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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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…Or More High-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