an online book by David Gurteen
The “adjacent possible” is a concept, particularly in biology and innovation, that describes the range of possibilities for a system to expand by exploring its boundaries and creating new connections.
I have long argued, and repeated ad nauseam that in complexity we start journeys with a sense of direction we don’t try and achieve goals. We remain open to the evolutionary opportunities of the here and now, the present and the adjacent future states. | Dave Snowden Continue reading In Complexity We Start Journeys with a Sense of Direction Dave Snowden
Amid World War II, the U.S. urgently needed advancements in radar technology. MIT lacked adequate space, so the hastily built Building 20 became home to wartime research. This makeshift structure’s flexibility and interdisciplinary environment fostered groundbreaking collaboration, demonstrating that innovation flourishes when diverse minds and ideas interact freely. Continue reading Building 20 at MIT Innovation Story: A humble wartime lab that sparked a legacy of innovation and collaboration
Innovation can look like it happens overnight, but typically develops step by step. Change mostly comes from building on what already exists and stretching just beyond our current limits. The theory of the adjacent possible explains how progress happens by gradually expanding into new territory that’s within reach of where we are now. Continue reading Exploring the Adjacent Possible Understanding change as a series of nearby moves
The adjacent possible shows that small steps can lead to significant changes. But human habits and fears often shrink the space we move within. When we listen and respond with openness, conversation becomes a gateway to new futures. Continue reading Conversations and the Adjacent Possible How dialogue creates quiet shifts in what is possible
