"Hard Gnarly Wicked Problems" and the mindset of innovation
As Kevin Telford , my guest on this month’s episode of This is The North, made this statement of "hard gnarly wicked problems" I thought, yes that sums it up perfectly.
The North is indeed facing some hard gnarly wicked problems and my mind instantly wandered to the ones we have already covered in this first series of This is the North - Housing, Industrial Heritage and even Suicide but I snapped back to the present when I realised Kevin wasn’t finished. He completed his sentence with, “but we are rich in goodwill and purpose”. And in that moment, something clicked for me.
Yes, we are facing some huge challenges in the North. The statistics are truly shocking.
38% of children in the North-East live-in poverty.
41% of Key Works in the North East and 29% in the North-West live-in povertyWe have the lowest level of attainment in A Levels and GCSEs.
And we have both a lower life expectancy and greater likelihood of spending our final years in ill health.
But perhaps focusing on the bad, without mentioning the good, robs us of something? For the theme that has run through the first four episodes of This is the North is hope. Hope based on the people of the North.
People who are friendly and welcoming.
People with a sense of pride and desire to support each other through hard times.
People who have the grit and determination to overcome huge challenges.
And this month’s topic of Innovation is no exception. Thank you to my guests Estelle Blanks , 🚚 Robin Ferris and Kevin Telford for their insights and inputs. The stories they shared are inspiring and they show how we can use innovation to change the systems holding back the North. Here are some take-aways from our discussion.
Authoring Our Own Story
We need to revise the current narrative around the North.
We need to believe in ourselves and our ability to deliver the change we need.
The North has a rich history of innovation. We have an amazing track record of solving big problems with innovative technology. Our culture of tenacity and determination is revered.
We have all the ingredients to be a region of entrepreneurs, we’ve proved this time and time again. But to realise that potential we need to encourage people to take risks. To attack the problems, they see in society. To give people the tools to change a problem statement into a viable solution.
We need to harness our fighting spirit. Stitch ourselves together. Create the right ecosystem and collaborate with others to push things over the line. That is how we will deliver effective innovation in the North.
Innovation for Impact
But to achieve success we must ensure we don’t shackle progress to arbitrary measures. We need to focus on the real-world benefits of innovation.
The traditional innovation metrics make no sense in this context. Our current systems are transactional and demand objectivity. We fear being criticised for a failure to show quick progress.
But it is not about measuring how much we spend on Research and Development or collecting intellectual property. It is not about immediate results. It is about creating value. Delivering benefits for people. Having a positive societal impact. That should be the focus of modern innovation.
The North is Not Broken. We do not need to be fixed.
Everything I have learned through these podcasts have shown me that our community is not broken. But the systems that support it are a different story entirely.
The solutions to the challenges faced by the North will be found in systems. But there is a clarification to this statement. They will not be found in the current system. That is what is broken and attempting to fit ourselves into a broken system is not going to get us anywhere.
Its time for change - systemic change. We need to reject short-termism and populist policy. We need to put in place the right solutions for us and hold firm to the course so we can see the long-term benefits, resisting the current craze - and it is a craze in every sense of the word - flitting from one thing to another and back again, wildly out of control and achieving very little.
But in order to do that, we need to think differently. We need to be honest about what’s not working and willing to try new things. We need to stop trying to be like everyone else. Focus on what we are good at. Understand and be clear about what success means to us, then perhaps we can soar high enough to leapfrog those who we are often compared to. As my guest Estelle Blanks says so eloquently and passionately “we don’t want to level up, that’s not good enough”, we want to go beyond this, and we can.
Join in the conversation.
Please do listen to this episode of This is the North: Innovation is a mindset and share with me, Alison Dunn , your thoughts and ideas for tackling the “hard gnarly wicked problems” of the North.
Here's where you can find episode 5:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/005-innovation-is-a-mindset/id1716538462?i=1000646761291 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6QlxhY6J9Y69i68kWzz71l?si=1123ef7406024d3
If you like what you hear, please tell your friends, subscribe to the series and leave a review - it really does help other listeners decide where to spend their time.
What's coming up next?
Please watch out for episode 6 coming soon. It's about Northern identity and borrows its title of "Northern Enlightenment" from my guest Dan Jackson , Historian and Author of the critically acclaimed The Northumbrians, a History of the North East and its People. In this episode Dan and I are joined by journalist, broadcaster and North East advocate, the sensational Charlie Charlton who is also the Community Engagement Manager for Newcastle Helix and last, but certainly not least the Chief Executive of the Newcastle United Foundation, and a champion for the young folk of the North East, Steve Beharall