When establishing a network to support a Learning System it might be helpful to start with a larger group to accelerate progress. If doing this make use of a small group of critical partners to identify and influence the key people required to make the network effective.
What is important is that those people that can help most at a particular time are involved. Everyone should be engaged and, at different times, take on different roles. If it’s too small the pool of knowledge and creativity may not be enough to sustain and provide solutions. If it’s too big then people will struggle to feel involved and make a valuable contribution.
In the early stages of establishing a network, it may be worthwhile helping others to understand why a network approach is being taken and the potential benefits of doing so:
- Rapid and expansive growth
- Rapid diffusion
- “Small world” reach
- Resilience
- Adaptive capacity
Adapted from Effective Networks for Improvement
When establishing a network there are 5 key areas which it would be helpful to pay attention to:
- Articulating a clear common purpose
- Developing a co-operative structure
- Building critical mass
- Maximising the benefits of collective intelligence
- Building a meaningful sense of community
Adapted from Effective Networks for Improvement
Articulating a clear common purpose is one of the most critical and first things to do. Without clear and articulated purpose, the network will have little direction and people will not see the value of being part of it. Purpose may change over time and that is okay, if it agreed with the group on an ongoing basis.
Developing a co-operative structure is about ways of working. This involves agreeing a collaborative, non-hierarchical approach where responsibility, roles and workload are shared across members.
Building critical mass is about finding the momentum of the group. Finding the motivation and drive that encourages network members to talk about the work and advocate for change and bring in new and influential contributors.
Maximising the benefits of collective intelligence. Pooling resources, organising its knowledge and communicating that to the wider world to achieve its purpose.
Building a meaningful sense of community is essential, group members need to trust each other. To cooperate and share people need to feel safe and work through disagreements or differing points of view.