Comments to: crs@uvm.eduReviewed as of 4/20/98
THIS DOCUMENT WAS PRODUCED BY THE NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL LEADERSHIP
PROGRAM. IT IS POSTED BY THE CENTER FOR RURAL STUDIES FOR PUBLIC
USE. THE CENTER FOR RURAL STUDIES ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR
THE CONTENTS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, REFER TO THE USERS GUIDE.
EXERCISE 3
A Strategy for Creating Change in the Community
Marlene Wilson, drawing on work by James and Marguerite Craig,
suggests four steps involved in bringing about change in a
community or an organization (and even families):
l) Identify things as they really are.
2) Project things as they might or should be.
3) Share the vision with others so that it comes alive
for them as well.
4) Carefully develop a strategy how to get from "how
things are" to "how they might be," building bridges and
implementing strategies of change.
Working with a partner, or in a team, you may wish to use the
following workbook for creating a strategy for change in the
community. You might wish to start by checking out your attitudes
about change on the quick worksheet that follows. Another way to
prepare for community change is to use Howard McClusky's Power/Load
= Margin Theory. Finally, use the Bringing About Change worksheet
to think through change in your community. An alternative
worksheet, from New Director's Workbook by Jaffe, Orioli, and Scott
is also included.
[Missing: "How do you feel about change?" worksheet]
ADULT LOAD, POWER, AND MARGIN
The key factors of adult life, as defined by Howard McClusky, are
the load the adult carries in living, and the power that is
available to carry the load. Margin is the ratio between load and
power.
power/load = margin
This formula clearly suggests that the greater the power in
relation to the load, the more margin will be available. A margin
of 1.0 is just breaking even, less than 1.0 is a crisis, and more
than 1.0 provides a margin to meet the emergencies of life and
engage in learning.
(McClusky has also presented the formula in reverse with the load
as the numerator and power as the denominator. In this conception,
a ratio of close to 1.0 represents the verge of breakdown, but a
ratio of .50 to .80 represents a margin of life space in which to
maneuver.)
DEFINITION OF TERMS
> Load Factors
External--tasks involved in usual requirements of living such as
those connected with family, work, civic obligations, etc.
Internal--expectations set by the individual for him- or herself.
> Power Factors
Physical--strength, stamina, energy, health
Social--ability to relate to others
Mental--ability to think, reason
Economic--money, position, influence
Skills--what the individual knows how to do
> Margin
þ The load-power ratio changes and adjusts throughout the adult
years with changes in any of the power or load factors.
þ That person has the most margin who perceives a power of choice
over a range of relevant alternatives.
þ More margin can be gained by decreasing load or by increasing
power.
þ Margin is reduced by decreasing power (such as loss of income) or
by increasing load (enrolling in an adult education class).
ADULT EXPERIENCE
Application Worksheet
My Load, Power, and Margin
My Load Factors My Power Factors
Obligations and responsibilities
Physical:
_________________________________
____________________________
_________________________________
____________________________
_________________________________ Social:
_________________________________
____________________________
_________________________________
____________________________
_________________________________ Mental:
_________________________________
____________________________
Expectations and Goals:
____________________________
_________________________________ Economic:
_________________________________
____________________________
_________________________________
____________________________
_________________________________ Skills:
_________________________________
__________________________
_________________________________
__________________________
> My Margin:
Does power exceed load?
Are there ways I could increase my power?
Are there ways I could decrease my load?
BRINGING ABOUT CHANGE WORKSHEET
(Adapted from Wilson & Boyce)
1. Describe the situation as it really is: What is the problem?
What is my part in the problem? Who else is involved? What forces
are blocking change?
2. Describe the situation as you envision it "after changes" have
taken place: What would I like to be doing? What outcomes would I
like to see occur? How would others be relating?
3. Can I state the desired outcome as an affirmation? Can I make
a simple, positive statement describing the situation after the
change?
4. Who are the key actors in all of this? Who must be involved in
the change, who is in a position to block change? What is the
source of their power? What are the sources of influence/power I
have?
Key actor Source of Relation to Relation to Sources of power
their power problem me available to me
5. What are the strategies for achieving the change? What will the
people do (above) if I am successful in my attempt to influence
them? What are the forces supporting change? What will prevent me
from proceeding?
> My action steps to achieve change:
What must I do?
Costs?/Benefits? When?
> Actions others (key actors) must take to achieve change:
Who?
What?
Costs?/Benefits? When?
6. What is my strategy for influencing the key actors noted above?
7. How will we know if we have been successful? What is my "pay
off?" What's in it for the others?
8. What if we fail? What if the change does not occur? What
happens to me? What happens to others?
9. What are the obstacles to success? Where might the plans go
awry?
10. What can I do now to overcome or minimize these obstacles?
11. Knowing what I know now, having thought all this through, is it
still worth it? How important is this change anyway?
Comments to: crs@uvm.edu
Reviewed as of 4/20/98