In an effort to provide additional support to those who are passionate about community innovation, Bush Foundation and Wilder Research worked together to compile Community Innovation Tools & Resources. Our hope is that these tools and resources help you engage in new and deeper ways with your work and meaningfully contribute to your organizational evaluation and learning. We chose these tools after talking with Community Innovation grantees and applicants regarding helpful tools for their work, and after reviewing a number of publicly available tools and resources for community innovation. You will find the following tools and resources:
This questionnaire can help your group inventory its strengths on the factors that research has shown are important for the
success of collaborative projects. The questionnaire is designed for use by people who are planning or participating in
collaborative projects.
There are no right or wrong answers. Your opinion is important, even if it is very different from the opinions of others.
When your group sees the results, you all will learn how people feel – whether they all feel the same or different about the
questions. Your answers will not be associated with your name and will be grouped with the answers of others.
Instructions
Please follow the instructions exactly.
Read each item.
Circle the number that indicates how much you agree or disagree with each item.
Do not skip any items.
Return your inventory as instructed by your group leader / facilitator.
Special Instructions
“Don’t Know” – If you feel you don’t know how to answer an item, or that you don’t have an opinion, circle the “neutral”
response (3).
Opinion falls “in between two numbers” -- If you feel that your opinion lies in between two numbers, pick the lower of the
two. Do not put a mark in between the two numbers; and do not circle both of them. For example, if you feel that your
opinion lies between 1 and 2, circle 1.
History of collaboration or cooperation in the community
Agencies in our community have a history of working together
Agencies in our community have a history of working together
Collaborative group seen as a legitimate leader in the community
Leaders in this community who are not part of our collaborative group seem hopeful about what we can accomplish.
Others (in this community) who are not a part of this collaboration would generally agree that the organizations involved in this collaborative project are the “right” organizations to make this work.
Favorable political and social climate
The political and social climate seems to be “right” for starting a collaborative project like this one.
The time is right for this collaborative project.
Mutual respect, understanding, and trust
People involved in our collaboration always trust one another.
I have a lot of respect for the other people involved in this collaboration.
Appropriate cross section of members
The people involved in our collaboration represent a cross section of those who have a stake in what we are trying to accomplish.
All the organizations that we need to be members of this collaborative group have become members of the group.
Members see collaboration as in their self-interest
My organization will benefit from being involved in this collaboration.
Ability to compromise
People involved in our collaboration are willing to compromise on important aspects of our project.
Members share a stake in both process and outcome
The organizations that belong to our collaborative group invest the right amount of time in our collaborative efforts.
Everyone who is a member of our collaborative group wants this project to succeed.
The level of commitment among the collaboration participants is high.
Multiple layers of participation
When the collaborative group makes major decisions, there is always enough time for members to take information back to their
organizations to confer with colleagues about what the decision should be.
Each of the people who participate in decisions in this collaborative group can speak for the entire organization they represent, not
just a part.
Flexibility
There is a lot of flexibility when decisions are made; people are open to discussing different options.
People in this collaborative group are open to different approaches to how we can do our work. They are willing to consider different ways of working.
Development of clear roles and policy guidelines
People in this collaborative group have a clear sense of their roles and responsibilities.
There is a clear process for making decisions among the partners in this collaboration.
Adaptability
This collaboration is able to adapt to changing conditions, such as fewer funds than expected, changing political climate, or change in leadership.
This group has the ability to survive even if it had to make major changes in its plans or add some new members in order to reach its goals.
Appropriate pace of development
This collaborative group has tried to take on the right amount of work at the right pace.
We are currently able to keep up with the work necessary to coordinate all the people, organizations, and activities related to this collaborative project.
Open and frequent communication
People in this collaboration communicate openly with one another.
I am informed as often as I should be about what goes on in the collaboration.
The people who lead this collaborative group communicate well with the members.
Established informal relationships and communication links
Communication among the people in this collaborative group happens both at formal meetings and in informal ways.
I personally have informal conversations about the project with others who are involved in this collaborative group.
Concrete, attainable goals and objectives
I have a clear understanding of what our collaboration is trying to accomplish.
People in our collaborative group know and understand our goals.
People in our collaborative group have established reasonable goals.
Shared vision
The people in this collaborative group are dedicated to the idea that we can make this project work.
My ideas about what we want to accomplish with this collaboration seem to be the same as the ideas of others.
Unique purpose
What we are trying to accomplish with our collaborative project would be difficult for any single organization to accomplish by itself.
No other organization in the community is trying to do exactly what we are trying to do.
Sufficient funds, staff, materials, and time
Our collaborative group has adequate funds to do what it wants to accomplish.
Our collaborative group has adequate “people power” to do what it wants to accomplish.
Skilled leadership
The people in leadership positions for this collaboration have good skills for working with other people and organizations.
