First in a series
We’re often asked by funders and network builders whether investing in a generative network, instead of any of the other models for collective action–coalitions, associations, movements, for example–will best fit with their goals and strategies. How can they know?
With support from the Kresge Foundation we’ve been developing some strategic guidance for funders, based in part on real-world analysis we’re doing for Kresge in analyzing the potential of networks in the field of urban resilience. By drawing on this work-in-progress, we’re putting together a series of blogs that focus on particular aspects of investing strategically in generative networks. In this blog we briefly preview a key framework that we’ll fill in with subsequent blogs.
A funder’s judgment about whether or not to invest in a generative network approach depends on a blend of conditions:
- The funder’s goal is system change .
- The funder is simultaneously pursuing multiple challenging strategies for achieving system change.
- The system’s situation involves a great deal of uncertainty , and solutions are not known.