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.
