New Approaches to Tackling Business Disruptions

“Systems thinking is based on the premise that everything in the world is connected...When there's a change in one part of the world, it ricochets across the rest of the world. And that’s why we are seeing disruptions that are more frequent and faster, as well as bigger and deeper, than ever before.” 

- Tima Bansal

In This Video:

In this special edition of Learning in Action, we explore how addressing problems through a systems thinking lens can lead to lasting and innovative solutions.

Featuring Innovation North’s research-backed Compass framework, which integrates design and systems thinking, this livestream demonstrates how the framework can help your team develop actionable strategies to tackle complex corporate challenges.

Hosted by Tima Bansal, Professor of Strategy & Sustainability at Ivey Business School, the episode features a real-world case study explained by Colton Schwenk, the Innovation Product Manager at Walmart Canada. 

The Case Study: Walmart Canada and the Rise in Product Returns

In mid-2022, Walmart Canada faced a sharp increase in product returns, mirroring a broader industry trend. To tackle this challenge, the Walmart Canada innovation team used systems thinking and the Compass framework to identify underlying systemic issues. By addressing these challenges, they implemented targeted actions that not only improved the customer experience but also turned the problem into a strategic opportunity for growth.

Gain practical insights by watching the Compass framework in action, and follow along step by step using Innovation North’s free worksheets to guide you through the process.

Additional Resources: 

Innovation North provides free, structured worksheets and checklists designed to guide your team through the Compass framework. These resources support every step of the systems thinking innovation process and cover the following steps:

• Establishing the 'North' and 'Near Stars'

• Framing the problem

• Mapping and building systems awareness

• Generating and clustering actions to tackle the problem

Access these tools for free on Innovation North’s website, powered by the Ivey Business School.

What is Learning In Action?  

Hosted by the Ivey Executive Education at Ivey Business School, Learning in Action explores contemporary topics in leadership and business. In this podcast series, we invite our world-class faculty and various industry experts to discuss their lived experiences, explore challenges facing leaders, and give advice on how leaders can shape their organizations for success. 

Note: This article was originally published under our former name, The Ivey Academy. We are now known as Ivey Executive Education.

About Ivey Executive Education

Ivey Executive Education is the home for executive Learning and Development (L&D) in Canada. It is Canada’s only full-service L&D house, blending Financial Times top-ranked university-based executive education with talent assessment, instructional design and strategy, and behaviour change sustainment. 

Rooted in Ivey Business School’s real-world leadership approach, Ivey Executive Education is a place where professionals come to get better, to break old habits and establish new ones, to practice, to change, to obtain coaching and support, and to join a powerful peer network. For more learning insights and updates on our events and programming, follow us on LinkedIn.