I will admit to being just a little apprehensive about the whole thing and at the same time interested in the techniques that may be employed to influence us.

I currently know very little about the specifics.

My intention is to record my observations here and on twitter.

In the meantime, if there is anything you think I should know please feel free to share.

Hello,

I received the wonderful news the other day that our panel proposal for an academic conference was accepted.

Truth be known, I am only on the panel because I happen to know three guys with brains, and they were kind enough to invite me to join them. The proposal, (that I agreed to be part of), is below. I am posting this here in the hopes that one or two of you might give me some input and I think that would be cool.

————————————————————————–

The proposal:

The International Social Science Council’s 2^nd World Social Science Forum, 13-15 October, 2013 in Montréal, Canada

“Social Transformations and the Digital Age”

Panel Theme: “Collaboration and Governance For a Digital Era”

Abstract

While technology is proving eminently capable of connecting us, will it be enough to help us overcome chronic human problems, especially given the leaning biases of our institutions and their precognitive commitments towards hierarchy, romanticized leadership, equality and individual freedom? What else may be needed?

Each of the bold words may be a focus for debate. Is technology sufficient to connect us? From what chronic problems do we need saving? What are our institutional learning biases and how do we overcome them? Has hierarchical organization passed its prime? Why is leadership increasingly inappropriate in environments of collaboration and partnership? What’s the matter with equality? Why our notions of ‘freedom’ must evolve in the context of our increasing degrees of interdependence?

What else? There is growing interest in rising above traditional management and administration models, which are often observed as limited and ineffective, and moving towards organizing concepts such as distributed governance, collaboration and partnership, stewardship, self-organization, and real democracy – processes that promote constant inquiry and learning, and the development of collective intelligence.

Are today’s digital challenges simply pushing us towards incremental institutional adaptation by projecting tomorrow’s digital environment onto yesterday’s institutions? Or, is the emerging digital environment and its domains of Big Data, ubiquitous information, social media and mass collaboration posing a revolutionary challenge to our existing institutional models to help us embrace, unfold and orchestrate our social potential?

Participants

• John Verdon, Knowledge Management Lead, S&T Outlook, Defence Research and Development Canada. Title: Knowledge and Collaboration Governance for Social Computing, Responsible Autonomy, Network Individualism and Self-Programmable Organization
• Christopher Wilson, Senior Research Fellow, Centre on Governance, University of Ottawa. Title: From Management and Leadership to Collaboration and Stewardship
• Thom Kearney, Partner, Rowanwood Consulting. Former Senior Director, Applied Collaborative Tools, Treasury Board Secretariat (Responsible for GCPedia). Title: The crowded boardroom – when the long tail collides with hierarchy, a real life example.

• Peter Levesque, CEO, Knowledge Mobilization Works & CEO, Knowledge Mobilization Institute. Title: Leadership from the Middle and With Purpose – How problem solving is actually happening in the MUSH (Municipalities, Universities, Schools, and Healthcare) sector

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You know what to do, thank you very much.

Thom

I wanted to let you know about Canadian Government Executive First Annual Leadership Summit occurring in Ottawa on April 4, 2013.  The theme is  Leading Management Change in the Canadian Public Sector, and there are some very interesting speakers including one of the creators of the Balanced Scorecard, Dr. Robert Kaplan  and  the father of Enterprise Architecture John Zachman.

If you can attend I look forward to seeing you there, if not, I will share what I can on twitter.  More detailed information is available on the web site at http://cgeleadershipsummit.ca/.

Hope all is well,

Thom

P.S. In case you missed it earlier we have collected most of the resources generated from PS Engage in November here http://wp.me/pKh0h-cY.

This post is to document all the resources produced as part of PS Engage 2012:

• Photos and Tapestries
  Leave a comment. Share the words and feelings associated with the Playback Theater images.  Wonder at the creative visual tapestries.
• Tweet stream without re-tweets
  Re-live the excitement!
• Check out the Nexalogy interactive hashtag summary
• Download the PDF summary
  
• Copies of the presentations on Dropbox
• Watch the First Follower, video that delighted participants 
• Minister’s opening address
  Other videos are coming soon
• Stay Connected by participating in the Linkedin Group at http://www.linkedin.com/groups/PSengage-4191403/about
• Sign up for notifications at: http://eepurl.com/nAGwv

“Attitude, communication, and human relations are the key to surviving in the ever-changing world of advertising. This course helps you prepare for workplace success by providing practical expectations and useful tools to make a successful transition from school to workplace. The course discusses self-management, workplace politics and etiquette, building relationships, and tools for the future.”

A key part of the course is the speakers program where professionals just like you come in for an hour to share their wisdom and insights into the real world. There are potentially 18 one hour speaking spots available on Friday mornings,  January 11 to March 15 between 10:00 AM and 12:00 AM.   Lectures take place in the Room J209 in the J  building at the Woodroofe campus of Algonquin College in Ottawa. I am pretty sure that we should be able to accommodate a web conferencing if you are located out of town.

The schedule of available times is in this google document.

