Social Innovation Learning Group

From LifeCycle to Ecocycle

February 24, 2014

Objectives of Session

• Learn basics of the Ecocycle model• Explore its relevance and use in partner

organizations

Machine versus ecological metaphor

• “clockwork”, “well-oiled machine”, RBM framework: measurable outcomes are appropriate at the outset IF problems are understood and solutions are known

• Complex issues require an emerging process, focusing on relationships, learning, embracing ambiguity and “failure”: discover the path as you walk it

Ecocycle: A biological model

Ecocycle

Birth

Some species thriving, absorbing water, light and nutrients

Pilot projects emerging, demanding focused resources

Mature Forest

Regeneration: “Log meadow”

Maturity

Mature trees dominate the landscape, ready for harvesting

Mature programs deliver services, core business

Creative destruction

Forest fire destroys dead wood, releasing energy

Reorganization, plus opening up new possibilities

Renewal

Diversity of vegetation growing in chaotic ways

Developing new relationships; undertaking research and development

A resilience perspective

• A resilient organization functions simultaneously in all four quadrants

• Different skills / approaches are most valuable in each quadrant

• Different types of evaluation may be particularly relevant in each quadrant

• Moving from one level of ecocycle to another

Common traps

Poverty trap

Charisma trap

Rigidity trap

Chronic disaster trap

High impact organizations

• Work at multiple levels: service delivery, policy, research, leadership development

• Work well with others: “You can accomplish anything if no one cares who gets the credit.” (open source, etc.)

• Seek out unlikely allies: significant social change involves all sectors (e.g. social enterprise, program related investments)

• Recognize organizational and community assets (e.g. a strong volunteer network, skills of community members)

• Distributed leadership culture: engaged staff, volunteers and boards

• Strategy versus tactics: have a compass rather than a road map

Two questions

• Where is your organization in the ecocycle?• Does the ecocycle model provide any lessons

for the United Way and its community partners in making a transition to a community impact model?