Obama is acting as an integrative thinker

One of the most useful things Roger Martin has done for the innovation community is to saliently describe what are the characteristics that define integrative/design/systems thinking:

"[integrative thinking] is a response when two available models oppose one another, and are each unsatisfactory. More conventional thinkers are inclined to accept the situation, and see their job as making the tough decision of choosing between the two.
Integrative thinkers reject the suggestion that, just because they're the only two models that exist now, those are the only two models possible. There is a sense that there is an opportunity to create something different."

And Today, I look at Obama's press conference announcing his economic team and, voila!, there they are: he does not want to choose and he does not want trade-offs.  He just wants the best possible creative solution for all Americans. CNN news has some excerpts:

"I've sought leaders who could offer both sound judgment and fresh thinking, both a depth of experience and a wealth of bold, new ideas, and most of all who share my fundamental belief that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street without a thriving Main Street"
And you can't accomplish this unless you have people who can work with both parties and with people who can listen, question and dialogue.

'Obama described Geithner as having "served with distinction under both Democrats and Republicans and has a long history of working comfortably and as an honest broker on both sides of the aisle.'

"In Romer, Obama said, he has found an independent economist respected by both conservatives and liberals who has done "groundbreaking research on many of the topics our administration will confront, from tax policy to fighting recessions."

Even though is hard to predict what is going to be the impact of Obama's economic plan, evidence so far is demonstrating he is approaching his challenge with high doses of innovative thinking. I am sure professor Charles L. Owen will comment on Obama's way of thinking very soon and without doubt will praise his systems thinking approach.


Picture: http://pol.moveon.org/mh/gallery/artwork.html?artwork=1