I spoke with Sarah Babb about organisational change. We covered the key types of change organisations face, success factors for change initiatives, change frameworks including Theory U and the Cynefin framework for managing complexity, linking strategy with change management and futures thinking and leadership development for effective change.

Sarah designs and leads innovative and impactful learning and change processes for leaders, teams, entrepreneurs, and organisations seeking to create the new world we all want to live in.

Sarah is passionate about enabling futures thinking capacities in executive programmes, coaching circles, and change processes. Over twenty years she has led many exciting programmes: from leading scenarios projects, to national skills programmes, to leading culture change, to leadership development. Trained with global experts in Theory U, Cynefin and Waysfinder, Transformative Scenarios amongst other techniques. 

Sarah is a Professional Associate at GIBS and Part-time faculty at USB and USB Exec Ed. Her qualifications include: BA (Industrial Psychology & Industrial Sociology), PDM (HR), MBA (cum laude, GIBS), PhD (Leadership Identity Development, submit 2020). For more see Sarah’s website: www.laminar.co.za

Further reading:

• Berger, J. G. (2019). Unlocking leadership mindtraps: How to thrive in complexity.

Further resources:

• Theory U: https://www.presencing.org/aboutus/theory-u

I spoke with Jakkie Cilliers from the African Futures and Innovation (AFI) team at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Pretoria. We discussed Jakkie’s new book, Africa First! Igniting a Growth Revolution.

The discussion covered the key developmental challenges facing Africa and the International Futures (IFs) forecasting platform that was used to model scenarios on how the continent can ignite a growth revolution. We also touched on Africa’s Current Path - the likely development trajectory assuming current policies continue going forward, the key scenario insights policy makers should adopt to shift to prosperity, the impact of COVID-19 and AFI’s ongoing research that builds on the work done for Africa First.

Dr Jakkie Cilliers is the Chairman of the ISS Board of Trustees and Head of the African Futures and Innovation team in Pretoria. Jakkie co-founded the ISS in 1990 and was the executive director until 2015. He is an Extraordinary Professor in the Centre of Human Rights and the Department of Political Sciences, Faculty Humanities at the University of Pretoria.  His 2017 book on the future of South Africa Fate of the Nation – 3 scenarios for South Africa’s future was on the best seller list for several months. His most recent book (March 2020) is Africa First! Igniting a Growth Revolution.  He has a DLitt et Phil from the University of South Africa.

Further reading:

Jakkie’s book: Africa First! - https://www.jakkiecilliers.org/africa-first?gclid=CjwKCAjwps75BRAcEiwAEiACMVTLhdzpwfeLSbgjBPDPuPQvgyLYiezW9_kRI2Tv0XDw32lzl_aGyBoCSeoQAvD_BwE

Pardee Center for International Futures - https://pardee.du.edu/

I spoke with Laura Balmond about the circular economy and circular fashion. We covered the benefits of a circular economy transformation, the challenges, the “linear operation” of the textiles industry and opportunities to make fashion circular.

Laura joined the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in 2015 following two years as a Management consultant, and completing her Masters in Environmental Engineering. Laura’s first few years at the Foundation saw her work on a co-funded EU project, ResCoM (Resource Conservative Manufacturing) and research and co-author the reports ‘Circular Economy in India’ and ‘A New Textiles Economy - Redesigning Fashion’s Future’.

Now, as Programme Manager in the Make Fashion Circular team at the Foundation, Laura manages relationships with the Make Fashion Circular participants, key industry stakeholders and coordinates the Jeans Redesign - a project which sets minimum criteria for jeans to ensure they are made from safe materials, can be kept in use and turned into new jeans once they can no longer be worn.

Further reading:

Ellen MacArthur Foundation

A New Textiles Economy: Redesigning fashion’s Future                               

The Jeans Redesign Guidelines

Circular Economy in India: Rethinking growth for long-term prosperity

The ResCoM (Resource Conservative Manufacturing) project

Ellen MacArthur Foundation

The Centre for Sustainable Design

WRAP

Central Saint Martins

Raworth, K. (2017). Doughnut economics: seven ways to think like a 21st-century economist. London: Random House.

