What's Being Done On . . . Effective Networking?

Main List of Network Profiles Survey Results Sample Survey Women's Learning Partnership for Rights, Development, and Peace, Interview with Mahnaz Afkhami, President and CEO. African Democracy Forum, Interview with Hannah Forster, Chair. Graðansko Organizovanje Za Demokratiju (GROZD)/Citizens' Organization for Democracy, Interview with Milan Mrdja, Program Manager. CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Interview with staff. Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption, Interview with John Williams, Founder and Current Chair.

SAMPLE: SURVEY WAS COMPLETED

Survey on Effective Networking

1. In approximately how many networks are you and/or your organization involved?
Global ___
Regional ___
National ___
Local ___

2. Generally speaking, how did you learn about those networks?
___ Internet search
___ Colleague or friend
___ Formal invitation to join
___We helped launch it ourselves
___Other. Please explain:

3. Generally speaking, what were your two or three primary motives for joining a network?

4. Thinking about the one or two networks from which you have gained the most in pursuing your work, what have been the main advantages of being a member? How has the network been of most help to you?

5. From your experience participating in networks, are there goals or objectives of your organization that are better carried out within a network than independently? Are there any goals or objectives that could be achieved only within a network?

6. Are there ways in which being part of a network hinders or obstructs your efforts to achieve certain goals or objectives?

7. To what extent do you find that being part of a network helps attract attention to the issues on which your organization focuses? How does networking help do that?

8. Do you attend network meetings? If so,how often?
___Less than once a year
___Once a year
___Twice a year
___Every month
___More than once a month

9. Generally speaking, would you prefer that such meetings take place . . .
___Less often
___More often
___As often as they do now, or
___Not at all?

10. What do you most hope to achieve in network meetings?

11. Reflecting on your experience with networks, which are your preferred means of communication (indicate 1 for most preferred; 6 for least preferred):
___ Meetings
___ Printed newsletters
___ Electronic (e-mailed) newsletters
___ Discussion (e-mail) listservs
___ Web site forum
___ Other. Please describe:

12. If you have experience with both formal and informal networks, what do you see as the advantages and disadvantages of each?

13. If you have joined a network that, in your judgment, turned out to be a failure, can you tell us why you think it failed and what you think would have helped it succeed?

14. If you could create a new network that you believe would help further the work of your organization, what would be the main ingredients that would make it successful for your work and that of the other members? If you wish to provide the names of networks that might serve as good models to others, whether your organization is a member or not, please feel free to list them below.

Thank you very much for taking time to complete this survey.