KCFFI Organizational Learning and Systems Thinking May 78, 2008

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KCFFI Organizational Learning and Systems
Thinking May 7-8 2008
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Core Theory of Success

• Responsible leaders should ask themselves What
  good theories do we have that provide practical
  guidance for ensuring our organizations future
  success The more clearly you can articulate
  your organizations theories about what leads to
  success the more deliberate you can be about
  investing in the elements that are critical to
  that success.
• One such core theory would be based on the
  premise that as the quality of the relationships
  among people who work together increases (high
  team spirit mutual respect and trust) the
  quality of collective thinking improves (people
  consider more facets of an issue and share a
  greater number of different perspectives). When
  the level of thinking is heightened the quality
  of actions is likely to improve (better planning
  greater coordination and higher commitment). In
  turn the quality of results increases as well.
  Achieving high quality results as a team
  generally has a positive affect on the quality of
  relationships creating a virtuous cycle of
  better and better results.
• The most important point about this kind of
  systemic theory is that the success is not
  derived from anyone of individual variables that
  make up the loop but rather from the loop
  itself. Thisforces us to pay attention to how
  all the variables are doing and how each is
  affecting the others in the loop
• -Daniel Kim (2001). Organizing for Learning

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Core Theory of Success
S
QUALITY OF RELATIONSHIPS
S
QUALITY OF COLLECTIVE THINKING
R
QUALITY OF RESULTS
S
QUALITY OF ACTIONS
S
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Hierarchy of Choices
OTHER CHOICES
TERTIARY CHOICES
SECONDARY CHOICES
PRIMARY CHOICE
FUNDAMENTAL CHOICE
Kim Daniel H. (2002). Foresight as the Central
Ethic of Leadership
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KCFFI Core Values Statements

• KCFFI is committed to seeking out and
  implementing the most innovative creative ideas
  to expand what is possible and make our vision
  reality.
• The Food Fitness Initiative will incorporate
  and inspire people to have fun because we
  believe its a natural way to bring families and
  communities together through meals recreation
  celebrations music art and play. Fun is an
  essential path to health and well-being.
• Social Justice Everyone has the right to
  wellness health opportunities power and
  choices.
• KCFFI is committed to structuring our work so
  that youth participate meaningfully
  effectively. Creating opportunity for growth
  through shared learning and support. Generating
  interest and participation by meeting young
  people where they are.
• Community Driven Create a transparent and
  meaningful decision making process. That directly
  involves our diverse community.
• We are a diverse and inclusive collaborative that
  encourages and embraces all ideas communities
  and people.

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Whats Right with King County

• Access to parks and natural spaces
• Positive policy regarding food and built
  environment and transportation
• Were all here!
• Lots of food distribution alternatives.
• Interest and commitment to promoting equity
• Diversity of experiences people resources
  places
• School food service director interested in
  improvement
• Youth engagement
• Many groups forming spontaneously around food
  systems
• Total openness to change
• Success of Green Fest
• Inspiring leadership
• Strong systems connection to nature
• Great transportation system
• Legacy and history of environmentalism
• Value history of native people
• Legacy/history of a progressive culture
• Lots of university resources (research)
• Financial wealth concentration

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KCFFI Vision from greater collaborative (page 1
or 2)

• Walkable communities where people can walk to
  school groceries etc.
• Community schools where people can come together
• Social time available when we have the two items
  above
• Familiarity safety affordability
• Local grocery stores give residents power (talk
  about whats there/not)
• Networks of trust-know who lives near you
• Know who represents you
• Celebrate build culture of sharing food (what
  did they leave behind What do they miss
• Harvest locally grown food
• People working/living across ethnic and other
  differences
• Finding reasons and excuses to celebrate
• Shared open spaces
• Collective ownership/responsibilities
• Eyes on the street (watch others kids)

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KCFFI Vision from greater collaborative (page 2
or 2)

• Intergenerational actions around food arts
  service connected across generations cooking
  together skill sharing role recognition
  increased understanding among groups
• Time to enjoy food with others
• Eating cooking with others
• Farm to table representation
• Making farming viable and easier
• Farm/city exchanges
• Policy and systems pieces to make farming viable
  and enjoyable (healthy for people and environment
• Farmers/Consumers relationship
• Organized recreational activity for all ages
• Integrated nutrition programs (with organized
  recreation)
• Wednesday night youth trail walking/running (for
  example)
• More space/encouragement for informal activities
  and play
• Encouraging change in thought (active spectators)
• Economy/structure of communities with upcoming
  fuel changes/impact food systems structured
  around local foods (livable waydense population)

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Concepts from LC based on greater collaborative
(page 1 of 2)

• Accessible resources and information and services
• People on the sidewalk in public spaces and out
  of the streets
• Neighborhood classes teaching community members
  of all kinds about cooking farming nutrition
  and the food system. (maybe at community
  kitchens)
• Innovative ways to provide access to local food
  (E.g the grocery store bus)
• Safe inviting opens spaces (walking trails
  parks festivals/events)
• Farmers are able to make a decent living growing
  food
• All suitable King County farmland is in
  production and growing affordable food for our
  communities.
• Walkable neighborhoods where people meet and
  interact with people in their communities when
  walking/biking for groceries school
  restaurants libraries etc.
• Familiarity safety and affordability (spurring
  civic participation)
• Active participation in sports (kids involved)
• Access and training in regards to health foods
  grown locally or at home
• Celebrate/ build cultures of sharing food and
  integrated nutrition programs
• Organized recreation
• Engaged youth and creation of space for
  meaningful youth engagement
• There is time built into all our lives for
  physical activity cooking eating (not on the
  run)
• Safe natural spaces in the city for unstructured
  play and active exploration.
• Making available to the community events
  activities physical environments and other
  resources to facilitate and encourage people
  taking steps to improve their health.
• Walkable healthy local groceries parks art
  fun
• Support changes that create time to enjoy food
  and fun with others.

