Exploring Relational Practices in Peacebuilding, Mediation, and Conflict Transformation

The Taos Institute invites you to attend its 2012 conference, “Exploring Relational Practices in Peacebuilding, Mediation and Conflict Transformation: From the Intimate to the International – a Taos Institute Conference.” The conference will take place in San Diego, California at the Bahia Resort and Conference Center, Mission Bay, November 14-18, 2012. Practitioners, academics and communityRead… Read more »

Help Wanted: Government Efficiency Expert

The City of Philadelphia wants to hire an efficiency expert. The Nutter administration issued a request for proposals soliciting qualified firms to submit credentials to become an “Overhead Cost and Revenue Collection Consultant” to deal with multiple city agencies. Philly.com News reports: “On the cost side, the city is looking for an outside analysis ofRead… Read more »

Social Construction: Entering the Dialogue

In this 2004 book, Ken and Mary Gergen of the Taos Institute present an account of social constructionist thought that enables students, colleagues and practitioners – as well as those who are simply curious – to gain a basic understanding and appreciation of the drama and constructionist ideas in action – in organizations, psychotherapy, education,Read… Read more »

Clause Logic Should Be Awesome

I’ve never heard a contract specialist say, “FARSite Clause Logic is awesome”. But they should be saying that. It has the potential to save a hundred of hour per year for each contract specialist (of which there are tens of thousands). Unfortunately, I don’t know anybody that uses it. I know I don’t use it.Read… Read more »

Do You Have a Social Media Superman Complex?

I’ve become the designated “social media guy” for a massive organization (25,000+ people). For a while, the responsibilities of this role consisted primarily of explaining what the Twitters were and why people cared about what you ate for lunch. As social media has grown in popularity, so too has the internal and external demand forRead… Read more »

New Research Paper Presents 30 General Design Considerations for Online Deliberation Systems

Thanks to a tweet by Evgeny Morozov I came across this new research paper by W. Ben Towne and James D. Herbsleb, published in the current edition of Journal of Information Technology & Politics (Volume 9, Issue 1, 2012, pages 97-115): Design Considerations for Online Deliberation Systems (subscription required) ABSTRACT. Online deliberation enables structured, topicalRead… Read more »

Sunlight Foundation Reporting Group: Dark money in the twilight of 2011

Dark money has haunted the psyche of good government reformers. Recent changes in campaign law raise the prospect of unlimited donations, routed to political action committees through 501(c)4 “social welfare” organizations that don’t have to disclose contributors’ names. That could allow innocuously named groups to shelter powerful individuals and corporations and the influence they’re exercisingRead… Read more »

Sunlight Foundation: Ellen Miller responds

Sunlight Executive Director Ellen Miller responds to this guest post by Mike Godwin: There is little in Mike Godwin’s response that we disagree with. As he writes, the debate over SOPA and PIPA was changed not by “politics as usual” or a late infusion of interest group lobbying cash, “but the participation of the onlineRead… Read more »