I spoke with Susan Hall about the ethics of human enhancement. Activities such as physical fitness routines and taking music lessons do not seem to raise any philosophical problems. However, a current example that elicits debate is Elon Musk’s Neuralink, his neural technology company that is developing an implant designed to interface directly with the human brain. Our discussion covered the types of enhancements that are considered in the philosophical debates and the various arguments that arise.

Dr Susan Hall is a lecturer in the Philosophy Department and Centre for Applied Ethics at Stellenbosch University. She completed her PhD dissertation, “Harm and Enhancement: Philosophical and Ethical Perspectives” in 2012, and her research interests include Bioethics and the ethics of technology. She is currently working on the ethics of biotechnological human enhancement and bioethical issues related to the participation of intersex athletes in sporting competition.

Further reading:

• The Stanford Encyclopaedia entry on human enhancement provides a useful overview of the debate: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/enhancement/

I spoke with Jakkie Cilliers and Stellah Kwasi from the African Futures and Innovation (AFI) team at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Pretoria. We discussed their recent report on the impact of COVID-19 in Africa.

Dr Jakkie Cilliers is the Chairman of the ISS Board of Trustees and Head of the African Futures and Innovation team in Pretoria. Jakkie co-founded the ISS in 1990 and was the executive director until 2015. He is an Extraordinary Professor in the Centre of Human Rights and the Department of Political Sciences, Faculty Humanities at the University of Pretoria.  His 2017 book on the future of South Africa Fate of the Nation – 3 scenarios for South Africa’s future was on the best seller list for several months. His most recent book (March 2020) is Africa First! Igniting a Growth Revolution.  He has a DLitt et Phil from the University of South Africa.

Stellah Kwasi joined ISS in April 2018 as a Researcher in the African Futures and Innovation programme in Pretoria. Before joining the ISS she was a research affiliate at the Fredrick S Pardee Center of International Futures at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver, Colorado. At Pardee, Stellah worked on international non-government organisations' trends and sub-regional data analysis in conjunction with QED/USAID in Uganda. Before that she was an intern at the ISS. Stellah has a Master’s degree in international development from the University of Denver.

Further reading:

Impact of COVID-19 in Africa: a scenario analysis to 2030 - https://issafrica.org/research/africa-report/impact-of-covid-19-in-africa-a-scenario-analysis-to-2030

Watch the associated webinar here - https://issafrica.org/events/updated-forecasts-impact-of-covid-19-in-africa

Webinar presentation - https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/2020-07-23-covid-presentation-jakkie-1.pdf

Jakkie’s book: Africa First! - https://www.jakkiecilliers.org/africa-first?gclid=CjwKCAjwps75BRAcEiwAEiACMVTLhdzpwfeLSbgjBPDPuPQvgyLYiezW9_kRI2Tv0XDw32lzl_aGyBoCSeoQAvD_BwE

Pardee Center for International Futures - https://pardee.du.edu/

I spoke with Senseis Lars Niehaus and Stephan Steyn about karate as a martial art. The discussion covered the purpose and development of karate, the focus of traditional karate, the guiding principles of karate (dojo kun), advice for parents and adult beginners, what it takes to be a good karateka and much more!

Sensei Lars Bio: I started karate in or about September 1981 while studying at University in Pietermaritzburg.  I joined the university karate club which was headed up by an instructor called Peter Schoerie who, in turn fell under Sensei Rob Ferriere. My introduction into the martial (and fighting) arts began at age 8 or 9 when my late father, a judoka, took me to boxing at the Hugenote Amateur Boxing Club under the tutelage of the late “Oom” Naas Botes.  Oom Naas was a very strict and hard taskmaster but he loved his boys and taught us good values.  The club was (and still is) situated at the Brixton Recreation Centre in south-western Johannesburg.  I loved boxing.

