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How Networks are Changing Social Change
A Briefing for the Network of Network Funders
September 30, 2009
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How can Networks Accelerate Social Impact?In partnership with the David & Lucile Packard Foundation, Monitor Institute has explored the role of social networks and media in the non-profit sector
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Scanned Literature
Convened
Experts
Monitoring and Scanning On-line EnvironmentNetwork
Resources
Inventory
Case
Study
Research
Blog Tools and
Training
Theory: Building Our Knowledge (IP)
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Nitrogen Wiki
Farm Bill Networks
Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) Networks
Mapping Networks in Salinas
Network Effectiveness (ONE)
Support
Action: Pilot Projects
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What are networks?
Groups of individuals or organizations connected through meaningful
relationships.
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We’re most interested in networks with…
• Many participants• Ability to self-
organize • Fueled by new
technologies
Source of photo: http://www.midnightpoutine.ca/archives/flashmob1.jpg
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Networks Have Been Around Forever…
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…new online spaces for building relationships
New Technologies for Sharing Content…
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Advances in the Science of Networks and Complexity
Source for Network Graphic: orgnet.com
“If someone tells you that you can influence 1,000 people, it changes your way of seeing the world.”
–Dr. James Fowler
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…Combined with Established Group Processes
Source for Network Graphic: orgnet.com
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“… wikis and other social media tools are
engendering a new, networked mindset—a way
of working wikily—that is characterized by
principles of openness, transparency,
decentralized decision-making, and
distributed action. " - Working Wikily 2.0
The Result = “Working Wikily”
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What Do We Mean by “Working Wikily”?
Centralized
Firmly controlled
Planned
Proprietary
One-way
communications
Decentralized
Loosely controlled
Emergent
Public
Two-way
communications
Established Ways of Working
Established Ways of Working
Where are you on these continuums? The answer will be different for different situations
Working WikilyWorking Wikily
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Organization Orientation Network Orientation
Mindset
Strategy
Behaviors
Competition
Grow the organization
Compete for resourcesProtect knowledge
Competitive advantageHoard talent
Collaboration
Grow the network
Share resourcesOpen source IP
Develop competitorsCultivate leadership
Source: Heather McLeod Grant and Leslie R. Crutchfield, “Forces for Good,” (2007).
It Starts with a Network Mindset
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Obama Administration Experimenting with Gov. 2.0
“We live in an age of democratic experimentation — both in our official institutions and in the many informal ways in which the public is consulted”
–James Fishkin, Stanford political scientist
Source: Whitehouse.gov; NY Times
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“If anyone had questions about the power of citizen media, those questions were answered by the Iran protests.”
–Hamid Tehrani (Iran editor for Global Voices)
Source: ethanzuckerman.com/blog Twitter, youTube Time Magazine
Twitter “Emboldened” Iranian Election Protesters
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“While newspaper circulation has long been in decline, the latest figures show the drop is accelerating…Weekday circulation declined
7.1% for the six months that ended March 31, compared with the previous year.”– New York Times, April 27,2009
We’re Witnessing the Death of Old Models…
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…And New Models Are Emerging
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The Way Our Work Gets Done Is Changing
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Nonprofits Need to Find Ways to Work Wikily
Networks are one answer
Sources: “Index of National Fundraising Performance, 2009 First Calendar Quarter Results”, Target Analytics, 2009, Alliance Trends. “The Non-Profit Sector in Brief,” National Center for Charitable Statistics, 2008.
Increasing Number
of Nonprofits
More Competition
for Resources
Many Nonprofits
Not at Scale
82% of nonprofits operate on annual
budgets of under $1 million
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Isolation
Unmet needs
Lack of power
Duplication and fragmentation of effort
Lack of shared knowledge
Untapped talent and wisdom
Suboptimal impact and challenges with growth
Networks Can Address Diverse Challenges
Build community
Engage people
Advocate for policy change
Coordinate resources and services
Develop and share knowledge
Innovate
Get to scale
Working Wikily PotentialWorking Wikily PotentialProblemProblem
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Build Community
2008:162 Countries
400,000 Ministers / Priests
2008:162 Countries
400,000 Ministers / Priests1980:
205 Members1980:
205 Members
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Engage People
2008: 400,000 Volunteers in 104 Countries
2008: 400,000 Volunteers in 104 Countries
1985:Single-site Effort
in US
1985:Single-site Effort
in US
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Advocate for Policy Change
2008: 3.2 Million Members
2008: 3.2 Million Members
1998: Email to100 friends
1998: Email to100 friends
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Coordinate Resources and Services
Total Loans2009: $66 million
Total Loans2009: $66 million
Total Loans2006: $1 million
Total Loans2006: $1 million
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Develop and Share Knowledge
14 Countries1,300 Trained Volunteers
Interagency Program Integrated Fire Management
14 Countries1,300 Trained Volunteers
Interagency Program Integrated Fire Management
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Innovate
“Open Sourcing Social
Solutions”
“Open Sourcing Social
Solutions”
Internal, Proprietary R&D Labs
Internal, Proprietary R&D Labs
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…transforming
communities through
collaborations to address root causes of poverty and
homelessness
Source: Jane Wei-Skillern and Kerry Herman, “Habitat for Humanity—Egypt,” Harvard Business School Cases, October 3, 2006.
- EGYPT-
Get to Scale
Typical HFH country programs produce 200
houses each year
Typical HFH country programs produce 200
houses each year
In Egypt, HFH builds 1,000 houses a year, on averageIn Egypt, HFH builds 1,000 houses a year, on average
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Using a Network Lens
Source: orgnet
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Centralized
Decentralized
Note: These categories often overlap. Most of the examples fit in to multiple categories.
