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Social Network Support Project: Network Weaver

Learning Community Network Tools: Fourth in a Series of Four Sessions

Community Foundation for Monterey CountyOctober 21, 2010

Thank youJune Holley of Network Weaving, Monitor Institute, and Packard Foundation

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Today’s Workshop

Reconnect; Discuss Reading and Your Network

Overview of First Three Sessions – Burning Questions?

Review Network Mapping Tool

Mapping Software Demonstration

Evaluating Networks

Working with a Network Mindset and Next Steps

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Why Use Social Networks?

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Today’s Workshop

Reconnect; Discuss Reading and Your Network

Overview of First Three Sessions – Burning Questions?

Review Network Mapping Tool

Mapping Software Demonstration

Evaluating Networks

Working with a Network Mindset and Next Steps

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Overall Training Goals

By the end of the four sessions, participants will

• be inspired to work with a network mindset and to continue weaving and building networks

• have a deeper understanding of network theory, as it applies to social networks, and characteristics of a healthy network

• be able to recognize the qualities of network weavers/leaders; recognize and affirm individual weaver qualities and successes

• understand network life cycles

• appreciate the role of evaluating networks and learn how the network can help evaluate its own progress

• have practiced applying weaver practices and shared their challenges and learnings with each other

• have received an introduction to network mapping software

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Today’s Workshop

Reconnect; Discuss Reading and Your Network

Overview of First Three Sessions – Burning Questions?

Review Network Mapping Tool

Mapping Software Demonstration

Evaluating Networks

Working with a Network Mindset and Next Steps

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Core

Link Node

Cluster Periphery

Hub

A Few Helpful Definitions

Monitor Institute

9Source: Valdis Krebs and June Holley, Building Smart Communities through Network Weaving

How Networks Progress and Evolve

1. 2.

3. 4. Multi-Hub Small World Core Periphery

Hub and SpokeScattered Clusters

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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

Embraces openness, transparency, decentralization Shared leadership

Strategic use of social media Ample shared space: on-line and in-person

Ability surface & tap network talent Model for sustainability

Mechanisms for learning-capture Ability to gather and act on feedback

Governance Representative of the network’s diversity Transparent

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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Network Maps as an Evaluation Tool (Diversity, Resources from Periphery)

Literacy: Future Potential CollabWith whom would you like to collaborate with in the next six months on an adult literacy project?

Salinas

Monterey Peninsula

Monterey County

South County

By geography served

more than one area

did not take survey

12incomplete data

Future Contentwatershedcultureocean and aquatic envwaterlandnone

other

Network Maps as an Evaluation Tool (Value and Engagement)Environment: Future Content

Which of these content areas might your organization add to its focus in the next 1-3 years?

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Network Maps as an Evaluation Tool (Diversity) Greenfield

Spanish, Mixteco

English, Spanish

Spanish, Oaxacan +

Organization Languages

Other

Spanish

English, Spanish, Oaxacan

In which languages does your organization provide services?

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Network Maps as an Evaluation Tool (Safety and violence/gang prevention)

Individuals working on safety and violence prevention issues appear to be very central to the overall network, are better networked with one another; and have a larger periphery

20102007

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Network Maps as an Evaluation Tool (Health, Sexuality, and Teen Pregnancy Prevention)

While fewer in numbers, in terms of primary interest, individuals working on health issues and teen pregnancy prevention are better connected in 2010 than in 2007.

20102007

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Today’s Workshop

Reconnect; Discuss Reading and Your Network

Overview of First Three Sessions – Burning Questions?

Review Network Mapping Tool

Mapping Software Demonstration

Evaluating Networks

Working with a Network Mindset and Next Steps

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Today’s Workshop

Reconnect; Discuss Reading and Your Network

Overview of First Three Sessions – Burning Questions?

Review Network Mapping Tool

Mapping Software Demonstration

Evaluating Networks

Working with a Network Mindset and Next Steps

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Research Questions

• Could knowing how networks connect, share, and mobilization teach foundations how to be more effective sponsors of community change?