It was during this time that I met Sensei Stan Schmidt at the home of some boyhood friends of mine.  Their father was also a judoka. It was then that the seed was planted that I wanted to do karate and remain involved in the fighting arts scene for the rest of my life. I had no idea how I would get there or anything like that, but I just knew it would happen.  Why I stopped boxing (something I was very upset about) is because I had to go to boarding school in Kwa-Zulu Natal at the age of 11. Fast forward to sometime during 1981 and the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal Pietermaritzburg Law Library – I was sitting next to another guy studying.  During a short break, we introduced ourselves to one another and he turned out to be Peter Schoerie.  For some reason, the conversation turned to fighting and karate.  I told him that I wanted to start karate and had no idea where.  He told me he was the one to talk to and that is where my karate career started.

I was terrible at the beginning.  In fact, when it came time to attempt my grade for 8th kyu (yellow belt) a few months later, Sensei Rob Ferriere – who scared the hell out of me with his Mexican Zapata-style moustache and French-Mauritian accent – I failed.  Sensei Rob’s comment “not ready yet…”. I did soldier on and, subsequent to moving to Johannesburg and being told by the late Sensei Derrick Geyer to report to the morning class (Sensei Stan Schmidt’s Early Birds class) while I was still a purple belt in 1986, I attained the rank of shodan (first dan) in March 1987. I have continued training over the years and currently hold the rank of Godan (fifth dan) and run my own dojo (school) in Rivonia, northern Johannesburg.

Sensei Stephan Bio: Stephan is a Japanese registered 4th Dan (Yondan) instructor in the World Shotokan Karate-do Federation with both national and international competition experience. His karate career spans over 26 years of training with top class senior Shotokan instructors. Highlights of the almost three decades include Shodan grading at the age of 16 (Malcolm Dorfman Sensei), representing South Africa at the KWF World Championships in Norway (2009), being part of the Student National WKF team competing at the student World championships in Slovakia (2012) and receiving Yondan from Hitoshi Kasuya Sensei in 2016.  Stephan teaches at their Potchefstroom dojo with his wife, also a Yondan instructor. They believe in not only teaching the physical aspects of karate but also the use of karate principles to improve each student's abilities and the application of these principles in all areas of life.

The dojo kun (training hall rules) - Guiding Principles of Karate:

1) Character

Hitotsu, jinkaku kansei ni tsutomeru koto

Strive for the perfection of character

2) Sincerity

Hitotsu, makoto no michi wo mamoru koto

Protect the way of the truth

3) Effort

Hitotsu, doryoku no seishin wo yashinau koto

Foster the effort of spirit

4) Etiquette

Hitotsu, reigi wo omonzuru koto 

Respect the principles of etiquette

5) Self control

Hitotsu, kekki no yū wo imashimuru koto

Guard against impetuous courage

“Karate is in your head”- Sensei Rob Ferriere: Some reading on psychology and getting into the “zone”:

Karageorghis, C. I., & Terry, P. C. (2011). Inside sport psychology. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Evans, C. (2019). Perform Under Pressure. HarperCollins.

YouTube resource:

Jesse Enkamp: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRIeMHsEdzA9RroG19kXdYg

I spoke with Stephan Steyn about antibiotic resistance.

Stephan is a qualified pharmacist with a PhD in pharmacological neuroscience. Stephan is a senior lecturer in Pharmacology at North-West University, Potchefstroom. His research interests include the lasting effects of early-life, central-acting treatment strategies and the role that mitochondrial function plays in these effects. Being a karateka for more than two decades, Stephan has incorporated the discipline of karate into his professional life, making him critical of his own performance, always willing to learn from others, broaden his knowledge and improve his skillset.

Context for this episode:

Antibiotics are a core tool of modern medicine. However, the emergence of antibiotic resistance is a growing concern. According to the World Health Organisation, antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health, food security, and development. A growing number of infections are becoming harder to treat as the antibiotics used in treatments become less effective. This resistance leads to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs and increased mortality.

