MANAGING THE VOLUME OF INFORMATION, AND CANADIAN CULTURE OF PEACE PROGRAM WORK
March 24, 2005
Dear
Members,
You
probably note that our list of Yahoo Groups (nodes on our Canadian Culture of
Peace Program “CCOPP” Stakeholder’s Web) is growing. The volume of
messages will grow, and there will be cross-posting and some duplication.
I also anticipate more “explosive growth” in the near future. I am
optimistic to think that more and more people are getting the picture (vision)
of the Culture of Peace Program, the beauty/importance of Peace Education as
the antidote to violence of all sorts, and the path (process) developing of
how we get there, to see that real peace in the foreseeable future is possible
and how they fit in/what they can do. Our good friend Paul refers to
this as becoming like an “infectious agent” (i.e. in a good way), and the
results may be explosive when we reach a tipping point – get ready J
So,
I thought I would try to provide an overview of our current experience of how
this is developing, and some tips on how to manage the volume. Your
input is requested.
Background
How
our “Organization” is Unfolding
We
have been referring to the basic organizational units in the Network by
several different names: Node – organization – Group - listserver –
communication – relationship – doing projects/programs together. It
is difficult to delineate the real differences or where one of these concepts
leaves off and another starts. What comes first – the organization or
the listserver tool that facilitates organization? I think the
listserver tool that facilitates organization. The listserver is akin to
our “office” where we come to work with each other. An office
without walls. This is why, in the original Stakeholder Web document
that I wrote at http://www.peace.ca/CCOPPorganization2004.htm
, I showed the Network manifesting itself through the Yahoo
Group email listservers. This why whenever we are ready to take action
on a new COP Action Area/Idea, the first task is to create a Yahoo Group email
listserver as the tool for communicating, organizing, networking, dialogue,
information dissemination (also see process/methodology below). Until we
have a bricks and mortar office building (which could be an existing office
say at a University or wherever), the listserve will be our office
(supplemented by the web site, in-person meetings and conferences). This
will be about ‘how people get together’, efficiently, effectively and
economically.
It
will take discipline to try to keep the flow of information from being
overwhelming. Participants will have to try to target their messages to
the most appropriate group, and minimize cross-postings (so, for example, if
you want to talk peace education then direct your message to the CPIdiscussion
list). There will be general messages that do cut across all Groups (eg.
Our CCOPP Newsletter), and there will be specific messages that should be
targeted to the Specific Group. There will be people who get involved at
the General (what I have referred to as the Institutional or Network
Management) Level, those that get involved at one or more Specific Action Area
Levels, and some who do both. Those responsible for Specific Action
Areas should keep an eye open for things discussed on their list that should
be brought to the attention of the General Level and/or other Action Areas.
Those responsible for the General Level will have to decide what messages
should go to the Action Areas. (It should also be noted that a Specific
Action Area such as Free Flow of Information in due course will develop an
‘Institutional or General Level’ and ‘Specific Action Areas’ such as
the Culture of Peace News Network or “CPNN” within it.)
I
expect that, after establishing the General/Institutional Level
Groups/listservers, the next stage is to establish Specific Action Area
Groups/Listservers as the need and interested people emerge. For
example, CCOPP spawning a CCOPPfreeflowofinformation Group. I further
expect that when it grows unwieldy, it may spawn new Groups (such as a
specific CCOPPCPNN Group). We might encourage that organic process of
creating smaller, local Groups/nodes/lists. But again in the world of
duality, we will have to deal with both large and small nodes because some
people will want to be part of both large and small organizations – they
both have their purposes. It will be a supreme challenge to try to stay
efficient. This is the nature of self-organizing and organic systems.
We
need most efficient communications when we're working on something specific.
I expect we will have to be flexible to create mini-lists to work on specific
things and then terminate them when their work is done. Fortunately,
this is easy to do with Yahoo Groups (although we must put up with a bit of
advertising). At this moment, I can not think of any form of
communication more efficient than these listservers. I find them more
easy to manage than bulletin boards, chat rooms, telephone calls (but we can
use those tools also, when appropriate). One thing that people can do to
reduce the apparent volume is to change their preferences in the Yahoo system
from getting “Individual Messages” to getting “Daily Summary of
Messages” (some may also wish to receive no email and go to the web site
periodically to read the messages). Whatever people choose, they must
decide what to ignore or delete and what to take the time to read. In
other words, you will have to evaluate the cost (eg. Time, getting some
messages you might not want, etc.) vs. benefit (eg. Gems of wisdom,
information you can use, etc.) of belonging to the Groups and reading the
messages. You do not have to read everything – it is OK to delete.
