Mental models and economic development Saturday, October 09, 2004 Most of us have heard the terms "paradigm shift" or "mental models". These ideas relate to one of the major developments in social science in the last decades: the birth of cognitive science. Through the mid-1950's behavioral scientists put forward views that became widely accepted throughout the social sciences. They thought that you can only really study behavior. You should avoid abstract concepts like "ideas" or "thoughts." Beginning in the mid-1950's, the "cognitive revolution" began. Cognitive science focuses on the "inner processes" of reasoning, perception, memory, and learning. It is a highly interdisciplinary science at the intersection of psychology, computer science, and philosophy. Why is this important to economic development? We all know that attitudes matter. How we think drives how we feel. In the years ahead, successful economic developers will become more skilled at guiding communities toward positive outcomes: shifting widely held beliefs about what is possible. My colleague at Case, David Cooperrider has developed a valuable approach to shifting the thinking of large groups, Appreciative Inquiry (AI). Through an AI process, a community can search for the strengths that form the basis of a more innovative, prosperous economy. Learn more about AI developments at Case. This week I came across a number of articles that underline the connection between public attitudes and prosperity. In Ottawa, one commentator asked his readers to define what Ottawa is. He is frustrated by the lack of a clear sense of the future in his city. In Pittsburgh, another writer argues that we need to change the way we perceive business-government relationships in a global age. In the Quad Cities, consultant Angelos Angelou argues that the region's future depends on changing negative attitudes. All of these issues involve cognitions: how we think, how we envision ourselves as a community, what futures we are able to see. posted by Ed Morrison |		This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. links Some Background on EDPro Weblog The purpose of this weblog is to help economic development professionals -- EDPros -- keep up with the changes sweeping our profession. Strap on your goggles. It's a whole new game. There are no experts any more. The only place to learn about economic development is from other EDPros who are doing it. One other point: the prevaling approach (paradigm, if you like) in economic development is shifting from competition to collaboration. There are a lot of reaasons underlying this shift, but here's the important insight: You, your community, and your region will do better by collaborating and sharing information. So, spread the word...Share the knowledge. Tell a friend about EDPro Weblog. If you are using a news reader, here is the link to syndicate this site: Here's the link if you are a bloglines subscriber: Speaking and workshops on Open Source Economic Development As the idea of Open Source Economic Development starts spreading, more people are asking about it. Visit the I-Open web site to learn more. My colleagues and I are happy to explain the basic concepts in a talk or a workshop. E-mail Susan Alshuler if you'd like to learn more about workshops and speaking. Background on Ed Morrison Download some background information on me here.

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