Strategy-Structure-Governance Community of Practice

Webinars

Sept. 9, 2009

These webinars are free, 1.5 hour learning events provided by the SSGCoP community.  The objective is to strengthen participants’ understanding of issues relating to strategy-structure-governance of networks aiming to realize change that is significant in terms of geographic reach and societal depth – change that is associated with global transformation. 

Time:    All webinars are the third Wednesday of each month at 9:00 – 10:30 am GMT +5 (Boston);  this appears to be the best time to facilitate global participation.  It is 6:00am US/Canada West Coast; 14:00 UK, 15:00 Europe, 21:00 Philippines/Malaysia.

Technology:  The webinars use the technology developed by elluminate (http://www.elluminate.com/index.jsp).  This allows for meeting on your computer desktop (with documents, videos, presentations), and provides audio integration with a headset as is commonly used with skype.   It is a user-friendly technology that works even in dial-up locations.  Software must be downloaded in advance, and will start automatically after the initial download by going to the web-site address associated with each meeting. 

Recordings:  The webinars will be recorded and available through the SSGCoP web-site.

Joining SSGCoP:  If you wish to join SSGCoP, please go to http://www.scalingimpact.net/og/reg-key-join  The registration key is SSGCoP, and when entered an email will go to the administrator to approve membership.  

Presenter Biographies:  The presenters are all leaders in their field, and actively connecting new knowledge development and practice.  To learn more about them, view their profiles at the SSGCoP web-site.   

Webinar Schedule

September 16, 2009

Topic:  Trends in Inter-Organizational Networks

Link:  https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=831&password=M.2469A77CD66D6C889E1AAF346DCA1C

Description:  When the Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) “decided” to undertake a significant transformation, people spoke of “GKP 3.0”, recognizing two earlier distinct iterations since its founding in the late 1990s.  In the spring of 2009 a Task Force engaged Steve Waddell to:

“…provide(s) information about the trends in the landscape (of inter-organizational networks) that could influence choices about GKP’s future and knowledge about strategies and structures of other global, multi-stakeholder networks. The goal is to provide the GKP3.0 Task Force with knowledge and options to help it in its recommendations to EXCOMM for the GKP’s way forward.”

Steve’s report was based upon interviews and analysis related to 18 networks. 

This webinar will feature findings of the report (available at http://networkingaction.net/5.html ).  However, webinar participants will not be expected to have reviewed it.

Some Discussion Questions:  Arising from the webinar content, participants will be invited to discuss as the webinar proceeds these and other questions that may arise for them.

Six types of networks are suggested to be a comprehensive range of global change networks.  Does the typology seem comprehensive to you?

Four development stages are suggested as representing the potential development path for global change networks.  Does this resonant with your experience?

The fourth development stage is presented as one that few networks have yet entered.  What are your thoughts about this, and the frontier of inter-organizational network development?

What do you see as key challenges to realizing networks’ change potential?  How can they be addressed? 

Presenters:

Steve Waddell, Principal – Networking Action (www.networkingaction.net)

Michael Roberts, GKP Task Force Lead, Groupsia International, (www.bellanet.org)

 

October 21, 2009

Topic:  A Case Study in Major Network Change:  The Global Knowledge Partnership

Link:  https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?password=M.2DA60E6C445685E08070B5DBD26A1E

Description:  As a follow-up to the September 16 webinar, this webinar looks at the actual process for moving from GKP 2.0 to 3.0.  It will draw from an After Action Review (AAR) to look at events from the decision by the GKP Executive Committee (ExComm – the Board of GKP) in September, 2008 to dramatically change GKP, to its reformulation in August 2009 with a totally new Board and structure, and a significantly altered vision.  GKP 2.0 was characterized as having a centralized secretariat;  GKP 3.0 is designed as a dispersed network.  In both cases, the Vision is:

A world of equal opportunities for all people to have access to and use knowledge and information to improve their lives.

Some Discussion Questions:  The AAR is underway, and questions will be derived from it.    

Presenters:

Michael Roberts, GKP Task Force Lead, Groupsia International, (www.bellanet.org)

Steve Waddell, Principal – Networking Action (www.networkingaction.net)

Other members of the Task Force are invited. 

 

November 18, 2009

Topic:  A Systemic Strategic Planning Process of a GAN: A Case Study of Youth Employment Systems (YES) in Latin America

Link:  https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?password=M.E61FB90991F528498DE209BDE862B6  

Description:  YES and Institute for Strategic Clarity undertook a strategic planning process for Latin America using the Managing from Clarity framework.  The framework works with multiple stakeholders to build an integrated understanding of the network’s goals, resources, actions, structure and people through a visual mapping process.  This project was particularly interesting because it explored the boundaries of the framework by connecting with network participants virtually, and because it produced twelve country maps and one integrated regional map that allowed for comparison of strategies (YES is organized along national boundaries) and collective learning. 

Some Discussion Questions: 

How can this framework generate collective understanding? 

What sorts of action and insights does it produce? 

How can the process be followed up in terms of changing strategies?         

Presenters:

Luz Maria Puente, Vice President – Institute for Strategic Clarity (www.instituteforstrategicclarity.org)

Jim Ritchie-Dunham, President – Institute for Strategic Clarity

 

December 16, 2009

Topic:  (tentative) Creating “Coherence” Amongst Diversity to Address Global Issues:  The case of Global Action Networks

Link:  https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?password=M.756CB324D6EB35DB6F3776B29FE1D0

Description:  Global Action Networks (GANs – global multi-stakeholder change networks) represent a strategy that became increasingly popular in the 1990s as an innovative way to address global issues.  Pieter Glasbergen has been looking at a number of them, to deepen understanding about their potential in global public problem-solving.  In particular, he has been asking questions about their ability to stimulate collective action amongst diverse organizations.   He has focused upon the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), the Fair Labor Association (FLA), the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), and the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC).

Some Discussion Questions: 

How do GANs create coherence among the diverse actors as they expand their issue domain to the political arenas in which they are active?

What are barriers to GANs’ success in creating coherence, and how can they be addressed?    

Presenter:

Pieter Glasbergen, Professor of Environmental Studies and Policy, Copernicus Institute – University of Utrecht (www.instituteforstrategicclarity.org)

(tentative) Auret van Heerdan, President and CEO - FLA

(tentative) Paul van Tongeren, Secretary-General - GPPAC

 

January 20, 2010

Topic:  (tentative) A Dialogic Approach to Re-Envisioning in a Global Action Network:  The Case of The Access Initiative (TAI)

Link:  https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?password=M.40C90E88829D35139CE98EE1C19786

Description:  Collaboration requires shared understanding.  Achieving shared understanding among stakeholders with diverse interests and perspectives requires a dialogic approach: creating opportunities for people to have high quality conversations and start thinking together.  Recognizing this, seven years after its founding The Access Initiative became interested in an action learning process to review and redefine its approach, strategy, and governance.  TAI and the Generative Change Community formed a partnership to develop the process.

Some Discussion Questions:

How can dialogic change processes be undertaken in a GAN, given geographic distance, diversity, and resource constraints?

How can dialogic approaches influence the daily work of GANs? 

How can issues of power inequality be addressed, and equity promoted?   

Presenters:

Minu Hemmati, Project Lead – The Generative Change Community (www.minuhemmati.net)

Bettye Pruitt, Community Coordinator – The Generative Change Community

(tentative) Lalanath DeSilva, Director – The Access Initiative (www.accessinitiative.org)