KA Watson, Coastline CC 1

Virtual integration of diversity: Real transdisciplinarity

KA Watson, Coastline CC 2

Innovation through diversity integration

Background: what it means to innovate & integrate– Theoretical and philosophical (e.g., the “Other”)– Practical (e.g., “diversity” dealings)– Functional • In business • In design• In language and culture courses

KA Watson, Coastline CC 3

Virtually innovative diversity integration: 4 steps

• The business school model, Rotman-style– Salience– Causality– Architecture– Resolution

KA Watson, Coastline CC 4

Virtual diversity integration • Step #1: Rotman-style “salience”– Mental triage, deciding what is/is not relevant– Consideration of multiple variables– Weighing of numerous options– Consideration of consequences

KA Watson, Coastline CC 5

Innovation, integration, and diversity• Step #2: Rotman-style “causality”– Seek and exploration– Seek the non-linear– Seek the multi-directional– Seek interrelationships – Seek the “prime cause”

KA Watson, Coastline CC 6

Integrated innovation in a diverse world

• Step #3: Rotman-style “architecture”– Model-building– Module-building– Care to avoid “narrow perfectionism”– Backgrounding/foregrounding in turns

KA Watson, Coastline CC 7

Integration of diversity for innovation• Step #4: Rotman-style “resolution”– Using challenges as forms of physical tension– Using physical tension as impetus to creativity– Using problems as aspects of a “messy whole”– Moving always toward the optimal

KA Watson, Coastline CC 8

Innovation via integration: 5 ways

• The design school five-way model– Mood – Context– Requirements– Design solutions– Design evaluation

KA Watson, Coastline CC 9

Innovation through integrated diversity, oui! Cottong/Burney-style “mood”: a first way to integrate

– “Atmosphere”– Transformative thought– Creative process-building for innovation– Cultural sensitivity

KA Watson, Coastline CC 10

Innovative integration through diversity

Cottong/Burney-style “context”: Way #2

– Human: who will use…– Practical: what used for….– Significance triage

KA Watson, Coastline CC 11

Virtual diversity integrationCottong/Burney-style “requirements”: Way #3– Business needs– User goals– Responsiveness to business, economics, and

humans

KA Watson, Coastline CC 12

Innovative integration: Diversity, oui!Cottong/Burney-style “design solutions”: Way #4– First, propose many rough concepts– Second, discuss the concepts– Third, entertain alternative perspectives of concepts– Fourth, foster a feeling of concept “ownership”

KA Watson, Coastline CC 13

Virtual integration of diversity

Cottong/Burney-style “design evaluation”: Way #5

– Test alternatives among real users– Use “beta-testing” practices– Use “quality testing”– Evaluate and re-evaluate continuously

KA Watson, Coastline CC 14

Virtual diversity integration: 4 strategies• Language and culture integrated, Coastline-style– Brainstorming– Defining a problem– Role-playing– Applying alternative strategies

KA Watson, Coastline CC 15

Virtual diversity integration: 1 strategy Coastline language/culture “problem defining”

– Determine each learner’s mood– Determine preferred learning styles– Determine central goal and ancillaries– Experiment!

KA Watson, Coastline CC 16

Virtual diversity integration: a second strategy

• Coastline French “role playing”

– Experimentation – Engagement– Immersion– Argumentation à la française– Spherical growth

KA Watson, Coastline CC 17

Innovation, integration, and diversity: strategy #3

• Coastline French “problem-solving alternatives”

– Empathy development – Thought process development– Productivity development– Creativity development– Non-evaluative, transdisciplinary thought development

KA Watson, Coastline CC 18

Virtually integrated diversity is…• Cross-cultural, literally and figuratively• Cross-generational• Transdisciplinary