Evaluating the Effective Use of Guiding Principles for Transformative Online Collaboration in the Transformation Systems Mapping and Analysis Working Group

Abstract

This paper explains the effective use of guiding principles to foster transformative online collaboration (TOC). TOC describes the ability of an online network to collaborate with a vision of creating and mapping planetary well-being, ecological sustainability, and social equity, in an emergent and open-hearted way. The network research is conducted in the Transformation Systems Mapping and Analysis Working Group (TSM&A WG). The study triangulation includes focus group discussions, interviews, and a social system map analysis of the network. The evaluation is done with the GUIDE framework regarding the principle's guidance, usability, inspiration, development, and evaluation. The behavior approach for TOC roots in concepts like Theory-U and Spiral Dynamics.The results show the critical importance of shared principles and their enactment for safe and open collaboration. They facilitate deeper online collaboration in the field of Transformation-Systems (T-Systems). Findings further include the future development of the members' value framework and ways to enact and integrate the principles in the network. Supported by literature, the principles are evaluated for change and modification. The paper offers a complete set of guiding principles for TOC, created after adopting new overarching and operational values. Further, the study proposes and discusses new implementation practices to enhance the members' principle embodiment for TOC.