A key operational practice at the Exchange is emergent action. In brief, this means that guided by our mission and shared values, the substance of our work evolves naturally over time as we collectively see how we can be effective and respond to what new challenges arise in real-time.
In this spirit, we held a series of member focus groups last month to hear directly from members about their experience with the Exchange. We were particularly interested in hearing about how members experience value as part of our organization, and where they see opportunities for growth and improvement. We also wanted to identify specific areas to explore with the larger membership via the upcoming member survey. We enlisted the help of an external consultant, Dr. Lauren Mullenbach of People & Planet Consulting, to facilitate the discussions and identify emergent themes.
How members experience value
Participants expressed widespread appreciation for what the Exchange has to offer, particularly in terms of the connections with other members and the associated access to a wealth of knowledge and experience. Here are some of the specific benefits members cited:
- The ability to engage with peers to ask questions, discuss challenges, collaborate, and generate new ideas.
- The opportunity to build community with other professionals and feel a sense of belonging in the field of green infrastructure and even cultivate passion and motivation for the work.
- Access to professional resources, including the Learning Circles, webinars, the Equity Guide, and the GSI Impact Hub.
- The opportunity to be part of an organization that is elevating the field of GSI and influencing other organizations.
Opportunities for growth and improvement
We asked about gaps in Exchange offerings and recommendations for the future. Participants identified several potential growth areas for the organization, including:
- Our online community platform – in particular, a desire for greater engagement and utilization of the platform’s functionality, including member profiles, discussion boards, and a searchable expertise directory
- User experience of online resources – in particular, a desire to make access/navigation easier and to clarify connections between resources and the Learning Circles, Framework of Practice, etc.
- Member communications – in particular, a desire for more streamlined communications, with a focus on quality over quantity
How the focus groups will inform the upcoming member survey
Some participants offered suggestions for specific survey questions, which were recorded and will be considered for inclusion. More broadly, the focus group conversations illuminated topics for further exploration – including the growth areas outlined above – which we can now poll across the whole Exchange membership via the survey.
On behalf of the Exchange staff and Board of Directors, we want to thank those members who participated in the recent focus groups. And we invite all members to stay tuned for the survey, to be released in September. We hope you’ll take the time to share your candid perspectives and continue to help shape the work ahead!
