Collaborating for Solvable Problems:

WHAT’S NEXT?

A GUIDE TO TURN INTENTION INTO ACTION FOLLOWING THE GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT FORUM LIVE
 Global Engagement Forum: Live —
On April 4th and 5th,
leading experts in
education, agriculture
and health came together
at the PYXERA Global
Engagement Forum:
Live, in Washington,
D.C. to participate in a
collaborative creative
process and develop ideas
for “solving the solvable.”

The arc of the two-day intensive collaboration

began with learning—creating a common
understanding about one of three issues that
the Forum was dedicated to: post-har vest loss,
the youth employability/skills gap, and treat-
able and preventable non-communicable dis-
eases. Prioritizing and focusing on the chal-
lenges within each of these issues followed.
From there, par ticipants moved into a rapid-
fire process of generating ideas to solve
these challenges.
In large and small working groups, par ticipants
defined problems, identified stakeholder audi-
ences, and then creatively pitched and shared
the ideas at the end of the day, where unbri-
dled enthusiasm ruled the room.

2 | Colllaborating for Solvable Problems

— What’s Next?
After such a generative co-creative process, we
know that the committed professionals who
par ticipated in the Forum remain determined
to complete the work they began. But we’re all
back at work, where the quotidian pressures,
structured environment, siloed interactions, and
analytic approaches to change have over taken
us once again. This makes it difficult to collabo-
rate with our own colleagues, let alone engage in
cross-sector co-creation.
How can we rekindle and sustain the ener-
gy created at the Forum within our individual
organizations and the larger network of
PYXERA Global?

How can we turn intention

into action toward solving
the solvable problems of
the world?
The purpose of this paper is to help you put
the ideas generated at the Forum in context, and
provide you with the right questions to ask in or-
der to turn the excitement of the Forum into ac-
tion toward the Sustainable Development Goals.
The principles and questions that follow are
based on a synthesis of Entrepreneurial Thought
and Action® and the Social Design Methodology,
as practiced at Babson College and at Design for
Social Innovation at the School of Visual Ar ts. For
more information on both of these practices,
please see the links at the end of this publication.

What’s Next? | 3
 A Few Principles
The principles and questions that follow are based on a synthesis
of Entrepreneurial Thought and Action® and the Social Design
Methodology, as practiced at Babson College and at Design for
Social Innovation at the School of Visual Arts.

It’s too soon to fall in love with your idea. The process is the strategy.
Ideas are exhilarating and infectious, but they are We put our faith in the process of developing,
only the beginning of real change. The creation prototyping, and refining ideas based on feed-
of anything wor thwhile is an iterative process. back from the people we serve, wherever they
Entrepreneurs never expect the first idea that are. In the case of the Forum, a cohor t of field
emerges to be where they end up. practitioners came from around the world, pro-
The beauty of the ideas generated at the Fo- viding context on how the ideas generated might
rum—both those we heard presented to the or might not work in the on-the-ground reality.
plenary group, and those we heard in our indi- When diverse thinkers come together to com-
vidual tracks—is that none of them were perfect. pare their perspectives on an issue, when all
None emerged fully formed, none were perfectly stakeholder groups are represented in the con-
pitched, and none of them tidily solved the prob- versation, when real listening and co-creation
lems of post-harvest loss, the youth skills gap, or takes place, that’s when the world changes.
non-communicable diseases. The first and most impor tant product of this
Many of the ideas that came out of the Forum process is a shared understanding of the issues
will not be the ideas that come to life. Some from all points of view, and a shared vision. That
will advance and others will morph. To move for- vision becomes the Nor th Star that drives action
ward, view the ideas that emerged as a place forward to realize it.
to begin, not a predetermined prescription for This dynamic holds for any group, any conversa-
an answer. You may embark on a new aspect of tion, in any location. The most impor tant thing
the issue that aligns with your organization’s mis- you can begin now is to initiate this collaborative
sion, capabilities, and incentive structures. learning process in your own environment, then
To discover your role in solving these problems, expand it in ever-widening circles to include a
you will be encouraged to embrace new para- larger group of par ticipants.
digms, processes, and questions.

4 | Colllaborating for Solvable Problems

 HOW TO: INITIATE COLLABORATIVE
LEARNING IN YOUR ORGANIZATION

• Socialize the idea. What role do you play

in advancing this conversation / idea? What
role does your team play? Your company?
Your company’s networks, partners, and
suppliers? Talk about your idea and the
problem among networks at your organi-
zation and at a leadership level.

