Learning from the Extremes: Strategies for radical social innovation Charles Leadbeater
Learning from the Extremes: where need is greatest and resources least there’s radical innovation
Education + Technology = Hope
Everyone wants more education
But everyone knows it’s malfunctioning
Efforts to improve current systems
Transformative innovation will come from outside incumbent systems
Diagram One: How we talk and engage
High Volume
Low Volume
High Engage
Low Engage
High Volume
Low Engage
High Engage
Low Volume
High Volume Traditional politics Mass marketing Industrial media Low Engage
High Engage
Low Volume
High Volume French wine Low Engage
High Engage
Low Volume
High Volume Detached elites Low Engage
High Engage
Low Volume
High Volume Traditional, formal schooling Low Engage
High Engage
Low Volume
High Volume Australian wine Low Engage
High Engage
Low Volume
High Volume Populist elites Low Engage
High Engage
Low Volume
High Volume Celebrity Charisma Crisis Low Engage
High Engage
Low Volume
High Volume
Low Engage
High Engage Social media MumsNet Low Volume
High Volume
Low Engage
High Engage
Socially isolated and disconnected Low Volume
Changing communications alters how we innovate
Diagram Two: Mass Innovation
Many contributors
Few contributors
Many benefit
Few Benefit
Many benefit
Few contributors
Many contributors
Few Benefit
Many benefit
Few contributors
Many contributors
Bespoke Niche Few Benefit
Many benefit Mass Scale Few contributors
Many contributors
Few Benefit
Many benefit
Few contributors
Many contributors Corporate open innovation Few Benefit
Many benefit Community Open Source Few contributors
Many contributors
Few Benefit
Many benefit Community Open Source
Mass Scale Few contributors
Many contributors Corporate open innovation Few Benefit
Bespoke Niche
Many benefit Social innovation movements
Scaling social technologies Few contributors
Many contributors
Community Social Entrepreneurs Few Benefit
Many benefit Spread
Scale Few contributors
Many contributors
Stay small Few Benefit
Diagram Three: systems and empathy, reach and intensity
High system
Low system
Low Empathy
High Empathy
High system
High Empathy
Low Empathy
Low system
High system
High Empathy
Low Empathy The Vyne Comprehensive School circa 1973 Low system
High system KIPP Charter Schools High Empathy
Low Empathy The Vyne Comprehensive School circa 1973 Low system
High system KIPP Charter Schools High Empathy
Low Empathy The Vyne Comprehensive School circa 1973
The History Boys
Low system
Diagram Four: Styles of Innovation
Sustaining
Disruptive
Inside
Outside
Inside Sustaining
Disruptive
Outside
Same goal and same but improved means Teach First City Year
Inside Sustaining
Disruptive
Outside
Revised goals, different institutional means Big Picture Schools High Tech High
Inside Sustaining
Disruptive
Outside
Same goals different mix of means Friendship Harlem Children’s Zone Pratham
Inside Sustaining
Disruptive
Outside
Different goals allow very different means Barefoot College Hole in Wall
Different goals allow very different means Pull not push Spread not scale
We need a mix of all four
Sometimes they conflict
We need more transformative innovation
Similar principles for high and low tech
Similar principles for developed and developing world
New DNA for learning