Exploring and Establishing Sustainable Governance Models for Network-Based Pluralistic Communities

As we move further into the space of network-based pluralistic communities, more resources and research is needed to help these communities thrive. Governance isn’t simply about voting, it’s a tool that communities are able to use to build and shape the future of their ecosystem.

While there are varying governance systems and structures out there, a lack of thoughtful engagement, context, and bias can plague them. Not because people are inherently trying to do something bad, but because we are all driven by our own value system, largely based on our individual experiences and when working within a global, pluralistic community, it is inevitable that at some point these things will clash.

We want to explore this topic on a broader web3 governance level and intend to use our own community, the GreenPill Network to help experiment with the implementation of these findings.

GreenPill is building a CoordiNation across Nations and Cultures and this requires intentional and thoughtful governance practices that respect differing cultures, ideas, needs, and focuses.

Objectives:

To study existing governance models used by pluralistic, network-based communities.

To analyze the effectiveness of these models in ensuring participatory decision-making, financial transparency, and value alignment.

To develop a Minimum Viable Governance (MVG) model that is adaptable to the diverse needs of network societies.

Currently, most systems available for these communities are written forums, are there other medians in which we could participate in the governance process?

Literature Review:

Summarize key findings from existing literature on governance models in decentralized and network-based organizations.

Discuss theories and practices in community governance, focusing on pluralism, participatory decision-making, and distributed leadership.

Methodology:

Qualitative Research: Conduct interviews and focus groups with leaders and members of various network societies.

Case Studies:

Analyze in-depth case studies of successful network communities to understand their governance structures.

Comparative Analysis:

Compare and contrast different governance models to identify best practices and areas for improvement.

Data Collection:

Identify and reach out to network societies similar to GreenPill Network. Develop interview guides and questionnaires focusing on governance challenges and solutions.

Desired Outcomes:

A comprehensive report detailing existing governance models, their strengths, weaknesses, and applicability to network societies.

A proposed Minimum Viable Governance model that includes guidelines for decision-making processes, fund management, and maintaining community values.

This research project is being conducted by Sejal Rekhan and Lana Dingwall who are a part of The GreenPill Network, and other web3 communities, DAOs and networks. They have participated in SeedClub and other web3 governance and community-focused groups.