• Have conversations for relationships

and possibilities. Seek to formulate a
Questions are more important 100,000 foot view. Don’t jump to action
just yet. Ask “how might we” questions—
than answers right now. statement starters big enough to energize
Questions demand engagement, and bring people, but not so big that the thread is
the future into the present, whereas answers lost.
(especially premature ones) shut a conver-
sation down. Practice framing powerful ques- »» What might my company’s role be in
tions that inspire your team to explore new contributing to increasing education
thinking, and make sure they represent root access in the communities where we
causes rather than symptoms of the problem operate?
you want to solve. (Consider “How might we” »» How might we encourage smallholder
questions for the above and for Question 1 in farmers to use technologies proven
the next section.) to increase their productivity and
income?

Interactions are more profitable • Build an internal network of people

who have a desire to advance the idea.
than inventing solutions straightaway. What are the resources inside your orga-
Relationships determine the nature of the nization that would help you? What people
things they connect. The dynamics between have energy to put towards it? How will
people creates change. Focus on tapping the you assess who has the capability to do
power of your network, developing strong this?
relationships, and bringing diverse voices to
the table in an open and inclusive environ- • Experiment with small steps to further
ment. In that way, the right products and ser- the ideas. Putting bold new ideas into or-
vices will emerge to help achieve your objec- ganizational action isn’t instantaneous. Do
tive. small experiments to lead you towards
what works and what doesn’t.

What’s Next? | 5
 Eight Critical Questions
1 What do you want to
accomplish? 1
What do you want to accomplish?
2 What’s the context? This seemingly simple question is deceptive. Most
of us initially list something we want to make hap-
3 Where are you now? pen when we answer it. For example, “I want to
What are the resources create a mobile technology that makes diabetes
screening accessible in rural communities.” First,
at hand? test your answer. Try the “Five Why” process. Re-
peatedly asking the question “Why,” you can peel
4 Who needs to be in it away the layers of symptoms, revealing the root
with you? cause of a problem. Very often, the reason for
a problem will lead you to another question.
Determine why what you want to do matters until
5 What’s it worth to you? you get to the highest-level reason. Framing the
What are you willing objective in this way does not prescribe a solution
before you have fully investigated the context (see
to risk? Question 2).
The 5 Whys refers to the practice of asking, five
6 How can you co-create times, why the problem has occurred in order to
with the people you want get to its root cause/causes. Failure to determine

to help? the root cause assures that you will be treat-

ing the symptoms of the problem instead of its
cause, in which case, the disease will return, that is,
7 How can you create you will continue to have the same problems over
and over again.
the relationships that
will expand and sustain

5
your efforts?
8 How can you begin to THE
Whys
act your way to change?
How can you prototype
at every stage of ideation?

6 | Colllaborating for Solvable Problems

 2
What’s the context?
What is the underlying system of the problem you are trying to solve? What are the forces and dynamics
at work around the problem you want to solve? Who are all the stakeholders, what is their relationship to
each other? Draw that context or system as you uncover it, so you and your entire team can see the same
landscape and identify the most effective places to intervene.
COLLABORATION CANVAS

Problem Statement Barriers to Overcome Benefit Proposition Target Population

Resources Needed Key Partners

Concept/Ideas Engagement Strategies

The Collaboration Canvas is a product of Collaborate Up—for more information, please visit collaborateup.com

THE “FIVE WHY” PROCESS

STEP 1: Assemble a team. Include a STEP 4: Ask why 4 more times. If the
facilitator to keep the team focused. answer you just provided doesn’t identify
the root cause, keep asking why about the
STEP 2: Define the problem. Observe
subsequent answer.
the problem in action. Write a brief, clear
problem statement you all agree on. STEP 5: Know when to stop. You’ll have
revealed the nature of the root cause when
STEP 3: Ask why the problem happens.
asking why produces no more useful re-
Write down the answer.
sponses.
What’s Next? | 7
 Eight Critical Questions
3
Where are you now? What
4
Who needs to be
5
What’s it worth to you?
are the resources at hand? in it with you? What are you willing to risk?
Star t where you are. What Based on your map of the How much time and other resources
human, financial, knowledge, context or ecosystem, who can you commit? Often our passion
access, skills, etc. do you are the stakeholders that outweighs our practicality on social
have to bring to bear on need to have a voice in the issues. Develop a plan for action
your initiative? solution. How will you en- that reflects a realistic level of
gage them? engagement from all participants.