If you have experience or thoughts to share that might be useful to someone entering the marketing communications workforce, please let me know what you would like to speak about and we can work something out.

Thanks, hope 2013 is good to you.

Thom

UPDATE

We brainstormed some ideas last class and some of the topics that students would like to hear about inlcude:

PS Engage Delegate Champions help get the word out at earn a free or discounted pass to the event.

What is expected from a Delegate Champion?

Individuals that sign up as Delegate Champions agree to personally promote the event by:

• Distributing 25-50 PS Engage Business cards, preferably with a short interpersonal conversation
• Putting up posters in strategic locations like photocopier rooms and kitchens
• Sharing conference details with your social networks
• Other ideas include leaving interesting messages on boardroom white boards or perhaps a couple of biz cards in the executive boardroom just before a big meeting

So how do I get that free pass?

• When you sign-up you will get a personalized discount code to share with people that provides a ten percent discount. When delegates register with that code you will be entitled to additional discounts.
• The more people that register using your code, the more you save. You earn a 10 percent discount for each registration. Get 10 and you can attend PS Engage 2012 for free.

How do I sign up?

• Contact Thom or Carmen to register for the program and get your personalized discount code and supply of PS Engage business cards  info@psengage.org

This was written and performed as slam poetry by my son for his grade 12 English class. I thought it was pretty insightful and ultimately a positive message. 

By Sam Kearney

We start off in life with the world at our fingertips,
with the words: “You can do anything” coming out of our parents very lips
And for years these words of motivation stick with you
fueling dreams of being celebrities, astronauts and rock stars too
The World seemed so big, so vast so full of adventure
Those in dentures would give us such a lecture
And so we believe with all our hearts and happy thoughts
That life is a happy place where only in movies are battles fought

But then comes adolescence, and with it comes the many doubts
For many once seemingly perfect family lives become full of arguments and shouts
You see atrocities every day on the television
at first these stories hurt you, on your heart they make an incision
But with this reality creates an invisible division
Your idea of the world has toppled like a house of cards
And with this destruction of an old understanding
sprouts a negative ideology against which we should guard

With this newfound negativity  come new thoughts and mindsets
we make bets with ourselves, putting money against us
We kill that old saying “You can do anything”
Thinking “I could never do this, i’m not good enough, i’m not good at anything”
When really these are just excuses to take the easy path
I mean if we’ve already given up then why put in the effort and try
It’s on that cheesy poster it’s simple math
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” It’s true, in life you either take a shot, or sit and wait to die.

It’s what many of us do, we’re all addicted to it, an entire nation
strangled by what we joke about – procrastination
We need to release from the shackles, locked up by ourselves
Take OUR selves off of the shelves
Stop skimming on the top of the waters of life and delve
deep into the depths of it and discover our full potential
Unleash our inner thoughts and dreams and stop keeping them confidential.

We’re currently developing this year’s theme but I expect it will have something to do with frugality and working across boundaries. There are a number of ways you can take part, some of which are listed below. If you are interested and have a little time to dedicate to a worthy and fun event, we would love to hear from you, simply reply to this message with your preferred coordinates and good times to meet, and we will arrange a virtual get together.

PS Engage 2012 Planning Committee Roles

These are the roles that have been identified, they may be performed by a single person or a small group. You can volunteer to lead or participate in any of these activities.

Sponsorship

Develop sponsorship package with communications, develop pricing and marketing strategy. Manage target list and sales funnel. Prepare and sign contracts. Make presentations. Arrange for sponsor material for web site, and day of distribution.

Program & Speakers

Articulate the theme, plan the daily program, arrange for speakers, take part in developing promotional material. Coordinate with speakers.  Create conference overview document and later versions as it evolves.

Communications

Develop promotional plan, create communications material, write and produce web site, design logo and promotional cards. Manage web cast and twitter feed.  Develop and produce posters, manage distribution. Evaluate web analytics, prepare and conduct post event evaluation.

Prepare and distribute regular emails. Manage list on SalesForce.

Floor Manager

Plan sponsor physical presence, manage floor space on the day of, coordinate with venue and suppliers.

Stage Manager

Work with Program group on content and manage stage the day of.

Logistics

Coordinate with speakers, make travel and accommodation arrangements, manage all vendor contracts, act as single point of contact. Arrange for meetings and take notes.

Volunteer Coordination

Manage volunteer list and assignments. Manage volunteer meetings.

Delegate Promotion and Sales

Work with communications on web site and other promotional material. Manage registrations.

Other

Whatever we have forgotten.

The bigger picture

PS Engage is a conference, PS Leader is an emerging non-profit organization with the mission:

To facilitate and advance collaboration, learning & innovation across all levels of government and geographies in support of connected, efficient, and open government.

If you think PS Leader is a good idea and would like to be part of the development of the organization drop us a line and we will invite you to the formation meeting.

PS Leader will engage in a number of activities in addition to PS Engage such as #GovChat , PS Leader Blog, Training, and the Virtual Government Network. If you are interested in participating in any of these specific initiatives, please let us know.

Thanks, we look forward to your interest and participation as these initiatives proceed.

Thom