Further background:

Ted Talk: Maryn McKenna: What do we do when antibiotics don’t work anymore? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3oDpCb7VqI&feature=youtu.be

Trafton, A., (2020). Artificial intelligence yields new antibiotic - A deep-learning model identifies a powerful new drug that can kill many species of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. MIT News Office: http://news.mit.edu/2020/artificial-intelligence-identifies-new-antibiotic-0220

Yeh, Y. C., Huang, T. H., Yang, S. C., Chen, C. C., & Fang, J. Y. (2020). Nano-Based Drug Delivery or Targeting to Eradicate Bacteria for Infection Mitigation: A Review of Recent Advances. Frontiers in Chemistry, 8, 286. https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2020.00286

The South African Antibiotic Stewardship Programme: https://www.fidssa.co.za/SAASP

Disclaimer: Please note that this discussion is for information purposes only and it does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your doctor for any medical advice you may need.

I spoke with Dr Lize Barclay about applied systems thinking. We touched on: systems thinking as a lens to look at the world and specifically for decision making, mental models, complicated vs. complex systems, key systems thinking tools, how to practice your systems thinking skills, the links with design thinking and futures studies, as well as gaming simulation.

Lize studies emerging issues, trends and alternative future scenarios for business, places and spaces and map paths to adapt in order to thrive and not merely survive, often through simulations and gaming.

On the 1st of December 2017 Lize joined the University of Stellenbosch Business School as Senior Lecturer in Futures Studies and Systems Thinking. Her current research explores gaming, cyberpunk, gentrification, hipster culture, gender, the 4th Industrial Revolution and indigenous knowledge systems. Previously she spent 12 years as lecturer in Town and Regional Planning.

She has a PhD in Town and Regional Planning with a focus on the use of scenario-based gaming simulation in higher education. Lize has 7 years’ experience working for local and provincial government, predominantly in Forward Planning.

She also runs a boutique consultancy called Question Unknown Infinity.

Further reading:

• The Systems Thinker - https://thesystemsthinker.com/

Recommended books:

• Senge, P. M. (1990). The fifth discipline: The art and practice of the learning organization. New York: Doubleday/Currency.

I spoke to Maura Feddersen about behavioural economics. We discussed the field’s growing relevance and practical applications, behavioural economics frameworks, opportunities to use big data, the use of “nudging” and the broader ethical considerations, especially for policy interventions.

Maura is an economist at Swiss Re, focused on behavioural economics. She develops solutions that enhance prediction and improve the value that insurance offers consumers. Before joining Swiss Re, Maura was a behavioural economist at the UK's Financial Conduct Authority. Maura's background is in economic consulting. At PwC's Strategy& and KPMG's Financial Risk Management practice, Maura developed economic and behavioural science insights to help organisations position themselves strategically in view of continuous shifts in their environment

Defining behavioural economics: “An approach to economic analysis that incorporates psychological insights into individual behaviour to explain economic decisions. Behavioural economics is motivated by the observation of anomalies that cannot be explained by standard models of choice. It provides an explanation for the anomalies by introducing human and social cognitive and emotional biases into the decision-making process.” See Oxford Reference.

Navigating ethical considerations:

• Sunstein, C. (2016). The Ethics of Influence: Government in the Age of Behavioral Science. Cambridge University Press.

Frameworks & models:

• EAST framework by Behavioural Insights Team: This model for behaviour change suggests making actions Easy, Attractive, Social and Timely (EAST) through a 4-step process: 1. Define the outcome, 2. Understand the context, 3. Build your intervention, and 4. Test, learn, adapt. Also see MINDSPACE.

Further reading:

• Classic behavioural economics books to get started:

• Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, fast and slow. Penguin.

