Abstract

Bill Smith will show a film about the role of the World Bank in African development. Of interest to systems theorists is the fact that the inquiry was carried out using a whole systems, interactive process. It is the same process -- Appreciation, Influence, Control (AIC) -- that has been used to create "multiplicative" rather than "sustainable" development in several countries. The discussion accompanying the video will be about the meaning and practice of large systems (literally global) change and will present some insights as well as challenges to systems thinkers.
 

Biography

Bill Smith is president of Organizing for Development International, Inc., and is a consultant for the World Bank.