Simple ways of dealing with complexity?

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Simple ways of Simple ways of dealing with dealing with complexity? complexity? "Things should be as "Things should be as simple as possible, but simple as possible, but no simpler" A.E. no simpler" A.E.

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Simple ways of dealing with complexity?. "Things should be as simple as possible, but no simpler" A.E. 1. A wider view of strategy. If “M&E is the back end of strategy”, then pay attention to strategy. A series of workshops. NGOs & Issue coalitions. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Simple ways of dealing with complexity?

Simple ways of dealing Simple ways of dealing with complexity?with complexity?

"Things should be as simple as "Things should be as simple as possible, but no simpler" A.E.possible, but no simpler" A.E.

ODI Seminar 9th July 2008ODI Seminar 9th July 2008 22

 

 1. ...interconnected and interdependent elements ..

 2. Feedback processes

 3. Emergence

 

4. ...relationships between dimensions are frequently nonlinear

 5. Sensitivity to initial conditions

 6. Phase space

 7. Chaos and edge of chaos

 8. Adaptive agents

 9. Self-organisation

  10. Co-evolution

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1. A wider view of strategy1. A wider view of strategy

Intended Actual

IndividualMost strategy

documentsRealised and

emergent

CollectiveParis

Decalaration efforts

Realised and emergent

If “M&E is the back end of strategy”, then pay attention to strategy

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A series of workshopsA series of workshops

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NGOs & Issue coalitionsNGOs & Issue coalitions

Key: Blue squares = coalitions; Red circles = NGO respondents; Purple triangles = NGO respondents who are also listed as coalitions; Grey lines = NGO membership in a coalition.

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Mapping

and

Navigating

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2. A wider view of partnership2. A wider view of partnership

1.1. Analysis of Analysis of individual individual relationships relationships • Most commonMost common

2.2. Analysis of Analysis of portfoliosportfolios of relationships of relationships• Not so commonNot so common

3.3. Analysis of Analysis of networks networks of relationshipsof relationships• Less commonLess common

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2. Portfolio view2. Portfolio view

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3. Network view3. Network view

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But these can get complex…But these can get complex…

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Pathways within networksPathways within networksA useful simplification?A useful simplification?

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The Social FrameworkThe Social Frameworka Logical Framework re-designed as if people and their relationships mattered

Documenting the agreed objectives of actors along a pathway

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The test of a new metaphorThe test of a new metaphor

• Does it lead us to doing things differently?

• Can we specify self-organisation Can we specify self-organisation rules/requirements that will lead to rules/requirements that will lead to good/better systemic outcomes?good/better systemic outcomes?• For example, how adjacent parties in a pathway For example, how adjacent parties in a pathway

should agree on what they should be doingshould agree on what they should be doing