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Teaching Material

Navigating complexity with the Innovation North Compass

Target GroupExecutive Education, Master, PhDResource TypeDigital canvasDomainInnovation ManagementDuration> 4hAuthorInnovation North
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Summary

The Compass Worksheets by Innovation North are a structured toolkit designed to help teams and organizations tackle complex systems problems. The worksheets use the metaphor of a compass (and the practice of wayfinding) to guide users through uncertainty, surface hidden constraints, and generate more creative, actionable solutions.

Relevant SDGs

Icon für SDG 9

How to use

Using the Compass means treating it as a guided process rather than a checklist. The worksheets are arranged in stages, moving from clarifying purpose, to exploring the problem, to generating ideas, and finally to planning actions. While the flow provides structure, it’s not rigid: you’re expected to revisit earlier steps as your understanding deepens. The value lies in using the tool collaboratively, since its structure sparks dialogue, surfaces different perspectives, and creates shared understanding. By working through the stages together, teams can make sense of complexity, find patterns, and align on clear next steps, while staying connected to the bigger picture.

Teaching format tip

Digital canvas

Establish collaborative frameworks for shared creation and knowledge building. Students should contribute meaningfully while developing digital literacy and collaborative skills. Use digital platforms to extend learning beyond classroom boundaries and encourage creative expression.

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Sustainability in Academia
Integrating Sustainability into Higher Education
  • Resources
    Subject area
    • General KnowledgeThis section provides general frameworks and concepts related to sustainability that can be used in any discipline and across industries.
    • Specific KnowledgeThis section provides sustainability related content that would enable students following a business or management degree or course to be better equipped to face sustainability related challenges.
      • Economics
      • Management
      • Finance, banking, insurance
      • Marketing and advertising
    Competence area
    • Problem-solving
    • Critical thinking
    • Self-awareness
    • Collaboration
    • Normative awareness
    • Anticipatory thinking
    • Systems thinking
    • Strategy
    Learning approach
    • Cognitive learning
    • Socio-emotional learning
    • Behavioural learning
    • Subject area
      • General KnowledgeGeneral knowledge represents foundational understanding across multiple disciplines needed for sustainable development. It creates an integrated mindset that connects basic and advanced topics across various knowledge domains.
      • Economics
      • Management
      • Finance, banking, insurance
      • Marketing and advertising
    • Skill area
      • Problem-solving
      • Critical thinking
      • Self-awareness
      • Collaboration
      • Normative awareness
      • Anticipatory thinking
      • Systems thinking
      • Strategy
    • Learning approach
      • Cognitive learning
      • Socio-emotional learning
      • Behavioural learning
  • Communities
  • Education for sustainability
  • About us
  • Resources
    Subject area
    • General KnowledgeThis section provides general frameworks and concepts related to sustainability that can be used in any discipline and across industries.
    • Specific KnowledgeThis section provides sustainability related content that would enable students following a business or management degree or course to be better equipped to face sustainability related challenges.
      • Economics
      • Management
      • Finance, banking, insurance
      • Marketing and advertising
    Competence area
    • Problem-solving
    • Critical thinking
    • Self-awareness
    • Collaboration
    • Normative awareness
    • Anticipatory thinking
    • Systems thinking
    • Strategy
    Learning approach
    • Cognitive learning
    • Socio-emotional learning
    • Behavioural learning
    • Subject area
      • General KnowledgeGeneral knowledge represents foundational understanding across multiple disciplines needed for sustainable development. It creates an integrated mindset that connects basic and advanced topics across various knowledge domains.
      • Economics
      • Management
      • Finance, banking, insurance
      • Marketing and advertising
    • Skill area
      • Problem-solving
      • Critical thinking
      • Self-awareness
      • Collaboration
      • Normative awareness
      • Anticipatory thinking
      • Systems thinking
      • Strategy
    • Learning approach
      • Cognitive learning
      • Socio-emotional learning
      • Behavioural learning
  • Communities
  • Education for sustainability
  • About us
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