Simple Social Change Principles

Many social issues have attracted time, money and energy. The big issues today seem to Darfur, the war in Iraq, the tensions between the United States and Iran, and global climate change. Regardless of the issues in question there is an obvious need to make efficient and effective use of time, money, and other resources. Social activism, social change, and nonprofit management can benefit from following a plan to take effective action. This article spells out eight simple activism principles, principles that could be applied to general nonprofit management issues.

Exploring Your Challenge - Asking good questions is always a sensible place to start when addressing any social change challenge.

Stealing Ideas - Activists, nonprofit managers, and social entrepreneurs could make a plan to find and steal ideas that appear to be a good fit for the goal and social environment

Problem Analysis - Make a list of problems that your group or organization is facing.

Brainstorming - Define a problem area where you want new ideas. Define an area where you want to exploit an opportunity and need a new idea.

Design Thinking - Consider the areas, techniques and values that relate to your organization’s goals.

Decision Analysis - What sorts of decisions will need to be made as the organization’s plans progress, as the program continues, as the policy is implemented?

Evaluating Ideas - The time to decide what counts as a good idea comes before you need to implement the idea.

Selling Ideas - Depending on the organization’s purpose this may or may not seem important. It is important.

Chester Davis is a sociologist (Ph.D., 1999) and the author of The Creative Activism Guide. You can learn more about Dr. Davis and his ideas at http://www.chesterdavis.net