Think like a hedgehog

The Fox is often portrayed as being crafty and resourceful; when faced with daunting challenges, it will always look for ingenious ways to overcome them. Yet, in its pursuit of the hedgehog, its ingenuity is no match for its prey’s self-awareness. Irrespective of the fox’s elaborate strategy, the hedgehog will always resort to the one thing it knows best: the hedgehog will ball in and fend off the fox.

In Good to Great, Jim Collins uses this metaphor to explain how great companies prevail. Like the hedgehog, great organizations know themselves well; they have an uncomplicated and direct approach that drives their strategy.  The hedgehog concept evolves around these 3 circles: 

While we were discussing this chapter in class, one of my students, Valentina, asked me if the Innovation Academy had a hedgehog concept. For the days that followed, I couldn’t stop thinking about this question. However, the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Even though, the IA is still in its early stages, it certainly has a clear hedgehog concept:  

1. Why is this program s0 effective?

In the context of education, it makes more sense to focus on effectiveness. The IA allows us to be effective because we can offer real-world projects where students have a voice and choice. Moreover, the transdisciplinary approach of this program allows them to make overarching connections and create work of value. The very nature of the program promotes a culture of excellence.

2. What is the IA's engine of growth?

Traditional educational systems gauge their success based on the test scores. In the IA, however, we’ve shifted the focus on the student: the program empowers them to understand who they are and what they want out of their life. This is the purpose that drives all of our efforts because it’s the building block for self-awareness and meaningful reflection; after all, if these students are to create their own hedgehog concept in the future, they will have to know themselves first.

3. What are we passionate about?

Corey, Bill and I are deeply passionate about this program because it gives us autonomy, mastery and purpose; we are willing to put in the time and energy because it fulfils us. 

Simplicity is often underrated because it’s uncomplicated and straightforward, but in reality it takes a lot of skill and forethought to break down abstract ideas to their core elements.