6 7
How can you co-create with How can you create the relationships that
the people you want to help? will expand and sustain your efforts?
The collaborative process you How can you create breakthrough interactions between people that
experienced at the Global En- will build their capacity to contribute to your goal?
gagement Forum is the best Reach out to other Global Engagement Forum attendees who are
way to engage stakeholders carr ying their work forward. Form an informal incubator/accelerator
and enlist their suppor t. Social network. Check in with each other at regular inter vals. Offer advice,
innovation comes from inside share network resources, critique and complement as appropriate.
the communities in need of Bring others inside your team and organization into the process.
help, not outside them.

8
How can you begin to act your way to change?
How can you prototype at every stage of ideation?
Don’t wait until you think your plans are perfect. How can you, even
in the roughest form, test your ideas and develop a real time feedback
loop for refining them?

8 | Colllaborating for Solvable Problems

To solve the challenges facing our world
today—the youth employability/skills gap,
non-communicable diseases, post-harvest loss,
and a multitude of others—requires courage,
faith, tenacity, and an effective process.
Take forward your experience at the Global
Engagement Forum: Live into your organization
to discover how you can contribute to solving
the biggest issues of our time.

More information:
The Global Engagement Forum Online CHERYL YAFFE KISER
pyxeraglobal.org /global-engagement-forum/ Executive Director
The Lewis Institute & Babson Social
Babson Social Innovation Lab Innovation Lab, Babson College
babson.edu/Academics/centers/the-lewis-institute/lab ckiser@babson.edu

Design for Social Innovation, School of Visual Arts CHERYL HELLER

dsi.sva.edu/ Founding Chair
MFA Design for Social Innovation at SVA
CollaborateUp cheller@sva.edu
collaborateup.com
KATIE LEVEY
Advancing Solvable Problems with Director of Media Relations
Collaborative Action - Submit an Idea PYXERA Global
pyxeraglobal.org/vir tual-event-invitation/ klevey@pyxeraglobal.org

What’s Next? | 9
 Contributors
The following individuals contributed to the Global Engagement Forum: Live

