Replication
Social replication is repeated or simultaneous operation of a social model – a program, initiative, organization, service, social business. A prototype usually precedes the replication, and the replicated factors are derived from this.
Social replication can be performed in a variety of ways:
1. Replication within the units of an organization.
2. The establishment of expansion of a network.
3. Awarding a “license” for operation
4. Adopting the social model as a pilot for development
5. Viral replication
The Israeli Social Model’s core skills are social replication.
The association deal in social replication in Israel and abroad. We deal in social replication of social successes and in the promotion of replication. The more the “market” for Israeli social export expands, the better the replication and social influence . will become.
More on social replication:
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Social Replication – summary of the lecture given by Nir Sarig at the conference on Social Entrepreneurship: Innovative Leveraging for Social Change
Social replication is a repeated or simultaneous action for a social model - a program, initiative, organization, service, social business. A prototype usually precedes the replication, and the replicated factors are derived from this.
Social replication can be performed in a variety of ways:
Replication within the units of an organization, for example adopting a framework unit model for a government office, such as regional units of the Ministry for Environmental Protection, schools, welfare bureaus or sub-units in social organizations such as branches of the Enosh association, youth movements, cultural centers and the like.
The establishment of expansion of a network – for example, establishing a network of youth centers, expanding the Zofim youth movement to act abroad, establishing a leadership for Zabar groups in Jewish communities in the United States.
Awarding a “license” for operation – for example, the International Youth Award program.
Adopting the social model – a social organization adopts a social model through cooperation with another organization, and assimilates this as a pilot for development- for example, the Perah program in Sweden. Elem’s night mobile coffee house.
Viral replication – initiative by mimic or inspiration. Entrepreneurs or organizations are exposed to a certain model, and independently operate their own versions of these. For example, “parent patrols” in neighborhoods, soup kitchens, action committees for environmental protection. A number of social bodies, branches opening in a number of locations.
The Israeli Social Model’s core skills are social replication.
The association deal in social replication in Israel and abroad. In Israel we deal in social replication of social successes and in the promotion of social replication.
Replication and Sustainable Social Change
(Summary of lecture given by Nir Sarig at the conference on Social Entrepreneurship: Innovative Leverage for Social Change)
As part of the attempt to promote effectiveness of social initiatives, one must differentiate between initiatives that are aimed at “social assistance” and those that are aimed at “sustainable social change”.
I would like to claim that a central part of the potential for social change involves the entrepreneur’s ability for social scaling. In many cases, social change requires a quantitative, and not only a qualitative, effect. It is not enough that we have a good idea, or even a successful pilot. It takes place when we succeed in replicating or duplicating the success enough times. Social change happens when we succeed in creating a “critical mass”.
I will try to explain this through a metaphor.
Imagine the following: a large stone is blooding the opening to a spring. One person pushes the stone, and it doesn’t move. More and more people join him. Still no luck. When the 99th person joins, the stone starts to rock. One more person joins, and only then does the stone roll off and water starts to flow out.
From the point of view of the desired change (free flow of water), all 99 people are superfluous, until the 100th joins them.
From the point of view of social change, without the “critical mass”, the projects effectiveness is zero.
Over the last decade we have been witness to social initiatives that have succeeded in causing significant social change: “City of Education”, “Rights’ Center”, “Pre-Military Academy”, “Centers for Victims of Sexual Assault”, “Green Light”, these have caused, and still cause, social change, only when they are sufficiently replicated.
The question we must as is: how do we identify a replicable social initiative?
In my opinion, there are a number of characteristics to social replicability, and I will mention a few:
- Need – the initiative is a continuing and significant need, beyond the time and moment in which it was born.
- Response – the response must be implementable and effective, even in changing conditions and states.
- Model dependent initiative – the initiative must be a clear action model that is not dependant on the personality of a particular person.
- Simplicity – the basic action model must be simple, using the KISS ‘keep it simple stupid’ principal.
- Sustainable organization – the organization having the initiative must have organizational strengths which allow it to bear the burden of replication, or alternatively, needs partners who can take the task upon themselves.
- Knowledge management – the initiative must be documented and well worded.
- Strategic thinking – the directors of the initiative must have the ability to see and understand the strategic and overall-system significance of the initiative, and not only its operational side.
- Sustainable initiative – the initiative must be efficient, from the point of view of expenses, and in particular, from the point of view of sources of funding.
- Partnerships – the initiative combines and crates a network of partners of interested parties, through whom it becomes more expert, increases the resources at its disposal and overcomes obstacles.
Great amounts of thought, talent and resources are invested in social initiatives today, very little is invested in the distribution of its “products”. Social foundations have over the years funded hundreds of successful social programs, few of which have broken out beyond the time and place of their birth.
The assumption that any successful pilot can expand has over time proven to be unrealistic.
When we desire to realize the potential of social change which can be found in social initiative, we must develop the capacity of replicability. In cases where this does not suffice, we must invest the resources needed for development.
Beyond this, we must find or create platforms allowing or supporting replicability of successful social models.
Other articles on the subject of replicability:
Models of Social Replication in Israel
Network of Elem Youth in Distress association’s coffee centers:
Yedid rights’ centers
http://www.yedid.org.il/?id=3226
Paamonim’s workshops and lectures
Community gardens in Jerusalem, the Society for Protection of Nature and Jerusalem Municipality:
Hila youth promotion program
Supporting Community run by Eshel Joint Israel and Welfare Departments in local authorities:
Adopt a Class – Etgarim:
We Made a Deal Program Zionism 2000
Partnership 2000 of the Jewish Agency:
Opening the Future Program – Jewish Agency
AMAN Program, run by Joint Israel and the Ministry of Education
