Seed Scale

SEED-SCALE (self-evaluation for effective decision-making & system for communities to adapt learning and expand) is a universal process that identifies and/or creates locally applicable methodologies in order to shape community momentum to fit local economies, ecologies, and values. Now, however, the words themselves are used to describe the process as starting with a "seed" of human energy, an event that the community sees as a success, and growing that seed to "scale" so that benefits expand to more people and quality of life improves.
Four underlying principles
SEED-SCALE is based on four principles:
# Build from success - find what is working and always strengthen that as opposed to chasing one problem after the next.
# Three-way partnerhips - to get bottom-up growth, use whatever top-down enabling environment exists, and utilize the support and skills from outside-in support mechanisms such as new education and learning.
# Evidence-based decisions - the best way to bridge community factions is to build from locally gathered and applicable facts and evidence.
# Behavior change - the improvement option that is available to all people regardless of their financial resources.
Five key-indicators for assessment
Equity - Criterion #1 "All Moving Forward Together"
- Equity creates momentum where all see value in the process.
- Lacking equity, a portion of the community will work against the change process.
- Each member reinforces/supports the activities of each other.
- Relationships are strengthening, and with that community momentum.
Sustainability - Criterion #2 "Will Change Last?"
Three ways to assess sustainability:
* Economic: Are financial resources available?
* Ecologic: Is change depleting natural resources?
* Values: Is culture changing in ways not desired?
Community change will ultimately stop unless all three forms of sustainability are being met.
Holism - Criterion #3 "Is Momentum Balanced?"
Is the change momentum balanced?
* education, health, income, leisure, food security, etc.
* balanced change reinforces each other
* rising knowledge improves health
* health improves capacity to earn money
* rising income allows better housing
* housing improves leisure and family security
Interdependence - Criterion #4 "Avoid Dependency"
Community relations are ideal where:
* both sides benefit
* there are multiple such relationships
* communities that lack options become dependent and see their change controlled by others
* global forces are unpredictable and inevitably disrupt social linkages
* it is essential is to constantly develop new relationships
Iteration - Criterion #5 "Get Job Done, Next Time do Better"
- Do what can be completed, learn, then improve.
- The objective is on-going growth.
- Tasks should not be simply repeated, but each time the task should improve
- Creating progress is completing the task
- Partially completed tasks do not give returns, no matter how excellent that part was done
Seven tasks for action
1. Create a local coordinating committee
2. Identify local successes
7. Mid-course corrections to strengthen four principles
3. Study successes elsewhere
4. Gather local evidence
5. Action plan
6. Implement action plan

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