Brewed Fresh Daily

Yesterday, I had the good fortune to work side by side with Jack Ricchuitto.

As part of a national strategy to encourage regional collaborations in rural areas, the Obama Administration is supporting 4 regional gatherings across the country. Yesterday’s gathering covered abut 100 rural leaders from 12 states in the Midwest.

I made a presentation on strategic doing and open innovation approaches to rural innovation. Jack then followed with a workshop, which continues today. The end products are new partnerships and initiatives in targeted areas, such as regional food systems, regional energy systems.

Despite the fact that we had not worked together for 3-4 years, our messages quickly meshed.

Jack is using a form of strategic doing (Strategic Doing 365) that focuses on identifying quickly the characteristics of a 20 year outcome.

He then quickly moves the conversation to a 2 year horizon and then a 2 quarter horizon. He moves quickly from “What could we do?” to “What will we do?”

Linda Fowler and I used a similar process last week to move 250 leaders in the Space Coast in Florida to define new “re-engagement networks” for the 9,000 workers losing their jobs from the NASA shutdown.

The key point about strategic doing: We need new disciplines for thinking and acting strategically in open networks.

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

Random Posts

• I’m NEVER Home.
• Props to PD reporter John Mangels
• Mansfield: False Courage
• Here’s What You Need To Know About How Mayor Dave Bing Intends To Fix Detroit’s Fiscal Crisis
• Love Your Region? There’s A Shirt For That