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KCFFI Vision from LC (page 2 of 2)

• Strong communities
• Connected communities
• Connected over food and gardening or other
  activities (physical activities)
• Community ownership over initiative
• Walkable communities
• Safe and friendly streets
• Destinations that are community oriented linked
  by safe corridors
• Physical economic structure in our communities
  model solutions to big economic environmental
  resources challenges facing us into the future.
• Strong connections between vital and vibrant
  rural communitieswhere food is grownand
  urban/suburban communities.
• Affordable prices and access to fresh food as a
  social justice issue.
• Food gardens abound
• Schools offer all students healthy foods and PE
  everyday.
• People have equitable access and interest in
  healthy food and physical activity no matter
  their color language shape or size.
• Sustainable economic development in all areas of
  food supply and production to create neighborhood
  jobs to grow local jobs.
• Organized recreational and nutritional activities
  for all ages a physically active community.
• Partnering with community organizations to
  integrate programs and provide resources
• Organized youth leagues healthy snacks
• Organized senior activities
• Organized park/trail activities

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Mental Models (1 of 2)

• Example 1
• Food Food purchasers and consumers believe that
  local healthy food impacts their health benefits
  the local economy and is more valuable
  therefore they are willing to commit more of
  their resources to find and use local healthy
  food
• Example 2
• Built Environment Families and people of all
  ages believe daily physical activity is necessary
  for their health and well-being therefore they
  will prioritize their time and take advantage of
  our places and spaces for physical activity and
  play.
• SCHOOLS
• Schools and teachers recognize that healthy food
  and ample physical activity are crucial to the
  physical emotional and mental health of
  children and help create a positive learning
  environment Therefore they will ensure that
  fresh local foods and ample opportunities for
  physical activity and play as well as education
  recognizing their importance are readily
  available.
• YOUTH
• Youth of all cultures believe that they will have
  a key role in creating and sustaining positive
  community culture by supporting their belief that
  eating healthy local foods engaging in daily
  physical activity is key in creating a long
  fulfilling life Therefore they will participate
  in planning activities which promote these
  beliefs.
• COMMUNITY MEMBERS
• We believe that families and community members in
  White Center already desire healthy and safe
  activities for people of all ages therefore they
  will provide input and engage in a
  decision-making process that will help them
  prioritize time for these activities.

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Mental Models (2 of 2)

• ELECTED OFFICIALS
• I Vision Walkable Communities
• Walkable communities are essential for climate
  protection healthy neighborhoods a better
  transportation system and healthy local
  economies. Therefore we are willing to fund
  bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and change
  policy for transportation and land use to support
  walkable communities.
• II Vision Organized Recreational Activities
• I believe organized recreation builds community
  involvement gives youth a strong tool to succeed
  in school and after school helps seniors stay
  active longer and brings cultures together.
  Therefore we will support funding for programs
  and continue to provide maintenance and staffing
  for facilities.
• BUSINESS
• Business are active in community and responsive
  to community needs and are driven by sustainable
  and ethical methods. Therefore businesses follow
  a model that recognizes how business themselves
  benefit the communitynot just how they benefit
  from the community (monetarily ).
• COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
• Community Organizations believe that they are
  more effective when brainstorming and engaging
  county stakeholders. Therefore we will grow our
  network to increase access/awareness/affordability
  of good food a healthy lifestyle.
• REGULATORY AGENCIES
• Regulatory agencies recognize and promote the
  connection between health and safety as they
  relate to our food system and built environment.
  Therefore the legislation put for by the
  agencies reflect a whole community health
  perspective and address social equity.

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KCFFI Vision Deployment Matrix
Increasing Leverage
The Vision Deployment Matrix offers a schema for
strategically planning how to cross the chasm
between current reality and vision by painting a
comprehensive picture of the desired future
reality and current reality at five levels of
perspective. The Vision Deployment Matrix is
meant to help everyone in the organization
understand the current reality the desired
future reality the gaps between the tow and the
actions that should be take to close the gaps.
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Expanded Definitions

• Events Specifically identifiable occurrences
  such as late delivery of an order.
• Patterns of Behavior Over Time Trends or changes
  in things over time.
• Systemic Structure Organizational charts
  information systems policies and procedures
  and other kinds of infrastructure.
• Mental Models Deeply held theories of how the
  world works.
• Vision Essence or image of desired future.

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1. Possible Desired FutureFor each level of
perspective ask questions that clarify your
desired future reality. Start with Vision and
move down.
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2. Describe Current Reality Start with Events
and move up.
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3. Identify gaps (or challenges) between desired
future and current reality.
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4. Formulate action steps that would help to
close the gaps.
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5. Establish progress indicators and define
appropriate time frames during which to expect
progress.
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W.K. Kellogg Foundation Food Fitness
Initiative Creating a Community Action Plan The
goal of the Food Fitness Initiative is to
create vibrant communities that support equitable
access to locally grown affordable healthy
food and safe and inviting places for physical
activity and play. Accomplishing this vision
requires a focus on policy and system changes and
changes in custom and practice. Each community
is responsible for one deliverable at the end of
the two-year planning phase A Community Action
Plan to achieve its vision for the Food Fitness
Initiative.