CIVIC INNOVATIONS ~ by Delore Zimmerman

CIVIC INNOVATIONS

Delore Zimmerman, PhDPresident

Center for the Study of Government and the IndividualUniversity of Colorado at Colorado Springs

April 29, 2009

AMERICA’S TRADITION OF AMERICA’S TRADITION OF CIVIC ENTREPRENEURIALISMCIVIC ENTREPRENEURIALISM

Americans of all ages, all stations in life, and all types of disposition in life, are forever forming associations. There are not only commercial and industrial associations... but others of a thousand different types-religious, moral, serious, futile, very general, and very limited, immensely large and very minute.

Democracy in America – Alexis de Tocqueville

CIVIC ACTIONSCIVIC ACTIONS

• Civic Engagement: actions taken as a result of an awareness of, and responsibility to, the community where one works and/or lives.

• Civic Leadership: The formal/informal process of identifying key issues with community-wide impact, and thereafter, acting proactively

• Civic Innovation: Fresh thinking that creates value through 1) new organizations or processes and 2)organic changes that create wealth or social welfare. Ideas into action.

CIVIC

LEADERSHIP

HIGH-PERFORMANCE

STRATEGIES

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

IDEAS

KNOW-HOW

CAPITAL

INFRASTRUCTURE

COMPETITIVENESS

LIVABILITYNETWORKS

HIGH PERFORMANCE COMMUNITIES

““The difficulty lies, not in the The difficulty lies, not in the new ideas, but in escaping new ideas, but in escaping from the old ones.”from the old ones.”

John Maynard Keynes, John Maynard Keynes, The General Theory The General Theory (1936)(1936)

Local Maximum Principle

Mathematical solutions only as Mathematical solutions only as powerful as the equations usedpowerful as the equations used

TODAYTODAY

• Operating Principles• Key ingredients for success• Case examples • Mobilizing for civic innovation

Community Operating PrinciplesCommunity Operating Principles

A community like an individual has a work to do.Communities don’t act, the parts do.Performance is facilitated by seizing momentum

and aligning actions with trends that work in your favor

Success is increasingly determined by the power of connections elsewhere.

A compelling story commits people to the possibilities

Network Operating PrinciplesNetwork Operating Principles

Empower the partsConnect the parts connectors play a key roleCoordinate networksStrive for minimally centralized networks, i.e.

loosely unifiedEvangelize the interests of the network

Networks = Possibility Factories

Civic Action CoalitionCivic Action Coalition

• Purpose – aligning objectives with ideals• Community forum, which assembles the community

into an informal assembly where participation is by virtue of participants knowledge and interest, not by virtue of their position. foresight exercises

• Capacity for technical analysis — so that the members of the forum can undertake studies, assessments of local problems at the local level by local people –> facts-driven

• Access to risk capital – so that tests and trials of community innovations can be launched.

Red River Valley – North Dakota & MinnesotaRed River Valley – North Dakota & MinnesotaRed River Valley – North Dakota & MinnesotaRed River Valley – North Dakota & Minnesota• Hands on, purpose-driven leadership

• Science & tech “triple helix” working– University, Industry, government– Specialized research, training, facilities

• Human capital (Brain Belt) – Quality people– Education is highly valued– Higher ed, k-12 engaged

• Dynamic regional business sector– Outward oriented and globally savvy– Demonstration effect of Great Plains ->

Microsoft

Crop Farming &AnimalHusbandry

1870’s 1950’s 2000

Crop &LivestockScience

Machinery&

Equipment

Agri-businessManagement& Finance

Food processing

Biotech Services

Genomics, vaccines

Digital imaging

Business solutions software/systems

Nanotechnology

Electronics

Polymers & coatings

Wireless technology

A Short History of Technology: Red River Valley Corridor

• Jobs with higher earnings

• Preservation of quality of life

• Diversification of economy

• Improved coordination & processes of civic and government sectors

Vision of the Vision of the FutureFuture

• Waterfront development results in $400 million investment in residential, commercial

• Economic growth in technology, higher-value industries, including fruits and viticulture

• Advanced Vehicle Innovations Consortium• testing and demonstrating Plug-in Hybrid Electric

Vehicles (PHEV's); • nurturing business focusing on PHEV's, biofuels, and

solar energy; and • educating the public about these new exciting

technologies.

Success on Success on Multiple FrontsMultiple Fronts

Yahoo!Yahoo! Picks Wenatchee, Washington Picks Wenatchee, Washington for New Facility for New Facility

We chose North Central Washington for this important facility because of the

great quality of life here,

the immediate availability of suitable space,

the 'can-do' spirit of community leaders,

the cost and reliability of electricity,

and the access to a world-class fiber optic network.

They've taken all the right steps to create a terrific environment for us.

• Fred & Margaret Carl and small group of friends• Built a global brand – superior product quality processes• Aligned strategy with cooking and food

• Boutique downtown --> part of Fred Carl’s dream• Restoration of historic buildings

• Focus on southern hospitality and cuisine • Use history & tradition Cotton Capital of the World

• Support from community, state, federal leaders WE

Greenwood, MississippiGreenwood, Mississippi

Viking Conquers the Viking Conquers the Kitchen LandscapeKitchen Landscape

Mobilizing Innovating

Alcaeus 600 BC Greece

Seize Opportunity Now

Not houses finely roofedNor the stones of walls well builtNor canals nor dockyards make the cityBut men able to use their opportunity

“If you want to have good ideas you must have many ideas.”

Linus PaulingQuantum chemist & biochemistNobel Prize Winner (2 times)

Become a Become a possibility factory!possibility factory!High Throughput – CombinatorialHigh Throughput – Combinatorial

Machinery& Equipment

Electronics

Find Opportunities at the Crossroads of Industries

AgricultureProduction

InformationTechnology

Precision Agriculture• Instrumentation

• Data Services

• Application Services

For Example

Mobilize leadership coalitions on multiple fronts

William Gibsonauthor, coined term cyberspace

“ The future is already here. It’s just not equally distributed yet.”

Learn from The Success of Others

I’ll believe it when I see it. I’ll see it when I believe it.”

Tell a compelling story that commits people to the possibilities

People must first share a story which they are all a part and relate their course of action to that story. Howard Gardner

Catch the wind and bend it to your will