Three leading artists: the singer Madeleine Pierard; the children's book illustrator Gavin Bishop and playwright and actor Jacob Rajan discuss why they create work with Paul Bushnell. Awa Press writer Jane Bowron reads from her book Old Bucky & Me: Dispatches from the Christchurch Earthquake.
“much of what we know about leadership is today redundant because it is literally designed for a different operating model, a different context, a different time” (Pascale, Sternin, & Sternin, p. 4). This thesis describes a project that was designed with a focus on exploring ways to enhance leadership capacity in non-government organisations operating in Christchurch, New Zealand. It included 20 CEOs, directors and managers from organisations that cover a range of settings, including education, recreation, and residential and community therapeutic support; all working with adolescents. The project involved the creation of a peer-supported professional learning community that operated for 14 months; the design and facilitation of which was informed by the Appreciative Inquiry principles of positive focus and collaboration. At the completion of the research project in February 2010, the leaders decided to continue their collective processes as a self-managing and sustaining professional network that has grown and in 2014 is still flourishing under the title LYNGO (Leaders of Youth focussed NGOs). Two compelling findings emerged from this research project. The first of these relates to efficacy of a complexity thinking framework to inform the actions of these leaders. The leaders in this project described the complexity thinking framework as the most relevant, resonant and dynamic approach that they encountered throughout the research project. As such this thesis explores this complexity thinking informed leadership in detail as the leaders participating in this project believed it offers an opportune alternative to more traditional forms of positional leadership and organisational approaches. This exploration is more than simply a rationale for complexity thinking but an iterative in-depth exploration of ‘complexity leadership in action’ which in Chapter 6 elaborates on detailed leadership tools and frameworks for creating the conditions for self-organisation and emergence. The second compelling finding relates to efficacy of Appreciative Inquiry as an emergent research and development process for leadership learning. In particular the adoption of two key principles; positive focus and inclusivity were beneficial in guiding the responsive leadership learning process that resulted in a professional learning community that exhibited high engagement and sustainability. Additionally, the findings suggest that complexity thinking not only acts as a contemporary framework for adaptive leadership of organisations as stated above; but that complexity thinking has much to offer as a framework for understanding leadership development processes through the application of Appreciative Inquiry (AI)-based principles. A consideration of the components associated with complexity thinking has promise for innovation and creativity in the development of leaders and also in the creation of networks of learning. This thesis concludes by suggesting that leaders focus on creating hybrid organisations, ones which leverage the strengths (and minimise the limitations) of self-organising complexity-informed organisational processes, while at the same time retaining many of the strengths of more traditional organisational management structures. This approach is applied anecdotally to the place where this study was situated: the post-earthquake recovery of Christchurch, New Zealand.
A photograph of street art on Fitzgerald Avenue.
A photograph of street art above the Hereford Street entrance to the YMCA. The artwork was created by 'Paulie' as part of the RISE Festival. It depicts Nelson Mandela.
A photograph of a street art near City Mall. The artist is BMD.
A photograph of street art in Avonside. The artworks are on the walls of a derelict toilet block. The photographer believes that the artworks were created by the artist 'SGC'.
A photograph of street art above the Hereford Street entrance to the YMCA. The artwork was created by 'Drapl' as part of the RISE Festival.
A photograph of street art on a fence near the roundabout of St Martins Road and Gamblins Road. The artwork depicts a Star Wars Stormtrooper and Space Invaders characters.
A photograph taken from Manchester Street, of street art near City Mall. The artist is BMD.
A photograph of street art on the corner of Fitzgerald Avenue and Alfred Street.
A photograph of street art in Avonside. The artworks are on the walls of a derelict toilet block. The photographer believes that the artworks were created by the artist 'SGC'.
A photograph of street art in Avonside. The artwork is on the walls of a derelict toilet block. The photographer believes that the artworks were created by the artist 'SGC'.
A photograph of street art in Avonside. The artworks are on the walls of a derelict toilet block. The photographer believes that the artworks were created by the artist 'SGC'.
A photograph of street art in Avonside. The artworks are on the walls of a derelict toilet block. The photographer believes that the artworks were created by the artist 'SGC'.
A photograph of street art on the Cathedral Square side of the Cathedral Junction building. The artwork was created by street artist Rone Wright for the RISE Festival. The artwork is titled 'Teresa', and depicts Australian model Teresa Oman.
A photograph of street art on the Cathedral Square side of the Cathedral Junction building. The artwork was created by street artist Rone Wright for the RISE Festival. The artwork is titled 'Teresa', and depicts Australian model Teresa Oman.
A photograph of Mike Hewson's installation, 'Old Public Toilets 2014'. The artwork depicts a distorted image of the surrounding buildings. The installation is part of a series titled 'Homage to the Lost Spaces'.
A photograph of street art on the wall of the Calendar Girls building on Hereford Street. The artwork is by Australian artist Seb Humphreys, who works under the name 'Order 55'.
A photograph of street art on the back wall of the AJ Creative Glass building on Fitzgerald Avenue. The photographer believes that the artwork was created by the artist 'Saves'.
A photograph of street art on the back wall of the AJ Creative Glass building on Fitzgerald Avenue. The photographer believes that the artwork was created by the artist 'Paulie'.
A photograph of street art on the side wall of Canterbury Museum. The artwork was created by Belgian street artist 'ROA' as part of the RISE Festival.
A photograph of street art on the side wall of Canterbury Museum. The artwork was created by Belgian street artist 'ROA' as part of the RISE Festival.
A photograph of street art on the side wall of Canterbury Museum. The artwork was created by Belgian street artist 'ROA' as part of the RISE Festival.
A photograph of street art on the side wall of Canterbury Museum. The artwork was created by Belgian street artist 'ROA' as part of the RISE Festival.
A photograph of Mike Hewson's installation, 'Old Public Toilets 2014'. The artwork depicts a distorted image of the surrounding buildings. The installation is part of a series titled 'Homage to the Lost Spaces'.
A photograph of street art on Gloucester Street near Cathedral Junction. The title of the art work is "Kristen". The artists are Askew One and Mark TMD.
A photograph of street art in Avonside. The artworks are on the walls of a derelict toilet block. The photographer believes that the artworks were created by the artist 'SGC'.
A photograph of street art above the Hereford Street entrance to the YMCA. The artwork was created by 'Paulie' as part of the RISE Festival. It depicts Nelson Mandela.
A photograph of street art on the side wall of Canterbury Museum. The artwork was created by Belgian street artist 'ROA' as part of the RISE Festival.
A photograph of a street art near City Mall. The artist is BMD.