This document discusses how networks are changing social change and provides lessons on working wikily. It defines networks and outlines their benefits, such as building community, engaging people, advocating for policy change, coordinating resources, developing and sharing knowledge, innovating, and getting initiatives to scale. The document also discusses characteristics of healthy networks, network leadership, challenges leaders face, and lessons learned about experimenting and balancing bottom-up and top-down strategies in networks.

1. Beijing Cambridge Chicago Delhi Dubai Hong Kong Johannesburg How Networks are Changing Social Change A Briefing for the Network of Network Funders September 30, 2009 London Los Angeles Madrid Manila Moscow Mumbai Munich New York Palo Alto Paris San Francisco São Paulo Seoul Shanghai Singapore Tokyo Toronto This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 3.0 Unported License. Zurich

2. 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

3. Theory: Building Our Knowledge (IP) Convened Experts Scanned Literature Monitoring and Scanning On-line Environment Network Resources Inventory Case Study Research Tools and Training Blog

4. Action: Pilot Projects Nitrogen Wiki Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) Networks Network Effectiveness (ONE) Support Farm Bill Networks Mapping Networks in Salinas

5. What are networks? Groups of individuals or organizations connected through meaningful relationships.

6. 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

7. Networks Have Been Around Forever…

8. New Technologies for Sharing Content… …new online spaces for building relationships

10. The Result = “Working Wikily” “… 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

12. Firmly controlled

13. Planned

14. Proprietary

16. Loosely controlled

17. Emergent

18. Public

19. Two-way communications Where are you on these continuums? The answer will be different for different situations

20. It Starts with a Network Mindset Organization Orientation Network Orientation Mindset Competition Collaboration Strategy Grow the organization Grow the network Behaviors Compete for resources Protect knowledge Competitive advantage Hoard talent Share resources Open source IP Develop competitors Cultivate leadership Source: Heather McLeod Grant and Leslie R. Crutchfield, “Forces for Good,” (2007).

24. The Way Our Work Gets Done Is Changing

25. Nonprofits Need to Find Ways to Work Wikily Increasing Number of Nonprofits More Competition for Resources Many Nonprofits Not at Scale 82% of nonprofits operate on annual budgets of under $1 million Networks are oneanswer 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.

27. Unmet needs

28. Lack of power

29. Duplication and fragmentation of effort

30. Lack of shared knowledge

31. Untapped talent and wisdom

32. Suboptimal impact and challenges with growth

33. Build community

34. Engage people

35. Advocate for policy change

36. Coordinate resources and services

37. Develop and share knowledge

38. Innovate

40. Engage People 2008: 400,000 Volunteers in 104 Countries 1985: Single-site Effort in US

41. Advocate for Policy Change 2008: 3.2 Million Members 1998: Email to 100 friends

42. Coordinate Resources and Services Total Loans 2009: $66 million Total Loans 2006: $1 million

43. Develop and Share Knowledge 14 Countries 1,300 Trained Volunteers Interagency Program Integrated Fire Management

44. Innovate “Open Sourcing Social Solutions” Internal, Proprietary R&D Labs

45. - EGYPT- Get to Scale …transformingcommunities through collaborations to address root causes of poverty and homelessness Typical HFH country programs produce 200 houses each year In Egypt, HFH builds 1,000 houses a year, on average Source: Jane Wei-Skillern and Kerry Herman, “Habitat for Humanity—Egypt,” Harvard Business School Cases, October 3, 2006.

46. Using a Network Lens Source: orgnet

48. Membership organizations (Organizations with network component)

49. Nonprofits with explicit network strategy and structure

50. Coalition / Alliance (network of organizations)

51. Networks of networks

52. Ad hoc networksDecentralized Note: These categories often overlap. Most of the examples fit in to multiple categories. Developed from: Plastrik and Taylor, “Net Gains,” (2006); Patti Anklam, “Net Work,” (2007); Krebs and Holley. “Building Smart Communities,” (2006). Source: orgnet

53. How Do Movements and Campaigns Relate to Networks? 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 Choose Justice: Campaign to Protect Roe Pro-Choice Movement Sources: Movement def’n- LokmanTsui 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

54. Periphery Cluster Link Node Social Network Analysis: A Few Helpful Definitions Core Hub Source: Monitor Institute

55. Network Mapping can be Low-Tech… Source: June Holley

56. …Or More High-Tech

58. Make visible network resources, and see flow of resources

59. Spark a conversation among participants

60. Assess the “health” of a network, diagnose

62. Network by Organization Type Government Foundation Non-Profit For-Profit School Unknown Religious Other Maps Were Used to Analyze the Network A map of the different networks shows fairly loose connections

63. The Green and Healthy Building Network: 2005 Source: Barr Foundation “Green and Healthy Building Network Case Study” by Beth Tener, Al Neirenberg, Bruce Hoppe

64. The Green and Healthy Building Network: 2007 Source: Barr Foundation “Green and Healthy Building Network Case Study” by Beth Tener, Al Neirenberg, Bruce Hoppe

65. Characteristics of Healthy Networks

67. Delivers value/ outcomes to participants

68. Trust

69. Diversity

75. Ability to gather and act on feedbackHelpful Sources: M. Kearns and K. Showalter; J. Holley and V. Krebs; P. Plastrik and M. Taylor; J. W. Skillern; C. Shirky

76. Leading with a Network Mindset

78. Collective

79. Facilitation

80. Emergent

81. Relational, connected

82. Bottom-up

83. Process-oriented

84. Position, authority

85. Individual

86. Control

87. Directive

88. Transactional

89. Top-down

90. Action-orientedWhat would it take for you to work more wikily?

93. May focus on growing the network by connecting to new participants

96. What is the Work of Network Leadership? 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 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

97. What is the Work of Network Leadership? Nurture self-organization Genuinely participate. Influence from the inside Leverage technology Create, preserve, and protect network ‘space’ 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

98. A Few Challenges Faced by Network Leaders Unlearning past behaviors and frameworks (organizational mindset) Engaging and inspiring network participants without being controlling Letting go of control Determining network boundaries Dealing with information overload Making the case; measuring success Learning and leveraging new technologies Source of images: Cut Throat Communications, Blog.com, Rutgers University RU FAIR, Kodaikanal International School, flickr

99. Eight Lessons We’re Learning Design your experiments around a problem, not the tools Experiment a lot, make only new mistakes Set appropriate expectations for time and effort required Prioritize human elements like trust and fun Understand your position within networks Push power to the edges Balance bottom-up and top-down strategies Be open and transparent

101. Firmly controlled

102. Planned

103. Proprietary

105. Loosely controlled

106. Emergent

107. Public

108. Two-way communications What would it take for you to work more wikily?