Betsey O'Hagan
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Institute for Open Economic Networks (I-Open)

The Institute for Open Economic Networks (I-Open), an educational initiative that develops and deploys new practices and tools in Open Source Economic Development. You can read more about I-Open below.
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In 2005, I co-founded the Institute for Open Economic Networks (I-Open). I-Open is a spin out of Case Western Reserve University's, Weatherhead School of Management with an educational mission: to develop and deploy new practices and tools in Open Source Economic Development that strengthen and accelerate the adoption of innovation based network strategies by communities and regions for global competitiveness. 
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Open Source Economic Development is based on a heuristic model of strategic investment, the Innovation Framework. The Innovation Framework is a universal guide for people, projects and organizations to identify and connect creativity, collaborate, and align collective action for transformative action. It has been successfully applied by communities, organizations, governments and regions to shift to open networks of collaboration, the essential work of technology-based economic development. 
My founding I-Open colleagues were Susan Altshuler, Matt Kozink, Dennis Coughlin, and Ed Morrison.

Current collaborators at I-Open are Susan Altshuler, Dennis Coughlin, Gloria Ferris, Ken Homer, Founder of Collaborative Conversations and Bruce Waltuck, President, Freethinc, LLC, with advisory from Daniel F. Bassill, CEO and President, Tutor/Mentor Institute, LLC. See More...

My work at I-Open is the Civic Forum Process, a simple method I developed to catalyze and scale transformative enterprise in Open Source Economic Development. Learn more about the Civic Forum Process at I-Open here. (I will offer training for civic leaders interested in starting a Civic Forum process soon. If you'd like to know more, please send me an email or sign up for my forthcoming newsletter to receive news and updates here.)
Ed Morrison is currently Economic Policy Advisor, Purdue Center for Regional Development. While at I-Open, Ed coined the phrase, "Open Source Economic Development", designed The Innovation Framework, and formed Strategic Doing. Learn more about Ed's work at Purdue University here.
I-Open aims to accomplish this mission through:
  • Discovering and sharing the new practices and tools of developers in Open Source Economic Development
  • Observing a set of simple principles based on the thoughtful development of creative abundance for the advancement of future generations. See I-Open Principles...
  • Being mindful of the notion of strategic investment in creativity and innovation in open economic networks embedded in other networks transforms regions. See the I-Open Innovation Framework...
  • Not promoting one practice or methodology over another, but acknowledging the value each provides aligned with Institute mission, each part of a larger, diverse tool kit for technology-based community and economic development
  • Collecting, curating and actively sharing the resource contributions of individuals for a smarter collective
  • Maintaining a pragmatic attitude
The major activities and services of the Institute include, and some in development, are:
  • Maintaining and expanding the I-Open website, hosting educational resources for leaders, publishing author contributions, and advancing curriculum opportunities
  • Publishing a Blog, MiniBlog and World News of contributed guest content
  • Publishing a News blog of member activities and updates
  • Publishing a Research blog
  • Publishing a How To blog
  • Hosting a Job Board
  • Managing social media accounts, curating content, and leading online dialogue
  • Convening public conversations with developers in sense making
  • Hosting curriculum and skills training opportunities
  • Convening research-practitioner-industry conferences
I hope you'll add The Institute for Open Economic Networks (I-Open) to your bookmarks, create an I-Open account to get the latest updates, and read the fascinating contributed guest articles at the I-Open Blog here.

We would be grateful for any contribution you could make to I-Open, from adding  your supportive comments, to contributing an article to our blog for sharing, suggesting great resources, volunteering a little time or making a donation. Please make checks out to the “Institute for Open Economic Networks (I-Open),” and mail them to:  Institute for Open Economic Networks, 2563 Kingston Road, Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118. If you would rather donate by credit card, simply send your donation directly to I-Open by clicking on the secure PayPal donate button below.

Betsey Merkel Phone: +1 216-246-2447 Email: betseymerkel@gmail.com 
Location: Cleveland, Ohio U.S.A. Site design by Betsey Merkel.
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