Aakash Sethi Quest Alliance Carline Brice HavServe Volunteer Service Eric Schroeder JPMorgan Chase
Aaron Cunningham PYXERA Global Network (HavServe) Eric Trachtenberg McLarty Associates
Aaron Emmel American Academy of Carmel Rabin PYXERA Global Faith Cooper Kofi Annan International
Pediatrics Carolyn Tarr Kepler Peacekeeping Training Centre
Aaron Kotler PSI Carson Cook PSI Farbod Youssefi World Bank
Adewale Omoniyi IBM Casey Troy World Environment Center Farley Cleghorn Palladium Johns Hopkins
Ahsiya Mencin GSK Cat Normile PSI University
Aisling Casey Concordia Cate O’Kane PSI Federico Waisbaum Puerta 18
Alex Ariho African Agribusiness Incubator Charlene Denizard PepsiCo Francis Ahene-Affoh DreamOval
Network Cheryl Heller Design for Social Innovation, Foundation
Alex O’Conner PYXERA Global School of Visual Arts Fred Smith
Alex van der Ploeg SAP Cheryl Howard IBM Gautam Chaudhury A1 Hr consultancy
Alexander Dixon MCC Chris Jarvis Realized Worth Gavin Cepelak PYXERA Global
Alexander Kyerematen Geneva Global Chris Preston United Way Worldwide Gemma Payne AstraZeneca
Alice Korngold Korngold Consulting Christina Elson UMD Gina Tesla IBM
Alison Eicher PYXERA Global Christy Olenik Making Cents International Gisela Keller Helvetas USA
Chuck Montgomery Mid American Greg Huger PYXERA Global
Allison Duncan Amplifire Strategies
Claire Maguire Pfizer Gretchen Knoth Crown Agents USA
Aman Singh Futerra
Congming Jiang PYXERA Global Haley Lowry The Dow Chemical Company
Amanda Bergson-Shilcock National Skills
Coalition Connie Yeh SAP Harris Ginsberg Harris Ginsberg
Amanda MacArthur PYXERA Global Cristina Bisson RTI International Harry Pastuszek PYXERA Global
Amber Skalsky PIMCO Foundation Dan Collins Eli Lilly and Company Heather White PSI
Amy Ratcliffe PSI Daniel Elliott PYXERA Global Helen Lowman PYXERA Global
Ana Fraisse PYXERA Global Daniella Foster Hilton Helen Moser CollaborateUp
Andrea Edwards PSI David Mathewson Small Enterprise Helene Pineau GSK Canada
Assistance Funds (SEAF) Husna Ali-Khan PYXERA Global
Andrea Foote PepsiCo
David Roe PYXERA Global Isaiah Kirema Technoserve
Andrew Kaiser The Kaizen Company
Deirdre White PYXERA Global Jailan Adly Amplifier Strategies
Angelina Tracy Creative Associates
International Dhairya Pujara Ycenter James Allen Chevron
Diana Caley Crown Agents Jason Bernhardt-Lanier Ashoka: Innovators
Anita Ramachandran Mercy Corps
Donald J Williams IBM for the Public
Anna Kompanek CIPE
Douglas Imaralu Restless Development USA Jeff Grieco Crown Agents USA
Anna Koval PYXERA Global
Dr. Chinwe Effiong MasterCard Foundation Jeff West Council on Foundations
Annah Latané RTI International Scholars program, Michigan State University Jenna Masters United Way of Brazoria
April Gehler Target Dr. Rebecca Hardin Federal Volunteer County
April McCoy World Vision Program Director Jennifer Beason SAP America
Ari Fishkind IBM Edward Ogalo Center for Education and Jennifer Chavez Rubio Medtronic
Ashleigh Cooper IBM Professional Exchange, Bureau of African
Consultancy Jennifer Hebets Mars
Benjamin Albert Plan International Jennifer Lawson Points of Light
Elena Zambetti PYXERA Global
Betsy Bassan Panagora Group Jenny Kincade Portland Animation Co-
Eliska Skarolkova SCAD
Bonnie Koenig Going International operative
Elizabeth Eckert RTI International
Brandon Soloski PYXERA Global Jerri Husch ICF
Elizabeth Mitcham Horticulture Innovation
Brendon Miller Crown Agents Ltd. Lab, University of California, Davis Jessica Daly Medtronic Foundation
Brittany Mattfeld Global Impact Elizabeth Schwan-Rosenwald, Taproot Jessica Ernst USAID
Bryan Cox Youth Challenge International Ellie Jorgensen PYXERA Global Jessie Krafft CAF America
Bushra Sayed-Ganguly EY Ellington Arnold US African Development Jim Thompson U.S. Department of State
C.D. Glin United States African Development Foundation Jiwon Park CodePhil, MIT IDEAS
Foundation Emilee Kaufman PSI Joan Benson Merck
Carla Briceno Eric Muthomi Stawi Foods and Fruits Limited Jodi-Kaye Wade USAID

