OD Book SIG

 

Event Title:  The Chaos Imperative- How Change and Disruption Increase Innovation- Effectiveness and Success

 

(From a reviewer of the book) In The Chaos Imperative- How Change and Disruption Increase Innovation- Effectiveness and Success, organizational expert and bestselling author Ori Brafman (Sway, The Starfish and the Spider) shows how even the best and most efficient organizations, from Fortune 500 companies to today's US Army, benefit from allowing a little unstructured space and disruption into their planning and decision-making. In this surprising tone, organizational expert Brafman ,who has consulted with Fortune 500 companies and the U.S. Army, argues that contrary to conventional wisdom, chaos is essential for generating new ideas. While noting that organizational structure and discipline have their place, the best ideas, he posits, come from what he calls “white space”undefinedshort, unstructured moments that allow the brain to ruminate without performance pressure. Using examples such as Albert Einsteinundefinedwho is said to have derived many of his best ideas in coffeehouses and on hikes and the Army, arguably the least likely group to accept anything unstructured, the author offers five rules of chaos. The rules are based on a training program Brafman developed with the Army over the past two years: avoid the seductive lure of data, because not everything can be determined by metrics; put a loose structure around the chaotic; make white space productive; embrace “unusual suspects,” those outside the inner circle, who approach the issues from a fresh perspective; and organize serendipity (set the stage for spontaneous interactions of different groups). This useful and practical book will be welcomed by managers looking for new ways to innovate.

Facilitator:

 

Nedra Weinstein, Principal with Arden Consulting

 

Nedra Weinstein is Principal with Arden Consulting, an organization development consulting firm which provides a range of services to clients both in the private and public sectors – including team and leadership development, coaching, strategic planning culture change and small and large group meeting facilitation. Nedra is known for her dynamic style and has received accolades for her ability to engage individuals and groups in stimulating and thoughtful dialogue Nedra is frequently called upon to work with leaders that are dealing with challenging and contentious organizational issues.

 

Nedra has been exploring complexity science and its applications to organization development over the past few years. She is the co-author of “Dynamic Facilitation: Design principles from the new science of complexity” in the IAF Group Handbook. 

 

Nedra is adjunct faculty in the Georgetown Organizational Consulting and Change certificate program and  at the University of Maryland University College.  As a founder and  past president of the Chesapeake Bay OD Network (CBODN) and frequent presenter in professional programs she has been a leader in the organization development field. 

 

SIG Leaders:

Goodwill Industries
15810 Indianola Drive
Rockville, MD 20155

Cancellation policy: Event follows federal Office of Personnel Management policy and decisions.  If federal government is closed, event will be canceled.

**Please register in advance to ensure sufficient seating.