Tips to question 1 – Positioning the network in the cycle.
– How old is the network? (low age – trend towards early phase of lifecycle).
– Have routines for interaction in the network been established? (maturation).
– Does the network have one or more specific objectives? (without specific objectives – still in a formative phase).
– Are new members and new activities added continuously? (growth phase).
– Is the activity tapering off? is the same number of people showing up to network meetings? may it be necessary to inject new energy? (restructuring new growth).
– See also the Toyota example on the previous page.
Source
This exercise can be found on page 25 “Toolbox 2.0 for Strategic Leadership of Innovative Networks”. You can download a PDF version of the toolbox here.
Exercise
Figure 8. Lifecycle phase.Exercise 1: Getting started with the Lifecycle tool
1. Try to position the network in question in the figure above.
2. What measure of intensity is especially important for you? (Value creation, number of participants in the meeting places, number of members, number of innovations, or something else?).
3. What is the development trend for the selected objective historically over some time? Do you see any signs of danger?
4. Should the network continue? Use the tool “hedgehog concept” to do an assessment.
5. Try to decide on specific values for the objectives based on question 2, thinking 3–5 years ahead.
6. Are you able to prioritize the objectives?
7. What key activities do you think will be added in the next phase in order to reach the objectives?
8. Is there any of the six elements in the tool “functional analysis” you would prioritize above others in the next phase?
9. What should be done by whom in the next phase?
