Narrative Prototypes: Long-Form Narrative as Collaborative Sensemaking

This talk explores the power of long-form narratives as a way to improve organizational velocity and avoid the trap of business-as-usual. As companies struggle to effectively address their future, narratives serve as a way to explore change and support resilience. While a chaotic present can rob us of clear vision, long-form narratives can help increase organizational velocity while avoiding the traps of business-as-usual. Amazon had famously banned PowerPoint presentations in favor of longform narratives and were able transform from an online bookstore to an invention machine. Beyond Amazon, more companies are starting to leverage narratives to improve their business outcomes.
This session combines deep research in the areas of communication, design, and sensemaking, with over twenty-five years of professional experience to provide attendees with tools they can use to drive positive change and increased resilience within their organization. This talk will provide attendees with:

• An understanding of narrative culture and why it is critical today’s organization
• Tips to create and evaluate narratives
• Ways to improve organizational velocity
• An approach to improve diversity and inclusion to improve innovation outcomes
• A framework to avoid the traps of business as usual