RESEARCH DIMENSIONS WORKSHOP (MALLTOPIA)
April 9, 2007
Michelle DesGroseilliers, Mark Outhwaite, Priscilla Li, Catharine MacIntosh,
Michele Perras, Jasmin Kwak, Ilkka Heino
The Beal Institute welcomed David Kay, principal and founding partner
of Research Dimensions market research, for a workshop re-exploring the image
of the shopping mall. With David lending his expertise in consumer behaviour,
attitude and image measurement, the topic provided a lively discussion about
the social and experiential impact of malls. Existing corporate image studies,
explorations in incentives and compelling user experience were some of the
topics on the table for discussion. David’s visit resulted in the generation
of the Malltopia project.
ASTRAL MEDIA - DESIGN FRAMEWORKS
November 22, 2006. Tremblant, British Columbia
Alexander Manu was a keynote speaker at Astral Media’s Business Council
meeting at the Centre de Congrès. The theme of the meeting was the
Impact and Implications for the Organization of Astral Media’s Business
Ambition. Using Beal methodologies, Alex led the participants in
developing the individual and collective mindset, which will move the organization
in new territories and toward the business ambition. The executive workshop
comprised of exercises exploring insight, foresight, and strategic
innovation in strategic capital, transformative work ecologies, managing
imaginative teams, understanding emergent signals, and creating value and
social capital.
HERITAGE CANADA - MINISTÈRE DU PATRIMOINE CANADIEN
November 14, 2006. Ottawa
Alexander Manu gave the keynote speech at Canada Heritage’s annual
All-Staff Meeting at the Palais de Congrès in Ottawa. Among an audience
responsible for policies and programs that promote Canadian content,
cultural participation, citizenship and participation, Alex introduced Beal
methodologies to the Department of Canadian Heritage, emphasizing frameworks
of tactical vs. strategic innovation frameworks, the imperative of transformation
as a pre-competitive asset, and the need for imagination in innovation and
business.
WHIRLPOOL INNOVATION LEADERS FORUM
November 20, 2006
Alexander Manu was the guest speaker at Whirlpool’s Innovation Leaders
Forum. In front of an audience at Ivey J.J. Wettlaufer Executive
Centre, Alex introduced the Beal Institute's frameworks in research, insights,
and innovation. Presenting the established Beal theory of signals, experience
mapping, and signal amplification methods, Alex emphasized the need
for strategic creativity and the use of research exploration to extend the
limits of imagination and exploration of significant possibilities at the
intersection of new technology and emergent, latent, human behaviour.
TAIPEI, TAIWAN - TDC WORKSHOP
October 5, 2006. Taiwan Design Centre, Taipei
On October 2nd, Alexander Manu gave the keynote speech entitled “The
Imagination Gap: How Strategic Imagination can Drive Change” at the
Taiwan Design Forum. On October 5th, thirty-five executivelevel participants
from Taiwan’s industry, government and education sectors learned methods
for leveraging their organization’s core competencies towards the creation
of strategic capital at a workshop coordinated by the Beal Institute.
XEROX-MCMASTER
September 2, 2006. McMaster University
Alexander Manu and Matthew Jones presented a Strategic Creativity
Workshop to the class of 2007 MEEi students at the Xerox Centre for
Engineering Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Students were given an overview
of the strategic circle, as well as the philosophy behind the meaning of
signals as insights to latent behaviour. Alex and Matt introduced Beal research
focuses, tactical agents, motivating and manifest behavior, and encouraged
participants to use maximization variables to develop their own imaginative
questions.
PEACH PIT PUBLISHING GROUP – PEARSON EDUCATIONAL
June 5, 2006. Berkeley, California
Alexander Manu visited the publishing house of the Imagination Challenge
last June as a part of a pre-press promotional tour for the book. Nancy Aldrich-Ruenzel,
vice-president of Pearson Technology Group and publisher Peachpit Publishing
Group, was among the many participants engaged in a facilitated session led
by Alexander. The Peachpit staff engaged in various techniques of building
contexts and new perspectives around the idea of defining strategic opportunities
from archetype retrieval and behavior, drawing insights from the history
of economic, cultural and technological trends, and future forecasting.
