Blog
Our Client Partners
Canopy Gap works with organizations that embrace the “mess.” We talk about the “mess” as being the unpredictable, uncontrollable nature of work and life. It’s neither good nor bad. It’s complex. Our client partners understand there are no quick fixes or easy solutions to how we work together effectively. Since people are not machines, it […]
What Do We Mean by “Design?”
In the way that we see the world, everyone is a designer. We “mark,” or “designate” our projects and our days with choices. This is what a designer does. We consciously choose an activity or a process to deepen relationships, or improve our work together. So, we can all let go of the notion of […]
Facilitating Change
It is well known that people are resistant to change. And yet in this messy world, we know that continual change is necessary. Change is more likely to be effective when people impacted by the changes are invited to participate. Whether it’s a merger, reorganization, new initiative, or you want to revisit how you work […]
Transparency, Openness, & Trust
If you imagine a company as a house, envision the typical departments occupying various rooms throughout the house. Perhaps human resources is in the foyer, operations in the basement, product development in the kitchen, and so forth. In this analogy, the traditional role of marketing has been to create a winsome awning and a fine […]
Principle of Participation
Peter Block captured the timeless truth that “people will be accountable and committed to what they have a hand in creating.” This principle applies to both customers and employees. Advocacy increases when people are not just “consuming” or “working” but are directly participating in a worthwhile endeavor. In a connected world, business models that are […]
Culture Shifts
This Q&A with Todd Hoskins originally appeared in the Pomello Blog. What are the most common reasons that you see companies pursuing a company culture change management strategy? Many organizations view “culture” as a problem that needs to be solved, typically after an increase in employee turnover, declining performance, or some disruption such as a […]
Managing Change
“Every amateur epistemologist knows that knowledge cannot be managed.” — David Jonassen Change, like knowledge, cannot be managed. If we remember that everything is in motion – markets, organizations, people – trying to manage change is like trying to hold water in your hands. Organizations that have “change management” or “organizational effectiveness” initiatives typically develop […]
Patterns & Principles
“All good methods, explanations, and theories inevitably distance us from our primal sense of participation.” — David Tracy How do we get to engagement? Sales? Innovation? How does transformation happen? If anyone gives you a Step A, B, and C, beware. Methodologies are captivating. We are always trying to make sense of the world, and […]
Relational Business Design
“An organization’s fitness—like that of an organism—cannot be assessed in a vacuum; it is a product of compatibility with the surrounding environment.” — General Stanley McChrystal With the present-day cynicism towards large institutions, we have lost our sense of their potential. The complex states of government, academia, corporations, networks, and multinational nonprofits are an evolutionary […]
