Title: KCFFI Organizational Learning and Systems Thinking May 78, 2008
1KCFFI Organizational Learning and Systems
Thinking May 7-8 2008
2Core 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
3Core Theory of Success
S
QUALITY OF RELATIONSHIPS
S
QUALITY OF COLLECTIVE THINKING
R
QUALITY OF RESULTS
S
QUALITY OF ACTIONS
S
4 Hierarchy of Choices
OTHER CHOICES
TERTIARY CHOICES
SECONDARY CHOICES
PRIMARY CHOICE
FUNDAMENTAL CHOICE
Kim Daniel H. (2002). Foresight as the Central
Ethic of Leadership
5KCFFI 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.
6Whats 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
7KCFFI 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)
8KCFFI 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)
9Concepts 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.
10KCFFI 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
11Mental 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.
12Mental 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.
13KCFFI 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.
14Expanded 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.
151. Possible Desired FutureFor each level of
perspective ask questions that clarify your
desired future reality. Start with Vision and
move down.
162. Describe Current Reality Start with Events
and move up.
173. Identify gaps (or challenges) between desired
future and current reality.
184. Formulate action steps that would help to
close the gaps.
195. Establish progress indicators and define
appropriate time frames during which to expect
progress.
20W.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.