By Margaret Wheatley and Deborah Frieze
2. Deborah Frieze (biography)
How can people turn a common cause and vision of what’s possible into change? Can networks and communities of practice turn into systems of influence? How can we best prepare conditions for emergence of systems of influence?
We propose a three-stage lifecycle model of emergence and change, moving from networks to communities of practice to systems of influence.
Stage One: Networks
Networks are essential for people finding like-minded others, the first stage in the lifecycle of emergence and change. It’s important to note that networks are only the beginning. They are based on self-interest: people usually network together for their own benefit and to develop their own work.