• Online reading:

• Behavioural Scientist

• Great behavioural economics/behavioural science podcasts, for example:

• Behavioral Grooves

• Behavioural Economics in Action - online learning presented by Dilip Soman at the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management

More behavioural science and insurance insights:

• Nabholz, C. (2020). Behavioural economics: Predicting the irrational in a data-driven world. Swiss Re Blog.

More reading on some of the examples used in the podcast:

• Behavioural Insights Team (2012). Applying Behavioural Insights to Reduce Fraud, Debt and Error. Cabinet Office.

I had an engaging conversation with Schalk Engelbrecht. We discussed ethics in the time of COVID-19. 

Schalk is an ethicist, the Chief Ethics Officer at KPMG in South Africa, and a student of philosophy. He is responsible for KPMG’s internal ethics programme, and assists client companies to identify ethics risk, develop Codes of Ethics, design ethics management programmes and facilitate ethics training.

Schalk is also a research associate with the Centre for Applied Ethics at Stellenbosch University. In 2010 he completed his PhD in Philosophy with a thesis on the need to revive utopian thinking in an anti-utopian age. He has presented papers at national and international conferences on topics that include "radical business ethics", "the problem of the commons in organisations", and "ethics and utopian thinking". He is published in academic and popular journals and has been an invited speaker at conferences and provincial Anti-Corruption events.

Before joining KPMG Schalk lectured Philosophy and Ethics at the University of Stellenbosch and North-West University. He has lectured Business Ethics as part of the University of Stellenbosch Business School's MBA programme, and was the previous editor-in-chief of the African Journal of Business Ethics.

Notes & Resources:

Defining Ethics: “Rules for the human zoo” - Peter Sloterdijk

Dictionary definition: “the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation”, “a set of moral principles: a theory or system of moral values” - Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

The Framework:

Key point: Context matters. The framework for being ethical has stayed the same, but the content has changed (changes over time) – for example, comparing ethics in the Victorian era and the era of climate change.

Main ethics theories/frameworks:

1. Deontology (Duty)

Also see:

Blackburn, S. (2002) Being Good: A Short Introduction to Ethics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

https://www.oxford.co.za/book/9780192853776-being-good-p-a-short-introduction-to-ethics#.XsowcGgzbIU

Bregman, R., & Manton, E. (2018). Utopia for realists. New York: Bloomsbury.

https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/utopia-for-realists-9781408893210/

Bregman, R., & Manton, E. (2020). Humankind: A Hopeful History. New York: Bloomsbury.

https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/humankind-9781408898932/

Dalio, R. (2017). Principles: Life and Work. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2017.

https://www.principles.com/

Painter-Morland, M., & Ten Bos, R. (Eds.). (2011). Business Ethics and Continental Philosophy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/CBO9781139013338

https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/business-ethics-and-continental-philosophy/34A80BD91724193969CA10EF86D675A4#fndtn-information

Rachels, J. & Rachels, S. The elements of moral philosophy (9th Edition), New York: McGraw-Hill https://www.mheducation.com/highered/product/elements-moral-philosophy-rachels-rachels/M9781259914256.html

Raworth, K. (2017) Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-century Economist. London: Random House.

https://www.kateraworth.com/

Skidelsky, R., & Skidelsky, E. (2013). How much is enough? Money and the good life. Penguin Random House.

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/216918/how-much-is-enough-by-robert-skidelsky-and-edward-skidelsky/

Van Niekerk, A.A. (2002) Can more Business Ethics Teaching Halt Corruption in Companies? Ethics thought pieces, The Ethics Institute. Available Online: https://www.tei.org.za/index.php/resources/articles/business-ethics/2219-can-more-business-ethics-teaching-halt-corruption-in-companies-prof-anton-a-van-niekerk

Van Niekerk, A.A. (2011) Ethics theories and the principalist approach in bioethics. In Medical Ethics, Law and Human Rights: A South African Perspective, ed. K. Moodley. Pretoria: Van Schaik Publishers. https://www.vanschaiknet.com/book/view/394