• How might the impacts of social networks transform grant making and program development?

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Research Questions

What is Assessed? What is Measured?

• Operations: connectivity – nodes, links, clusters, and hubs depicted by mapping results

• Network health: lifecycle phase

• Impacts and Outcomes: successes and achievements

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Repository Outcomes: Capacity for Learning Network Participation Network Sustainability

Network Weavers:● Convener Communication conduit Knowledge generator Information repositor

Action

Share

LearnSharing Outcomes: Cohesion &

Cooperation

Network Information

Repository

Learning Outcomes: Information Utilization Repository Content

Increase quantity or quality Knowledge flowAction flow

Action Outcomes: Influence on Community Change Nonprofit Effectiveness Synergistic Endeavors

Reposit

Evaluation CriteriaNetwork Operations

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Evaluation Criteria

SustainabilityFocus & Growth

ProductivitySustainabili

ty

Network Life Cycle

Formation

Focus Growth

Decline or Renewal

Creech and Ramji

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Evaluation Criteria

Phase Characteristics

Formation Phase:

Network Weavers act as leaders, educators, and strategists to effectively support the network

Network members share with and learn from each other, establish relationships, but work independently. May gain productivity as a result of the information repository but not necessarily through joint activities

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Evaluation Criteria

Phase Characteristics

Focus and Growth Phase:

Network Weavers act as leader and facilitator

Network members plan and work collaboratively with joint purpose and goals

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Evaluation Criteria

Phase Characteristics

Productivity and Sustainability Phase:

Network Weavers foster “collective leadership”

Network members are group oriented, active, productive, achieve measurable successes

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Evaluation Criteria

Phase Characteristics

Decline/Renewal Phase:

Network Weavers role is filled by successive leaders. Encourage, renew, remind

Network members change, recombine, revise strategies, regenerate

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Evaluation Methodology

• Logic Modeling

• Online Survey of Network Members

• Analysis of Network and Aggregate Responses

• Recommendations, Next Steps

• Network Learning Community

• Share with Foundation Community

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Evaluation Methodology

Network Network Survey April 2010

Literacy

Survey Pool: 27Survey responses: 20Response rate: 70%

Greenfield

Survey Pool : 28Survey responses: 22Response rate: 79%

Environment

Survey Pool : 11Survey responses: 8Response rate: 70%

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1. What do you want to do as a member of this group?Select all that apply.

Answer Options

Network

Function

Responses

Respondents Selecting this Option

Improve my organization's practices

Action 28 56%

       

Learn how other organizations operate Learn 27 54%

Share resources, funding, expenses with others

Share 36 72%

Ask a question about a specific topic Learn 7 14%

Influence or improve a service, system, or policy

Action 25 50%

Learn how to reach influential people Learn 15 30%

Other - 8 16%

0 25 50 75 100

n = 50

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2. What do you want to contribute to this group? Select all that apply.

Answer OptionsNetwork Function

ResponsesRespondents Selecting this

Option

My knowledge, expertise, or program materials Share 34 68%

       

My experiences in program service delivery Share 30 60%

Experiences in program administration or funding Share 15 30%

Teach others about my organization Share 28 56%

My ideas for group collaboration Share 23 46%

My concerns the group can address Action 25 50%

Other - 3 6%

n = 50

0 25 50 75 100

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3. Who do you want to influence through this group? Select all that apply.

Answer Options Network Function

Responses

Respondents Selecting this Option

Other group members

Action 32 64%

       

Others outside of the group

Action 30 60%

Policy makers, elected officials, managers

Action 38 76%

Funders Action 31 62%

Consumers/potential consumers

Action 34 68%

Consultants, vendors, contractors

Action 9 18%

Other - 1 2%

n = 50

0 25 50 75 100

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4. So far, what have you gained as a member of this group? Select all that apply.

