Narrative BaseCamp (Virtual) August

Description

Curious about narrative theory and practice? Wanting to explore SenseMaker® and its applications but not yet ready to commit to a project? Familiar with Cynefin and wanting to go deeper into the supporting practices in complex contexts?

Narrative BaseCamp offers an entry point into the Cynefin Co’s narrative methods, practices, research and tools. You will leave this programme with a stronger knowledge of entry-level narrative practice and SenseMaker® software and the possibilities, principles and challenges in applying it. This programme positions participants to begin experimenting with simple narrative methodology, as well as to conceptualise and propose safe-to-fail probes to introduce or extend narrative practice in their organisations.

4 x 2-hour virtual live sessions (1 per week)
Supported by e-Learning, recorded lectures and reflective journalling
Tools: Zoom, ConceptBoard and SenseMaker®
Note: no active SenseMaker® subscription is required, demo access will be provided

Schedule

30 August 2023 at 15:00-17:00 UK time / 7:00-9:00 PST
6 September 2023 at 15:00-17:00 UK time / 7:00-9:00 PST
13 September 2023 at 15:00-17:00 UK time / 7:00-9:00 PST
21 September 2023 at 15:00-17:00 UK time / 7:00-9:00 PST (note: Thursday not Wednesday for our final session)

Course details

Narrative BaseCamp participants will (a) explore the theory and principles underlying narrative practice (b) experience the effects of diverse narrative prompts, practices and tools and (c) experiment in small groups with creating and facilitating simple narrative prompts and processes. This includes:

Narrative in anthro-complexity – and its key, but often invisible role in human cognition, pattern seeking and recognition, and decision-making. Explore the differentiation of narrative approaches to many others, and the tensions and affordances this creates.
Understand narrative’s power as (a) a form of communication, (b) a form of knowledge sharing and storage, and (c) a research tool.
Deductive, inductive and abductive research and logic and how these different approaches link to the Cynefin framework in their bounded applicability, to ground our deep dive into abductive practices and the tools and methods to support them.
Explore the organisational transformative methods that ground and enable narrative practice in communities or organisations, including Human Sensor Networks, Informal Networks and Entangled Trios.
Interrogate the role of consultant/ facilitation of narrative work: this practice requires the application of complex facilitation principles and practice heuristics from project conceptualisation and design, not only within workshops.
Experience the complex, rich insights and processes made possible by the blending of qualitative and quantitative data, and the implications for integrated, continuous, complex change processes.
The vector theory of change and the implications for and relationship with narrative research – including how we integrate reflection and data-driven sense-making into community engagement and participation
Experience and learn skills/ methods for elicitation of narrative materials, as well as some key approaches and things to bear in mind when signifying, processing and representing data back to the system without potentially problematic intermediation or interpretation.
Get a sneak peek at the latest exciting developments and tools in the SenseMaker ecosystem, including interactive continuous feedback technology, GENBA-style dynamic collectors, and more…

Participants will leave with:

A deepened understanding of the narrative methods and SenseMaker system, including the theory and practice principles to ground it
An enhanced ability to sense and articulate the opportunities and benefits of narrative practice and SenseMaker to their systems, colleagues and clients
One or more concepts for projects/probes to put this work into practice, in their unique context
Practical experience in formulating prompting questions and eliciting narratives
Experience and understanding of the family or ecosystem of Cynefin Co narrative methods. Note that certain methods require advanced training beyond the scope of this programme.

Who is this course for?

The Narrative BaseCamp is designed to give a holistic overview and as such, it is applicable to a diverse audience and all industries are welcome. Selected sessions will utilise interest groups to explore specific applications or questions. Narrative BaseCamp is open to participation from individuals or small teams, or as an in-house series for larger teams).

NOTE: Narrative BaseCamp complements the existing Cynefin BaseCamp programme and practitioners are invited to participate in both BaseCamps any order, depending on their context and background.

Your Trainers

Anna Panagiotou (lead facilitator)

After a year-long stint in the training part of Cognitive Edge, working with all areas from conceptualisation to logistics, Anna has been a part of the Cynefin Centre since the beginning of 2020, bringing a perspective informed by materiality, archaeology, and her academic background to the theory and practice of complexity.

Anna is involved in several programmes, including Climate Change and Education, and she is also particularly active in the area of Health. Anna has an MA in Egyptian Archaeology and a PhD in Mediterranean Archaeology from UCL. She is a greedily omnivorous reader who is interested in everything and tends to change location every couple of years.

Cynefin Co staff (guest facilitators)

Narrative BaseCamp invites various Cynefin Co staff, including Dave Snowden, for guest lectures and to highlight their diverse areas of experience and application.

Cancellations and Rescheduling

For virtual programmes:

Voluntary cancellations by registrants are permitted at any time prior to the course start and a refund for the amount paid will be provided less a 10% processing fee.
Substitutions are permitted at any time as well as rescheduling attendance to an alternate session within a year of the original course start date.
Substitutions and/or rescheduling of courses for discounted tickets may be subject to rescheduling restrictions and/or fee supplements.
Cognitive Edge reserves the right to cancel or re-schedule training sessions. In the event of cancellation or rescheduling, a registered attendee can request a full refund of course fees. Refunds will be processed within ten (10) business days of refund requests.