transformative networking for organizational and community change
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11
Transformative Networking for Organizational and Community
Change
Ross A. Wirth, Ph.D.
wirthr@franklin.edu
Franklin University
www.franklin.edu
Feb. 26, 2010
2
Networks are the future organization
• 20th century – Society of Organizations– Clear, formal hierarchy with top-down
direction (stable)– Chain of command (formal)
• 21st century – Society of Networks – Transient relationships to bring together
resources for a common purposeeven within organizations (dynamic)
– Circle of influence (informal)
Kanter (2009)
3
Online networking – a Paradox
• Internet & social media platforms enabled people to easily organize – Yet most online groups focus on building
membership and not collaborative work
• Easy to search for information and locate experts & others with common interest– Yet, many change leaders struggle in
isolation without the benefit of shared knowledge
4
Why?? What are the challenges?
• Proposed that the critical pieces are:– Lack of time to keep up with information
overload that continues to grow• Low relevance & lack of “push”
– Don’t know what we (they) don’t know• Johari Window, lack of awareness to even look
– Competing Priorities – Disengagement• Joining implies a commitment to contribute or• Little value seen in lurking
– “Everything” is Socially Constructed
5
Shift Approach to Demand Side
• Chronic disengagement is a major barrier to change– “Helpers” often approached supply-side
(deliver what is thought to be needed) versus– Need to approach demand-side
(deliver what is regarded as valuable)
• Community Building as Populist Economic Movement, Not a Political Movement
Traynor & Andors (2005) and Traynor (2007)
6
Basis for Building a Networked Community
• Organic shaping how people meet & interact• Search for interconnected goals individuals have
within the collective group goals• Multi-dimensional reasons for connecting
– Not all connections are for the same reason– These reasons also change over time!
• Creating relationships based on bi-directional value exchange
• Freedom to self-organize– Sufficient infrastructure without constraints
7
Network Requirements
• Dynamically morph network to accommodate changes in– Membership turnover
• New members discovering the network • Older members with changing interests
– Evolving interests within the network • Group goals met or new goals with higher
priority
8
Theoretical Foundation
• Communities of Practice (KM tool)– Expertise identification & knowledge sharing
• Social Network Analysis– Map information diffusion across network– Identify connectivity gaps
• Large Group Methodologies– Small group dialogue within large groups
with large group sharing– Discovery of mental models in use– Little application online
9
Theoretical Foundation, cont.
• New leadership models– Collective (shared) leadership– Direction-Alignment-Commitment Model
• Wikinomics– Grassroots, collective effort that deviates
from traditional exchange-based economics – Governance protocols with minimum rules &
self-nominated leadership
10
Theoretical Foundation, cont.
• Swarm Intelligence– Simple decision-making rules that are local,
yet capable of driving collective action – Sub-optimal, but quick & adaptive to change
• Complexity Science– Self-organization, emergence– Tipping point through
self-organization as people vote with their feet
11Individuals ranked by degree of involvement
Degree of Involvement – not Uniform
Lev
el o
f A
ctiv
ity
High engagementacting as group “owners”
Loosely connected, butconnected to other networks
Old-guard losing interest or involved for a specific objectivebringing new insights
Level of engagementdrives role & value deliveredto the network
12
Proposed Networking Approach
Purposefully connecting people with common interests
Supported with minimal infrastructure to provide encouragement and just-in-time assistance
Without limiting what might emerge as a shared vision develops
13
Community Building – Essentials
Create Choices• Competing demands on
time• Allow opt-out without guilt• Welcome trial
Multiple entry points • Smorgasbord of
opportunities• Small duration projects• Find common interest
Reason to engage• Fun, fellowship,
recognition• Value in convening
(demand)
Proactive linking• Interconnected networks• Encourage movement
Traynor & Andors (2005) and Traynor (2007)
14
Community Building – Governance
• Specific roles, but not permanent– “Voice” that is not institutionalized
• Provisionality – constantly adapting• Resonance – Law of Two Feet (from OST)• Information broadcast
– With “collective history” for newcomers & efficiency
• Minimum infrastructure without constraining what might emerge
Traynor & Andors (2005) and Traynor (2007)
15
Community Building – 8 Lessons
1. Experiment around problems, not tools
2. Provisionality & Resonance
3. Be realistic with the time it takes
4. Focus on building Trust & Fun
5. Leverage all roles across the network
6. Decentralize Power
7. Influence (but don’t hinder) movement
8. Communicate & leave trail
Scearce, Kasper, & Grant (2009)
16
“Membership” in the Future
• Connected, but not obligated
• Part of many, owned by none
• Low-level affiliation
• Flexibility, provisional, informal
Traynor (2007)
17
Transformative networking – if a critical mass of passionate people were networked, how might their collective vision be transformative?
The Potential
18
• Neighborhood strengthening (revitalization)
– Greater Ohio Restoring Prosperity initiative
– East side of Columbus, church mission
– Local neighborhood
• Change Leadership CoP – online – Knowledge base & Google Wave collaboration
• Idea Incubator– Exploratory discussions
Potential Demonstration Projects
19
• Test the networking and community building approaches in pilot tests
• Document the process sufficiently that it can be replicated without over prescribing the approach that is used.– Past tests not well documented or
not in a form easy to replicate
Next Steps
20
Transformative Networking for Organizational and Community
Change
Ross A. Wirth, Ph.D.
wirthr@franklin.edu
Franklin University
Feb. 26, 2010
21
References• Kanter, R. M. (2009). On Twitter and in the workplace, it’s
power to the connectors. Retrieved from http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/kanter/2009/11/power-to-the-connectors.html
• Scearce, D., Kasper, G., & Grant, H. M. (2009). Working wikily 2.0. Retrieved from http://www.monitorinstitute.com/documents/WorkingWikily2.0hires.pdf
• Traynor, W. J. (2007). Building community in place: Limitations and promise. Retrieved from http://macdc.org/initiatives/Building-Community-in-Place--Traynor.pdf
• Traynor, W. J., & Andors, J. (2005). Network organizing: A strategy for building community engagement. NHI Shelterforce Online, 140. Retrieved from http://www.nhi.org/online/issues/140/LCW.html
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