking and doing. They abandon old models of strategic planning and begin to learn faster, more agile disciplines of strategic doing. At the fourth horizon, regions establish a regular process of conducting strategic conversations and translating ideas into action. They continuously update their strategic action plan.

In the region around Purdue, we have gone through these four phases, and we are now continuing this work. Other regons around the country are at different points in their transformation.

In my talk yesterday, I focused on what universities can do to move regions ahead. Penn State, Purdue and The University of Akron will be collaborating on developing customized “strategy packs” for regions.

More later.

Last 5 posts by Ed Morrison

• Signing off - February 3rd, 2012
• "The current global development model is unsustainable" - February 1st, 2012
• Market opportunities for developing Chicago's green economy - January 29th, 2012
• Plain Dealer flubs its explanation for firing Tony Grossi - January 27th, 2012
• Linking and leveraging university assets to strengthen regional economies - January 27th, 2012

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