Page 21 - Suncor 360 - September 2014 - English

19

FEATURE
SEPTEMBER 2014
360

What a concept! Fail Forward to move forward

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” – Thomas A. Edison

Can failure be a good thing?
“Venture capitalists seem comfortable funding “While most of Suncor needs to be risk averse,

business failures, yet there is zero tolerance for Fail Forward helps SEF move forward with less
The gut says no. We feel shame at failure. We failure and therefore innovation in philanthropy,” worry,” says Munir. “SEF can make a real
play it safe to avoid failure, and cover up or pass
she continues. “If a project fails, funding is often difference in areas of social prosperity, if we take
the blame when it happens.
pulled, which discourages any shared learning.”
bold new approaches. We have to be open to

calculated risks and recognize that failure is part
Yet part of being human is to fail, sometimes Munir Patel, Suncor’s GM, regional infrastructure of the journey that moves us forward.”
repeatedly. In those moments of failure, we’re
and an SEF board member since 2008, notes that
inding out what doesn’t work, and maybe what a typical charitable organization looks to raise Munir believes that SEF gives Suncor a window
might work.
funds to address a speciic cause. However, most on society, allowing us to understand its
problems are complex and not easily solved by changing needs.
“People think of failure as something that holds
us back,” says Ashley Good, founder and CEO of just money.
“Successful organizations are the ones that
non-proit organization Fail Forward. “We’re “We want to create an environment where the can adapt to a changing environment,” he adds.

trying to lip that on its head and look at the SEF is not only providing money but also working “Being able to take some risk, being allowed
potential of failure to propel us forward.”
with the community to achieve success,” Munir to fail and learn from it fosters a culture of

says. “Applying Fail Forward concepts helps us to learning and growth that leads to innovation
Fail Forward came from the concept that “our
intolerance of failure stiles innovation and take real action, without fear of failure. We need and adaptability.”
to support our community partners to learn and
undermines what we can learn,” Ashley says.
share what doesn't work, not hide it.”

Fail Forward offers a range of workshops, The concept of failing is a touchy one,
processes, tools and consultations to help
particularly to a company like Suncor focused
individuals, teams and organizations learn from on operational excellence. Our complex
their failures.
operations and safety needs mean failure
is not usually an option.
“If you talk about failure openly, you create room
for learning and adaptation that can improve the

way you operate and build resilience,” Ashley
explains. “The trick is to reward effort and

improvement; otherwise, you risk people not
trying anything if they are only

rewarded for success.”

Failure and philanthropy

The Suncor Energy Foundation

(SEF) provided startup funding
for Fail Forward in 2011.

“We could see the application
of Fail Forward to the broader

non-proit sector, which is often
constrained around funding,”
“People think of failure as something that holds
explains SEF senior advisor
Sara Bateman.
us back.we’re trying to lip that on its head and

look at the potential of failure to propel us forward.”