Answer OptionsNetwor

k Functio

n

Responses

Respondents Selecting this Option

More knowledge of local organizations

Learn 42 84%

       

More knowledge of valuable resources

Learn 27 54%

More access to influential people

Action 10 20%

Stronger connections to other members

Learn 31 62%

More knowledge of network benefits

Learn 24 48%

More knowledge how to increase capacity

Learn 18 36%

Nothing has changed yet

- 6 12%

n = 50

0 25 50 75 100

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5. What would make it easier to be more active in this group? Select all that apply.

Answer Options Network Function

Responses

Respondents Selecting this Option

More online group activities

Action 11 22%

       

More face-to-face time Action 16 32%

Common concerns, priorities, tasks

Action 33 66%

More resources to help meet my goals

Learn 22 44%

More examples of how to work together

Learn 22 44%

More reminders & ideas of how to participate

Share 11 22%

Other - 6 12%

n = 50

0 25 50 75 100

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6. Are you aware of mutual concerns this group is working on? Select all that apply.

Answer Options Network Function

Responses

Respondents Selecting this Option

Yes, I know of one or more

Action 33 66%        

No, no specific concerns

Action 5 10%

I don’t know if any have been identified

Action 12 24%

n = 50

0 25 50 75 100

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7. So far, how beneficial has network membership been to you/your organization? Select all that apply.

Answer Options Network Function

Responses

Respondents Selecting this Option

Beneficial - 23 46%        

Somewhat Beneficial

- 19 38%

Not Beneficial - 3 6%

I’m not sure - 5 10%

n = 50

0 25 50 75 100

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8. In the future, how beneficial do you think this network group will be? Select all that apply.

Answer OptionsNetwork Functio

n

Responses

Respondents Selecting this Option

Will be beneficial - 27 54%       

Will be somewhat beneficial

- 18 36%

Will likely not be beneficial

- 0 0%

I’m not sure - 4 8%

n = 50

0 25 50 75 100

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Questions about online communication for Literacy and Greenfield networks only:

9. In the past three months, how many times did you ask a question, announce an event, or provide a useful document to group members by email or on Google Groups? 43% - once or twice

10. How often do you visit the Google Group site?43% - when I receive an email notification

11. How easy is it for you to post information to the Google Group site? 71% - never tried

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Findings

Getting from

Here to Here

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Findings

“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood,

and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for

the endless immensity of the sea.” Antoine de Saint-Exupery

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Today’s Workshop

Reconnect; Discuss Reading and Your Network

Overview of First Three Sessions – Burning Questions?

Review Network Mapping Tool

Mapping Software Demonstration

Evaluating Networks

Working with a Network Mindset and Next Steps

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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

Monitor Institute. Developed from: Plastrik, Taylor, “Net Gains,” (2006); Anklam, “Net Work,” (2007); Krebs, Holley. “Building Smart Communities,” (2006).Source for Network Graphics: orgnet.com

A Typology of Organizing Structures

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What Do We Mean by “Network Mindset”?

CentralizedFirmly controlledPlannedProprietaryTransactionalOne-way

communications

DecentralizedLoosely controlledEmergentOpen, sharedRelationalTwo-way

conversations

Established Ways of Working

Where are you? The answer will be different for different situations

Social Change with a Network Mindset

Monitor Institute

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What might a network weaver’s job include?

Introduce network concepts and mapping Connecting to enhance the network Move the network to action Build network support structures Help others become Network Weavers

What are you all ready doing and what might you like to focus on?

What else?

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Next Steps

• For CFMC

• For this group

MAVRAC

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Next Steps

• Talk with others about a possible new project (e.g., implementation or advocacy)

• Begin a network discussion (e.g., shared interest or priority, professional development topic, invite people in from periphery)

• Nurture: Share what you’ve learned here with another; build allies and weavers

• Bridge: Share what you’ve learned here and facilitate trust; build relationships

• Become more transparent and deliberate about sharing information with stakeholders

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High-impact nonprofits collaborate rather than compete with their peers. They achieve their collective goals by sharing resources and empowering others. -Crutchfield and McLeod-Grant, Forces For Good

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

-Lao-tzu