10 | Colllaborating for Solvable Problems

John Brothers T. Rowe Price Foundation Maria McDonald Chester County Futures Regina Corry IBM
John Holm PYXERA Global Marie Mathis BD Regina Neal US African Development
John Whelan Franklin W. Olin Graduate Marieka Walsh PYXERA Global Foundation
School of Business, Babson College Mark Horoszowski Moving Worlds Renay Loper PYXERA Global
Jose Caceres SAP Latin America & Caribbean Mark Kramer FSG Renee Vuillaume GKI
Joshua Tewes McCoy SCAD Marlon Thompson The Next Big Thing Richard Crespin CollaborateUp
Julia Sessoms Intel Marta Bezoari PIMCO Richard Tracy GCCA
Julie Howard Michigan State University Mary PinderSchenck GSK Rob Vallentine The Dow Chemical Company
Julie Wieland Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon Mary Pittman PHI Robert Haynie Agora Partnerships
Justin Bakule SVI Matt Clark PYXERA Global Rodrigo Soares PYXERA Global
Justin Song PepsiCo Mei Cobb United Way Worldwide Rokas Beresniovas CAF America
Kafui Prebbie TechAide Melissa Golladay Partners of the Americas Rosemarie Iannucci Pepsico
Kallol Mukherji Population Services Melissa Mattoon PYXERA Global Russ Webster International Development
International Melissa Rittenhouse SAP America Strategies
Karen Stegman IntraHealth International Meredith Morris The Dow Chemical Sara Adams CECP
Kate Trimble PKG Public Service Center, MIT Company Sarah Middleton PIMCO Foundation
Kate Tulenko IntraHealth International Meredith Singer IBM Sarah O’Connor Australian Business
Katharine Fraser PYXERA Global Michael Lachance PYXERA Global Volunteers
Kathy Vizas Maverick Collective Michael Levett PYXERA Global Sarah Sladen Making Cents International
Katie Levey PYXERA Global Michael Stroik 3M Sarah Tisch Crown Agents
Keith Esch PSI Molly Wartenberg PYXERA Global Scott Best Northside Anti-Hunger Network
Kelsey Figone PYXERA Global Monica Council-Miles BD Scott Boylston SCAD
Ken McGhee Noble Energy Morgan Singer PYXERA Global Shanta Bryant Gyan Initiative for Global
Kendall Nowocin Cool Crop Natasha Sakolsky Pact Institute Development
Kevval Hanna PSI Nate Clark John Deere Sheldon Himelfarb US Institute of Peace
Kimberli Jeter PYXERA Global Nate Wong Monitor Deloitte Shubha Jayaram Results for Development
Kinga Ile CAF America Neil Ghosh Global Fund for Children Smita Majumder Naari India
Kirsten Brecht Baker Global Professional Nicholas Bassey U.S. Agency for International Soraya Ramoul NovoNordisk
Search Development Soud Habbas PYXERA Global
Kristen Gold EY Nicholas Gioioso PYXERA Global Stan Litow IBM
Kristin Lobron Collaborative Development Nira Desai World Cocoa Foundation Stephanie Turpin Pact Ventures
Network Nora Connors Public Health Institute Steve Sonka University of Illinois
Kristine Powers Nyasha Chibanda BroadFutures Steven Culbertson Youth Service America
Kristine Vanderplas Youth Challenge Patricia Moller MGA LLC Steven Finn University of Pennsylvania
International
Paul Casey Passaic County Community Steven Fox Think Impact
Kuralai Kunz PYXERA Global College
Lars Battle PYXERA Global Steven Horsford R&R Partners
Paul Guenette ACDI/VOCA
Laura Asiala PYXERA Global Sue Stephenson IMPACT 2030
Paul Holmes American Cancer Society
Lauren Farello ANDE Surya Sayed-Ganguly Inside NGO
Cancer Action Network
Lauren Marks U.S. Department of State, Susan Masse Making Cents International
Paul Phillips VSO International
Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator and Paul Zeitz US Department of State Tasha Raman PYXERA Global
Health Diplomacy Tauni Lanier IMPACT 2030
Paula Chamorro SCAD
Lawrence Bowdish US Chamber of Thomas Gittins PYXERA Global
Paula Kapotes BD
Commerce Foundation Tijana Dabic Making Cents International
Peter Joyce RTI
Lawrence Michel Crown Agents USA Tim Nourse Making Cents International
Phil Kim Babson College
Lawrence Sperling U.S. Department of State Tim Quagliarello PIMCO
Phil Mirvis PYXERA Global
Lekan (Olalekan) Tobe PYXERA Global Tom Ross Peace Corps Response
Philip de Leon AGCO
Linda Jewell PYXERA Global Tom Welke GSI
Philip Schwehm RTI
Liza Herb PYXERA Global Trish Thompson The Dow Chemical
Pilar Moreno Azucárate SCAD
Liza Vasylenko PYXERA Global Company
Priya Kanayson NCD Alliance
Ludwika Alvarez U.S. Department of Umi Howard The Wharton School
Commerce Rachel Bergiseker PYXERA Global
Rachel Goldstein MARS Victoria Badia Nutre a un Nino
Luvuyo Rani Silulo Ulutho Technologies
Rachel Greenberger Babson College Victoria Haler PYXERA Global
Maia Olsen Partners In Health
Rachel Madan International Finance Virendar Khatana PYXERA Global, JIVA
Maia Wagner PYXERA Global
Corporation Vishnu Swaminathan Ashoka Innovators for
Malena Gonzalez Nutricount the Public
Rachel Nugent RTI
Manu Juneja GSK Willie Rytlewski Dow Chemical Company
Rani Harrison IBM
Mara Downing John Deere Yael Misrahi MobileODT
Rashida Petersen 1847 Philanthropic
Marcelino Ford-Livene Intel Yolanda Montoya-Cordova New Mexico
Rebecca Dirks FHI 360
Margaret O’Gorman Wildlife Habitat Department of Workforce Solutions
Council Rebecca Wang Hewlett Packard Enterprise

What’s Next? | 11
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BABSON SOCIAL INNOVATION LAB,

SCHOOL OF VISUAL ARTS,
AND PYXERA GLOBAL