Innovation = Regenerating Knowledge | The Transformation & Innovation Book Series
Integral Development: Realising the Transformative
Potential of Individuals, Organisations and Society
Pilar Alvarez-Laso
Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO France
"A tour de force in relation to the notion of social innovation, the authors take us through an energizing new understanding of development. The task is irresistible. The review is far-reaching. The proposals are inspirational. A must-read."
Thais Corral
Social Entrepreneur and Innovator Founder of Network of Human Development; Women’s Environment and Development Organisation (WEDO); and of the social enterprise SINAL do Vale, Brazil
"Integral Development by Alexander Schieffer and Ronnie Lessem offers a wonderful opportunity for us to understand the past, the present and the future of development. We often think about development as ‘economic development’. Development indeed cannot be dissociated from our human and civilisational evolution. The authors use the term “integral development” and offer theoretical frameworks and comparative analysis that help us understand what development really means at this important historical junction. It helps us see the choices we have ahead of us. As a social entrepreneur and innovator, I found the book extremely useful and inspiring. I would define it as a road map. It helps strengthen one’s vision in order to better contextualize actions. The book is very well written and I recommend it for anyone interested in contributing to our balanced and peaceful co-evolution as humanity. "
Riane Eisler
Author of The Chalice and the Blade & The Real Wealth of Nations, USA
"In Integral Development, Alexander Schieffer and Ronnie Lessem communicate their passion for economic and social transformation by introducing a new, holistic development framework. Rather than top-down, this approach supports mutuality and creative co-creation. Interspersed with first-hand illustrative cases, this is both a visionary and practical book designed to actualize the potential of individuals, organizations, and societies through much-needed partnership and caring. "
Birgit Klesper
Senior Vice President Group Transformational Change & Corporate Responsibility Deutsche Telekom Group, Germany
"Integral Development contains a unique fusion of personal, organisational and societal development. It clearly shows the next evolutionary step for corporate enterprise, taking it beyond Corporate Social Responsibility. Integral Development is hugely relevant for anyone concerned with identifying the future role of business in society. "
Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne
Founder and Chairman, Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, Sri Lanka
"Integral Development is outstanding on many levels. Like no other contribution to the field of development it shows the crucial role of culture and spirituality in development processes. Schieffer & Lessem illustrate how community, culture, technology and economics need to interact co-creatively for authentic, sustainable development to happen. The theoretical concepts and practical roadmaps provided in Integral Development will enable today’s agents of transformation to bring about a much needed, more holistic development paradigm. I rejoice to see how the authors convincingly illustrate how new approaches to education and research, and to the university as a whole, can indeed enable all of us, individually and collectively, to become Integral Developers. "
Prof. Martin Hilb
Director of the Institute for Leadership and Human Resource Management, University of St. Gallen, Switzerland
"With Integral Development, Schieffer and Lessem have built a much-needed bridge between individual, organisational and societal development. Organisational developers and transformation agents from all sectors of society will find in this book the knowledge and processes to respond holistically to the multiple crises we face today. It will show them how they can construct creatively on the particular contribution that each context and culture has to make. This eminent work is compulsory reading for everybody engaged in constructive societal change. "
With Integral Development, Alexander Schieffer and Ronnie Lessem introduce a groundbreaking development framework and process to address the most burning issues that humanity faces today. This riveting book argues that while conventional top-down, outside-in development has reached a cul-de-sac, a new, integral form of development is emerging around the world. Integral Development uniquely articulates this emergent approach, and invites us to fully participate in this process.
The integral approach has been researched and framed by the authors over decades of in-depth engagement in transformative education and development practice all over the world. It uniquely combines four mutually reinforcing perspectives: nature & community; culture & spirituality; science, systems & technology; as well as enterprise & economics. Conventional development theory and practice has prioritised the latter two perspectives, neglecting the former two. This has caused massive imbalances in today’s world. The four interconnected perspectives allow for a transformative and integrated engagement with core development issues in a way that is locally relevant and globally resonant.
Throughout the book, the practical impact of Integral Development is brought to life through highly innovative cases from all over the globe, drawing on the authors’ first-hand experience. This makes the book a living demonstration of the power of this pioneering approach.
Integral Development shows how individual, organisational and societal development need to be interconnected to release a society’s full potential. It shifts the responsibility for large-scale development from often-distant experts and organisations to each individual, community, enterprise and institution within the society. It is essential reading – and a call to action – for everyone concerned with the current state of local and global development.
Starting out with individual development, Integral Development uncovers the potential and invites the participation of each one of us in transforming today’s crises. The development agent or agency no longer engages in the development of “others”, but becomes a co-evolutionary development player. Development is thus turned into a co-creative endeavour concerning all of us.
By engaging in Integral Development, each participating individual, community, institution and enterprise generates new knowledge and innovative applications, thereby unleashing local genius while enriching global theory and practice. This culminates in “Integral Universities” as leveraging platforms for human evolution.
In summary, Integral Development provides an inspiring compass to fully actualize the transformative potential of individuals, organizations, communities and societies – a timely guide for co-creating a sustainable future.
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