Building Sustainable Communities through Network Building Source

Building Sustainable Communities through Network Building Source: www.orgnet.com Author: Valdis Krebs and June Holley More Information: http://www.orgnet.com/BuildingNetworks.pdf Newtork Diagram Communities are built on connections. Better connections usually provide better opportunities. But, what are better connections, and how do they lead to more effective and productive communities? How do we build connected communities that create, or take advantage of, opportunities in their region or marketplace? How does success emerge from the complex interactions within and between communities? This paper investigates building sustainable communities through improving their interactions – internally and externally – using network ties to create economic opportunities. Improved connectivity is created through an iterative process of knowing the network and knitting the network. Improved connectivity starts with a map – knowing the complex human system you are embedded in. The Appalachian Center for Economic Networks [ACEnet], a regional economic development organization in Athens, Ohio has long followed the connectivity mantra – create effective networks for individual, group and regional growth and vitality. Recently ACEnet has begun to map and measure the emergent social and economic connections in the grassroots food industry in this region of Appalachia. Network maps provide a revealing snapshot of a business ecosystem at a particular point in time. These maps can help answer many key questions in the community building process. Barr Foundation | Resources | Building Sustainable Communities through Network Building (30 May 2009) http://www.barrfoundation.org/resources/resources_show.htm?doc_id=256264 http://snipurl.com/j3qwn

A request for help from the engineers

I’ve re-posted an article about coherence at the bbc website, which I think contains some interesting ideas about the logic used in creating a network of data that has relevance and accessibility beyond the immediate network.  However, my limited knowledge of some of the terms and technologies referred to means I don’t really understand what is going on.

It would be really useful if some of the participants with engineering, software development, web development backgrounds would be able to give us a quick ‘idiot’s guide’ to the principles that are being discussed and clarify some of the terminology.

I’m specifically thinking of:

• TBL’s four principles for Linked Data
• RDF
• Domain Driven Design
• Linked Data Approach
• Linking Open Data community

I suspect that we would be wise to at least consider some of the principles advanced in the article as we apply ourselves to the question of how we design the logic that informs the exchange of communications in our Network Model.

So… who’s got their hand up?

Opening Gambit: A Challenge…

A challenge to you all…

We meet in nine days to develop a model.

We have only one day together to achieve this goal…

How much discussion and momentum can we generate between now and then…?

Go!

Esko