Recent Blog Entries

Vern's picture

What is to be done? Undoing the managerial capture of social innovation in Australia

Submitted by Vern on 31 January 2012 - 1:31pm

The capture of the social innovation agenda in Australia by a public sector managerial class has been excruciating to observe. While social innovation in other countries has been a multi-stakeholder process oriented to comprensive and holistic societal innovation, in Australia it has been captured, funded, and distorted by a public sector managerial class divorced from civil society.  How has this happened and what can be done about it?

Vern's picture

February Festival 2012: Changing the Way We Govern

Submitted by Vern on 30 January 2012 - 7:04pm

Changing the Way We Govern!

For those who govern? Who are these people, the ones called 'We' who 'Govern' us? What about the rest of society?

Is there another series forthcoming titled We the People - Changing the Way Government Works?

Vern's picture

Charlie Leadbeater on users, consumers and people-powered change

Submitted by Vern on 29 January 2012 - 12:34pm

In this talk, Charlie Leadbeater argues that innovation is increasingly not the business of professionals and R&D labs and companies. It is the business of passionate amateurs, service users and consumers, or as he calls us, 'pro-ams' (professional amateurs).

This talk is a major challenge to the professional and consultancy-based hi-jacking of the social innovation agenda in Australia. http://www.ted.com/talks/charles_leadbeater_on_innovation.html#.TyPjIRbRpzE.facebook

Abdul Kalam Azad's picture

Building Social Business: A quick review

Submitted by Abdul Kalam Azad on 7 January 2012 - 3:38pm

Last year I got "Building Social Business" by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus. I knew him as an economist and Founder of Grameen Bank, Bangladesh. But after reading this, I got more interest on his writing. During the recent NE Book Fair I purchased his Biography and now searching "Creating a World Without Poor"

JDobbin's picture

Interview with Muhammad Yunus

Submitted by JDobbin on 5 January 2012 - 5:09pm

Our Board member Jenny Dobbin had the opportunity to talk with Professor Muhammad Yunus about microfinance and social business. This is an extract from this conversation.  

Vern's picture

"Innovation which is social in both its goals and its means"

Submitted by Vern on 14 November 2011 - 1:53pm

Geoff Mulgan is the CEO of NESTA in the UK (National Endowment on the Sciences, Technology and the Arts). Geoff's newest and preferred definition of social innovation is "innovation which is social in both its goals and its means".

I like this formulation. It requires social means (relationships, exchanges, coalitions, transfers of information and power) between social actors (organisations, individuals, governments) to achieve social goals (social well-being and social change). 

Vern's picture

Helsinki Design Lab - Recipes for Systemic Change

Submitted by Vern on 22 October 2011 - 3:50pm

The Helsinki Design Lab is an agency whose strategic design processes are oriented to "a wide coalition of organisations and individuals" who seek systemic solutions to pressing social problems.

It's processes are not oriented solely to governments.

Vern's picture

Social Innovation, Wall Street, and the Financial System

Submitted by Vern on 16 October 2011 - 2:53pm

Social innovators seem to be silent about the financial crisis engulfing the western world. Why?

Geof Cox has written a good article on this. titled "The financial crisis gives social enterprise an unprecedented opportunity – so why so quiet?" http://www.guardian.co.uk/social-enterprise-network/2011/oct/14/crisis-social-enterprise-voice?commentpage=last#end-of-comments

Dynamic Screen Content's picture

I Had a Dream

Submitted by Dynamic Screen ... on 25 September 2011 - 6:24pm

If you've ever been to Newtown in Sydney, you'll know the "I Have A Dream" mural, which has occupied a prominent spot   on King street (the main thoroughfare) for 20 years.                                                                    &nb

Vern's picture

Social Impact Bonds

Submitted by Vern on 13 September 2011 - 4:43pm

The NSW Government announced on 5 September 2011 that it is to trial a tender process for private investors in foster care and prisoner post-release programs, whereby investors may make a return on their investments if they yield budget savings for the Government.