Getting Started

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Getting Started

Project Readiness

Clarity of Purpose

Sponsor

Coach/Facilitators

Workshop Coordinator

Partners

Charter and Core Team

Check list

Project Leader Diverse knowledge and available to or on the team:

ecology, socioeconomic, history, GIS, etc.

“Strategic agility” - competency on team Some key “implementers” engaged – partners, fundraisers,

GR staff, etc.

Overall capacity factors > than “Poor”

Someone with computer software skills (desirable)

Project Team “Readiness”

Team Readiness: Probing questions for coaches to ask before an Open Standards process begins

Are the minimum capacities in place

to engage in a planning phase?

• Is there a project leader with sufficient time and the necessary skills?

• Is there an Open Standards coach (unless project leader already has required Open Standards expertise) to support the process as needed?

• Does the team that is promoting the Open Standards process (the “core team”) have organizational backup (is the process valuable to members from an institutional standpoint)? Do senior managers support the Open Standards process?

• Are minimum funds available to complete Open Standards process with expected products, within the expected timeframe?

• Is the core team willing to establish some basic coordination agreement? Are roles & responsibilities clear?

• Are implementers willing to channel resources and link Open Standards results into strategic and operational plans? Will funding be available to start addressing priorities?

• Is there a project leader who can coordinate implementation of priorities?

• Will lead persons be held accountable for specific intermediate results?

• Will minimum resources be available to measure strategy effectiveness?

• How will an open standards process for that specific project contribute to significant conservation results within your larger work agenda?

• Considering previous planning exercises in the region, what is the value added of conducting an Open Standards process for the project?

• What are the products and outcomes expected of this Open Standards process?

• Who is interested in following-through and using the conservation plan?

YES

NOUntil local project leaders can articulate what they want, it is better not to proceed. Explain what an Open Standards process can and cannot do, and ask probing questions again.

Are the conditions appropriate for results-oriented

implementation after the planning phase

is completed?

Best Practices• Scoping meeting

Best Practices• Initial capacity assessment using Open Standards workbook• Team charter

YESNO

Until basic capacities are in place, it is better not to proceed. Determine next steps with project leaders to establish adequate conditions before starting the planning process.

YES NODetermine how key conditions will be established for successful implementation once the planning phase is completed. If it is likely that key conditions will not be in place by the expected time, it might be better to postpone the planning phase until the scenario for implementation is clearer.

If the promoting team (especially implementers) considers that key conditions will be established for successful implementation within a reasonable time frame, include agreements in your team charter about the specific aspects that need to be emphasized by the team to increase potential for conservation results, and incorporate the development of these conditions into the planning phase.

PROBABLYYES

Best Practices• Team charter

If you have a story to tell, to help people decide on these steps, or best practices please send to clasch@tnc.org

Do implementers know what they want from their Open Standards

process?

• Need a clear understanding of everyone’s overarching reasons and goal(s) for engaging in the process

• Shared understanding of any “givens” that affect the team

• Clear understanding of expectations and needs from process

(time line, product form, level of detail)

Clarity of Purpose

Some examples:

–NGO project team wants to develop conservation strategies and measures for priority area (Central Appalachians)–Diverse partners want to develop a shared set of strategies and understanding of who will do what (Chimpanzee Plan for Tanzania)–Public agency wants to develop Protected Area Management Plan (Tikal National Park)–Community wants to develop sustainable resource and development plan (Sullivan County New York)

Clarity of Purpose

Sponsor

Determines/Agrees to overall purpose & special goals Ensures project team(s) commitment Ensures participants include people critical to

implementation Agrees to basic process (time, number of workshops,

schedule, travel, etc.) Agree to budget and funding for planning process Provides staff support (e.g. Workshop Coordinator) to

help with logistics and administration VALIDATES the overall process and project teams’

engagement

Co-Coaching Recommended -- “Buddy System”

Together they will usually have...

• Experience in developing and implementing conservation strategies

• Thorough understanding of the Open standards framework

• Good critical thinking & questioning skills

• Comfort with ambiguity

• Experience working with diversity of projects & partners in order to adapt

approach as needed

• Experience as participant in multi-team workshops is desirable

• Good facilitation skills

• Knowledge of desk top tool

Coach/Facilitators

Helps with scheduling

Secures meeting facilities, accommodations & meals

Maintain list & email addresses of participants

Send out announcements, homework assignments, etc.

Assemble materials Make sure meeting room is set up, equipment

functioning, and workshop materials available

Coordinate with host sites on field trip arrangements

Workshop Coordinator

• Partners must see some benefit to them in engaging• Open Standards can provide…

– Transparency of planning process & outcomes– Decisions made on best available information– Partnership-based decisions

• Need clarity on the shared purpose

NOTE. If partners desire different outcomes, always best to establish a clear understanding of each others’ goals and a shared vision and way to face differences along the way

• Consider - Should Partner Representative(s) be part of Core Team?

• Caution: Engaging in this process not usually recommended for “first date”

Partners

Best Practice Go for simple and brief Things to definitely include:

√ Purpose - Why we are planning, what we hope to do together

√ Names of sponsor, team lead and other Core Team Members

√ Other roles and responsibilities√ General process and estimated timeline√ Basic ground rules

Team Charter or Process Sketch