Skip directly to content

Innovation Architecture

on Sat, 09/03/2011 - 13:31

The two facets of the School of Commoning

 

1. SoC as a commons

The School of Commoning is a commons in a broad sense of the term, understood as an ecosystem of mutually supportive relationships in which we create knowledge resources and social capital for improving commons literacy in the UK and beyond. 

We are part of and contributing to the global cultural and knowledge commons of all recorded and orally transmitted experience, information and insights about how to organise and protect the commonly held resources we need for thriving as individuals and human collectives.  

We are also part of the Commons movement that is, in its current state, a loosely connected network of a wide variety of commons-related projects and initiatives in the UK and around the world. We contribute to enhance the collective intelligence of the Commons movement as whole.

Our gift to those larger commons is our stewardship and continuous improvement of the learning assets and practices we’re creating for enhancing competence in commons building and commoning.

This commons is yours if you feel so, and your action shows it. You can contribute in many ways. Right now, your action creates the most traction and leverage if you decide to bring it to the Commons Rising community.

 

2. SoC as a company

SoC is also a Community Interest Company, established under UK law, on the 9th of May 2011. Along with the “commons” and “movement” facets, we use the “company” facet of who we are, as an important vehicle to pursue our mission: to enhance individual and collective competences in the protection, governance, and cultivation of commons.

We do that through products and services, the initial line up of which includes: workshops, a series of Meetings with Remarkable Commoners, educational materials, videos, and serious social games.

We support commons and the development of commons-friendly businesses, governments, and civil society organisations, by also providing training and consulting to develop their commons-related policies and initiatives. That includes executive seminars, strategic dialogues, coaching and mentoring, training the trainers, and the use of knowledge gardening, collaborative sensing and meaning-making processes. 

While most our services are feeding the gift economy through the commons, we offer others for an affordable fee. The School’s income supports the resources needed to expand our work and contribute to the sustainability of those who dedicate a large amount of their professional time to it.

To pursue its mission, the company works with its Members, Associates, and Partners. Members are people who continually contribute to and benefit from the wellbeing of the company. Associates work with us on a project basis. Partners are commons and organisations with a shared vision and with whom we are in synergistic working relationships.

If you want to explore either of those relationships with us, please contact us.