A Learning History of Low Carbon Innovation in Local Authorities

Chance vs Luck: Is luck just chance that's gone my way?

Many participants were interested by the theme of luck and chance raised in the Learning Histories. One reader raised an interesting question asking: "What is the difference between luck and chance?"

I suppose reading that question one might respond by saying luck is simply chance that has gone the right way. This sounds very passive though - like the toss of a coin one stands by and waits to see how it lands.
Let's call this 'passive luck'? What's clear from the learning histories is there is a more pro-active kind of luck in there that has, as the old saying goes, been made by the protagonists. For example in the Merton case, when he bumped into his old colleague at the vets, Adrian could have as easily reminisced about the old times instead of seeking a contact that would help him progress the Merton rule. In the Southampton History, when Mike found himself in a cafe in Italy with a couple of EU delegates, he could've enjoyed his coffee and talked about the cultural differences between the UK and Italy instead of asking about funding for the geothermal well. And so on. Chance moments in the Histories have sometimes been converted quite actively into luck.

Let's call this 'active luck' - where the link to how the luck was made can be identified. To make it more complicated it seems that one (wo)man's 'passive luck' can be made by another's 'active luck'. Take the example of the Fuel study tour in Barnsley. Dick recalls that as a crucial piece of luck. When you read Robin's perspective however you see just how much work he put in behind the scenes to make that piece of luck happen.

The idea of 'active luck' doesn't preclude the existence of 'passive luck' as chance that just went my way. However the argument does make me more cautious about the notion of benevolent chance existing in isolation from determined, visionary actors right across the system.

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Explaining Categories.....

Posts are filed under different categories and usually they will belong to several categories at once. By clicking on one category you'll be able to see posts that just belong to that category. The categories have been chosen in such a way as to reflect an online version of a Learning History. Find out more about how these category choices reflect the desire to create an online Joint Learning History here.

Here's a rough guide to what you'll find in each category:

A learning history : (e.g. The Merton Rule): Any post that is related in some way to an individual Learning History. This could be a direct relationship e.g. a question resulting from reading it; or it could be an indirect relationship e.g. a story that someone is reminded of when they read the learning history.

All learning histories : Any post that says something about the set of Learning Histories. This could be a theme or comment that applies to several learning histories or it could relate to the Learning History methodology.

analysing - highlights themes that, either I as a researcher am finding across the histories, or themes that participants are highlighting as important in addressing carbon reduction.

explaining - If you're lost - click on this category! In here are posts that are explaining background to the research, how the site is structured and so on.

participating - a Learning History is a 'jointly told tale' (from Van Maanen's Tales of the field). There are several people participating in this research. In this category we refer to this process as well as introduce some of the participants.

questioning - engaging with the research raises questions. These might be about an individual learning history, about carbon reduction in general or about ideas related to the research.

reflecting - action research works in cycles of action and reflection. This category shows how particpants and the researcher are reflecting on the learning histories and on the process of the research.

researching - this category will describe posts relating to the process of researching in this way. This is a new way of doing research. Some of the decisions, questions and challenges relating to the research will be posted here.

storytelling - will hold different stories that are being told in relation to this Learning History research. Many of these were evoked in storytelling sessions at the workshop. But also stories of the research itself are included.

taking actions - The purpose of the research is to aid learning and increase and enable participants and others to take actions. Any posts relating to taking action will be posted here.

theorising - Some of what we are finding links to existing theories or, by analysing, we can start to build a practical theory of how innovation for carbon reduction comes about. Posts relating to theory will be categorised here.

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