sonja blignaut

We are proud to announce the arrangements for hosting back-to-back Cognitive Edge Accreditation courses in 2012. After the sold-out inaugural Cape Town course in 2011, in partnership with the University of Stellenbosch Business School, we will be back in Bellville from 28th to 30th March 2012. Thereafter we will be in Johannesburg from 2nd to 4th April 2012.

Steve Bealing, CEO of Cognitive Edge, will again be joining us from Singapore to facilitate the accreditation. Spaces are limited to 24 only, so be sure to book your seat soon.

The accreditation is offered over three days, in two installments. Day 1 and 2 focus on the theory of complexity and practical tools and methods that can be used in making sense of conditions of uncertainty. The third day is the optional SenseMaker^TM training that will equip people in running their own mass narrative capture and sensemaking projects. 

The course brochures are available for download: 

• Cape Town: Day 1 and 2, Day 3
• Johannesburg: Day 1 and 2, Day 3

We do this on an annual basis ... bring a Cognitive Edge heavy weight over from the shores yonder to train up local folk in the essential techniques of gathering narratives and using them to make sense of complexity. Usually, we bring our one Prof Dave Snowden. This year however we're bring out Mr Steve Bealing, none other than the CEO of Cognitive Edge to facilitate the training.

Once trained, you'll be a part of the global network of Cognitive Edge Practitioners (like we are) and be able to run your own programmes within your organisation.

Here are the details, or visit our training page for more info:

Course Outline:

Day 1: Strategy & Complexity
Day 2: Narrative & Project Design
Day 3: Successfully designing & delivering a SenseMaker project (optional day - dependent on numbers)

Venue: Focus, in Sunninghill, Johannesburg (to be confirmed)

Fee:

Day 1 and Day 2: R5,000 per delegate (ex VAT)
Day 3: R2,500 per delegate (ex VAT)

Bookings:

Contact Chrislia at admin[at]narrativelab[dot]co[dot]za for bookings and more information.

The Narrative Lab will be hosting, with Cognitive Edge, the annual Cognitive Edge Accreditation Course in Sunninghill from 22nd to 24th June 2009. Steve Bealing, CEO of Cognitive Edge will be here facilitating the course along with Sonja and Aiden.

If you want to discover practical and pragmatic ways to manage under conditions of uncertainty, understand the power of business narrative and discover new ways to use human networks, then this course will provide you with the introductory theory and associated open source Cognitive Edge methods.

Course Outline:

Day 1: Strategy & Complexity
Day 2: Narrative & Project Design
Day 3: Successfully designing & delivering a SenseMaker project (optional day - dependent on numbers)

Course Brochure: downloadable at the end of this page

Venue: Focus, in Sunninghill, Johannesburg (to be confirmed)

Fee:

Day 1 and Day 2: R5,000 per delegate (ex VAT)
Day 3: R2,500 per delegate (ex VAT)

Bookings:

Contact Chrislia at admin[at]narrativelab[dot]co[dot]za for bookings and more information.

In our recent research collaboration with Deloitte into the state of mine safety (available here) we exposed a metaphor that was prevalent in the industry: that of policing. That is, almost the entire industry is being governed by the dynamics associated with policing behaviour, risk, attitudes and impact.

While attending a seminar today, where we presented the results of our recent study, Sonja and I uncovered another prevalent metaphor: that of religious evangelism. We noticed how almost every presentation or comment was saturated with evangelical religious undertones and metaphors, of which the speakers were largely unaware. They would say things like:

Now, it is a natural human tendency to use metaphors when explaining concepts, but it is another thing using a metaphor because it emerges as a representation of values and drivers behind a pattern of behaving and acting in relation to a problem.

Aiden Choles - Director @ The Narrative Lab
Sonja Blignaut - Director @ The Narrative Lab
Rob Hooper - Cartoonist, artist, graphical guru
Liz Neethling - Facilitator, marketing and advertising specialist and copywriter
Elmi Bester - Knowledge Management guru, Cognitive Edge practitioner

The fatal error Brain made (from Pinky and the Brain fame) was to attempt to take over the world with grand efforts, that failed in every episode. We, on the other hand, prefer to take small strides in the same ambition.

Having said that, Sonja and I would like to welcome Chrislia van Tonder to the TNL ranks as one of those monumental strides. Chrislia will be our go-to 'gal who will keep the business end of this business, well, business-like. Chrislia has a background in accounts and financial management (something which gives Sonja and I headaches). 

So, welcome Chrislia, we look forward to working with you and seeing the sense you make of our complexities :)

Sonja handed me a book the other day with these words, "This is the best fantasy novel ever written!" Being a avid reader and an ever-increasing fan of the genre I obliged and took the book. Raymond E. Feist's Magician is the afore-mentioned n­ovel. 

Barely a few chapters into the book I am struck by a thread in the Hero's Journey narrative plot that is still fresh in my mind after reading Philip Pullman's­ Northern Lights recently. In both stories the central character is an orphan child who is predestined for greatness, without their knowledge. In addition to this, they both possess powers unknown to them that they discover as the story unravels. And finally ...

For more information about The Narrative Lab, please email us:

Aiden Choles :: aiden at narrativelab dot co dot za

Passionate about organisational health, Aiden specializes in the use of narrative to understand culture. Aiden holds a Masters degree in Narrative as well as qualifications in Psychology.

Sonja Blignaut :: sonja at narrativelab dot co dot za

With a deep knowledge of Complexity theory and practice, Sonja is adept at constructing processes that make sense of Complex problems. Sonja holds a BSc in Meteorology.

Chrislia van Tonder :: chrislia at narrativelab dot co dot za

Chrislia has a background in financial management, and is the administrative glue that keeps this company together.

Natasha Govender :: natasha at narrativelab dot co dot za

Natasha worked as a consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers for two and half years. She has considerable operational and strategic human resources experience in the private and public sectors as well as experience in a wide range of solutions such as Learning, Communication, Change Management and Talent Management. Natasha is a great facilitator and currently completing her BCom in HR Management.

Tshepo David Sebe :: david at narrativelab dot co dot za

David is a BA (Corporate Communications) graduate from the University of Johannesburg, who specialised in Knowledge Management. He fulfills a role as a project assistant in The Narrative Lab. Besides being a genuinely nice guy, David is ambitious and eager to contribute. 

Associates of The Narrative Lab

Nicolaas Herholdt :: nicolaas at narrativelab dot co dot za

Nicolaas is an experienced management consultant and is comfortable wearing a tie. He has 14 years experience in the mining industry, during which time he has lead various projects. Nicolaas has an MBA from the University of Cape Town and a B Commerce from the University of the Witwatersrand.

 Jeff Butana Cele 

Jeff has joined the team as a facilitator and project assistant.  Jeff has international experience in facilitating and managing “train-the trainer” programs.  He is well versed in designing and facilitating a diverse range of curriculum and content, including HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness, leadership, mentorship, and character development. Jeff is passionate about making a difference in South Africa.