Nonprofit organizations (without explicit network structure)
Membership organizations (Organizations with network component)
Nonprofits with explicit network strategy and structure
Coalition / Alliance (network of organizations)
Networks of networks
Ad hoc networks
Developed from: Plastrik and Taylor, “Net Gains,” (2006); Patti Anklam, “Net Work,” (2007); Krebs and Holley. “Building Smart Communities,” (2006).
A Typology of Organizing Structures
Source: orgnet
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How Do Movements and Campaigns Relate to Networks?
Sources: Movement def’n- Lokman Tsui on Marshall Ganz (www.lokman.org). Campaign def’n- Kotter Philip, Ned Roberto and Nancy Lee. Social Marketing: Improving the Quality of Life. Movement image - commondreams.org. Network graphics: orgnet.com
Movement Campaign Network
A large, informal grouping that brings people together around
shared values, provides structure and strategy for collective action, results in
‘new rules’
An organized effort conducted by one group, which attempts to persuade others to accept,
modify, or abandon certain ideas, attitudes, practices, or
behavior
Groups of individuals or organizations connected
through meaningful relationships
Pro-Choice MovementChoose Justice:
Campaign to Protect Roe
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Core
Link Node
Cluster Periphery
Hub
Social Network Analysis: A Few Helpful Definitions
Source: Monitor Institute
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Source: June Holley
Network Mapping can be Low-Tech…
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Visualize the network: see connections within the system
Make visible network resources, and see flow of resources
Spark a conversation among participants Assess the “health” of a network, diagnose Assess change in network over time
What’s Possible from Network Mapping?
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Salinas Network Mapping Pilot
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A map of the different networks shows fairly loose connections
Government
Foundation
Non-Profit
For-Profit
School
Unknown
Religious
Other
Network by Organization Type
Maps Were Used to Analyze the Network
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The Green and Healthy Building Network: 2005
Source: Barr Foundation “Green and Healthy Building Network Case Study” by Beth Tener, Al Neirenberg, Bruce Hoppe
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Source: Barr Foundation “Green and Healthy Building Network Case Study” by Beth Tener, Al Neirenberg, Bruce Hoppe
The Green and Healthy Building Network: 2007
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Characteristics of Healthy Networks
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Value
Participation
Form
Leadership
Connection
Capacity
Learning & Adaptation
Clearly articulated give and get for participants Delivers value/ outcomes to participants
Trust Diversity High engagement
Balance of top-down and bottom-up logic Space for self-organized action
Leadership with “network mindset” Distributed leadership
Strategic communications Ample shared space: on-line and in-person
Ability surface & tap network talent Model for sustainability
Learning-capture Ability to gather and act on feedback
Helpful Sources: M. Kearns and K. Showalter; J. Holley and V. Krebs; P. Plastrik and M. Taylor; J. W. Skillern; C. Shirky
Characteristics of Healthy Networks: Overview
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Leading with a Network Mindset
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How is Network Leadership Different?
Position, authorityIndividualControlDirectiveTransactionalTop-downAction-oriented
Role, behaviorCollectiveFacilitationEmergentRelational, connectedBottom-upProcess-oriented
Organizational Leadership
Organizational Leadership
What would it take for you to work more wikily?
Network LeadershipNetwork
Leadership
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Network Leadership Roles
Sources: Peter Plastrik and Madeleine Taylor, Net Gains (2006); Beth Kanter; Stephanie Lowell , Building the Field of Dreams (2007); White, Wenger, and Smith, Digital Habitats (2009)
Organizer
Funder
Facilitator / Coordinator
Weaver
Technology Steward
Establishes value proposition(s) Establishes first links to participants
Provides initial resources for organizing the network
Works to increase connections among participants May focus on growing the network by connecting to new participants Can be multiple people with formal and informal roles
Facilitates the network use of online technology to learn, coordinate, connect or share information together
Helps participants to undertake collective action Ensures flow of information and other resources
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• Convene diverse people and groups
• Engage network participants
• Generate cooperation and collective action
• Broker connections and bridge difference
• Build social capital – emphasize trust and reciprocity
What is the Work of Network Leadership?
Source: Adapted from Net Work by Patti Anklam (2007) and “Vertigo and the Intentional Inhabitant: Leadership in a Connected World” by Bill Traynor (2009)Source of picture: flickr
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What is the Work of Network Leadership?
Source: Adapted from Net Work by Patti Anklam (2007) and “Vertigo and the Intentional Inhabitant: Leadership in a Connected World” by Bill Traynor (2009)Source of picture: flickr
• Nurture self-organization
• Genuinely participate. Influence from the inside
• Leverage technology
• Create, preserve, and protect network ‘space’
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A Few Challenges Faced by Network Leaders
Unlearning past behaviors and frameworks
(organizational mindset)
Dealing with information overload
Letting go of control Engaging and inspiring network participants
without being controlling
Learning and leveraging new technologies
Making the case; measuring success
Source of images: Cut Throat Communications, Blog.com, Rutgers University RU FAIR, Kodaikanal International School, flickr
Determining network boundaries
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Eight Lessons We’re Learning
1. Design your experiments around a problem, not the tools
2. Experiment a lot, make only new mistakes
3. Set appropriate expectations for time and effort required
4. Prioritize human elements like trust and fun
5. Understand your position within networks
6. Push power to the edges
7. Balance bottom-up and top-down strategies
8. Be open and transparent
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Can you Begin to Make the Shift?
Centralized
Firmly controlled
Planned
Proprietary
One-way
communications
Decentralized
Loosely controlled
Emergent
Public
Two-way
communications
Established Ways of Working
Established Ways of Working
What would it take for you to work more wikily?
Working WikilyWorking Wikily
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