1 Evaluating the Emergence of Leadership Within Networks and Communities of Practice Boston LLC September 21, 2007

2 Intentions of This Gathering Explore our collective knowledge about tools and approaches for evaluating networks and communities of practice Deepen our understanding of how to demonstrate the impact of strong networks and CoPs on social change Learn about how Berkana is doing its work Find learning partners

3 Calling Questions What tools, approaches and challenges are we discovering in evaluating networks and communities of practice? What is the relationship between strong networks/CoPs and creating impact in the world?

4 What Time Is It?

5 How Change Happens In Living Systems

6 Roles to Play as Systems Change

7 Berkana’s Role: Emergence of the New When separate, local efforts connect with each other as networks, then strengthen as communities of practice, suddenly and surprisingly a new system emerges at a greater level of scale. This system of influence possesses qualities and capacities that were unknown in the individuals.

8 Lifecycle of Emergence Networks: commitment to self; fluid membership; fluid roles Communities of Practice: commitment to advance field of practice; focus on creation and dissemination of knowledge; distinct roles Systems of Influence: pioneering efforts suddenly become the norm

9 Creating the Conditions Condition #1: Self-organizing is happening Condition #2: Knowledge moves openly and fluidly Condition #3: The boundary is permeable Condition #4: Diversity is present

10 Berkana’s Strategy Name Connect Nourish Illuminate

11 Introducing the Berkana Exchange The Berkana Exchange connects pioneering leaders throughout the globe around their shared commitment to making a difference in and beyond their communities. These leaders are developing the capacity to solve their most pressing problems—such as community health, ecological sustainability and economic self-reliance—by acting locally, connecting regionally and learning “trans- locally.”

12 What Should We Measure? A.The impact of the learning centers on their local communities? B.The value of participating in the Berkana Exchange on the health and vitality of the learning centers? C.Whether the Berkana Exchange is effectively creating the conditions for systems of influence to emerge? D.Whether systems of influence are emerging?

13 A. Impact of Learning Centers This should be easy, but… The LCs do not have a practice of measuring their impact. More generally, they trust that they are making a difference. Even if the LCs were measuring their impact, how do we know that participating in the Exchange had anything to do with it? This community holds some sensitivity about North- South relationships. We choose not to make demands.

14 Small Group Conversation Invite someone in your group to share a related story What similar challenges emerged? What suggestions do you have about addressing those challenges?

15 B. The Value of Participation Structural Health: financial, strategic, technical Personal Health: isolation, transitions Community Health: decision-making, intergenerational relationships, community engagement Learning Health: learning exchanges, practices and skills

16 Small Group Conversation Reflect on these four dimensions. How do they sound to you? The Community Health and Learning Health dimensions can be challenging to measure. In your small group, choose one to focus on: What ideas and strategies are you working with? What is challenging you?

17 C & D: Working with Systems of Influence We have a hypothesis about creating the conditions for systems of influence to emerge, which includes: –Condition #1: Self-organizing is happening –Condition #2: Knowledge moves openly and fluidly –Condition #3: The boundary is permeable –Condition #4: Diversity is present Are there other conditions? How would we evaluate this? And what about the question of whether the systems of influence actually are emerging?

18 Closing Question What is one thing that you’re taking home with you—a question, idea or thought that you’ll continue to play with?