We
will have to encourage smaller/focused messages (while brevity is good,
sometimes length is necessary in a response), interactive user-friendly web
sites, smaller working groups, etc. We will have to put on the web site our
own “Netiquette” protocol to encourage this.
Our
Evolving CCOPP Methodology or Process
As
recent projects have been developing, we have found ourselves currently
following an evolving CCOPP methodology as follows:
(1)
we start the dialogue by using our “virtual” process - i.e.
(a)
create a CCOPPresourceraising Yahoo Group email listserver as a key node in
our Stakeholders Web and as a most effective tool for communications,
networking, dialogue and information dissemination about raising resources for
peace,
(b)
invite everyone in
(c)
of the subscribers, poll who would like to help draft a strategy and action
plan;
(d)
of the small working group, poll who would like to shepherd the process?
(employing servant leadership/stewardship principles)
(e)
small working group draft the resource raising strategy and action plan
(f)
submission to larger group for consideration and feedback and approval
(2)
in-person meeting(s) as necessary; people that can not travel to the meeting
can be invited to participate via an Internet conferencing method (such as
Yahoo Messenger or Skype).
(3)
implementation of action plan
(a)
invite everyone in
(b)
of the working group, poll who would like to shepherd the process? (employing
servant leadership/stewardship principles)
(c)
working group responsible and accountable for (hopefully successful)
implementation
(4)
evaluation of progress (results measurement, analysis; are we achieving our
goals?; is there a better way?)
(5)
revise strategy and action plan; redirection if necessary
Finally,
it is important to emphasize that this whole CCOPP process is completely
voluntary, people are encouraged to do what turns them on, to be critical and
independent thinkers (it is expected that people will do their own homework),
that people will “vote with their feet” (the law of mobility). We
think we can offer excellent materials to help participants, and an effective
process (co-learning as we go, to develop even better processes and
resources). Developing our relationships and our conversations is peace
education building a Culture of Peace at its finest level.
I
hope this draft overview is helpful, and would appreciate your comments.
Regards,
Bob Stewart
DRAFT
FOR DISCUSSION
CANADIAN
CULTURE OF PEACE PROGRAM (“CCOPP”)
ORGANIZATION
NETWORK/STAKEHOLDER WEB
A
Stakeholder Web (“S-web”) is a network of stakeholders that scrutinizes
and attempts to influence an entity’s behavior, in this case
A.
INSTITUTIONAL
Small
Core Group/Steering Committee (Yahoo Group,
dialogue, CCOPP ‘stewards’)
Larger
Core Working Group (Yahoo Group, dialogue,
directly active participants prepared to make an investment of time, skills
and resources in the overall CCOPP, following Culture of Peace and
Non-violence values; ref. http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/CCOPPcore
) (Announcements will be placed in the CCOPP Newsletter)
CCOPP
Newsletter (Broadcast) (Yahoo Group,
broadcast) (Newsletters will automatically be posted to all Groups,
and anyone who wishes to subscribe; expect one or two per month)
CCOPP
Dialogue – General (Yahoo Group,
dialogue, inclusive)
B.
CULTURE OF PEACE AND NON-VIOLENCE ACTION AREAS (the
sub-components are derived from the Agenda of the Hague Appeal for Peace,
reference http://www.peace.ca/agendaofthehague.htm
, are not necessarily all-inclusive, and will evolve over time)
·
Provincial/Territorial Culture of Peace Programs (13) (mirroring
above where relevant) (13 Yahoo Groups,
dialogue, inclusive)
o
o
·
·
Rest to come in due course
Conclusion
This
is the work that needs to be done. The sooner we proceed the better.
Time is of the essence – people are dying for this. We need to have a
bias for action. Please step up and do whatever turns you on. We
urge you to be a peace educator and leader. Your contribution will make
a significant difference, is sorely needed and will be greatly appreciated.
And, speaking from personal experience, the unexpected “dividends” that
you will get out of this will be considerable. Finally – please spread
the word. Many hands make light work. We are part of an
international network and the tipping point in favour of peace is rapidly
approaching.