Tangible Values-Sustainable Behaviour Research Group

DESIGNED ACTIVITIES

Making Values Tangible: for Evaluation and Transformation

Keywords: tangible values// spiritual values// spiritual capital //

Funded by: Hong Kong University and the Hong Kong Jockey Club

Key team members: MKH; EMH

Funding period: December 2013; Jan 2015

Key Contributions specifically to the WeValue Platform Knowledge:

This project belongs to Prof David Palmer in the Department of Sociology, HKU. Within that project about Spiritual Capital was a need for an approach which could assist groups to identify and make tangible their shared values of that nature. Although it was already known that WeValue could do this, generally speaking, the process was not standardized at that time, and in particular it was not known which elements of the process were essential, and which were carrying out other functions such as making it more fun. It was also necessary for the Facilitators to be able to deal with new groups every day, and to run the WeValue processes in much less time periods than previously (i.e. less than 3 hours!). There was also a strand of work to train up interested participants to understand the WeValue process, which required the team to work much harder than usual at codifying and clarifying the various steps for themselves. Overall, this project provided an intensive period for the team to learn how to conceptualise WeValue enough to communicate for advertising, teaching, and summarising into slides and booklets, the different aspects. It was therefore a very intensive period of reflection, meaning-making, discussions and communication within and out of the team.

Relevant papers published: There were no publications directly involving the WeValue work in this project.

Formal Project websites

Spiritual Capital in the Third Sector Project – Making Values Tangible: For Evaluation and Transformation | ExCEL3

https://www.socsc.hku.hk/ExCEL3/spiritual-capital-in-the-third-sector-project-making-values-tangible-for-evaluation-and-transformation/

Spiritual Capital | ExCEL3 https://www.socsc.hku.hk/ExCEL3/portfolio/spiritual_capital/#tab-tab-2-title

精神資本 | ExCEL3

https://www.socsc.hku.hk/ExCEL3/portfolio/spiritual-values/?lang=zh#tab-tab-2-title

Formal Project purpose:

The formal project consisted of two subprojects set up and led by Prof. Palmer of HKU under the EXCEL#3 Program.

The WeValue InSitu work was one workstream within each of those:

A.The First Theme: Spiritual Capital in the Third Sector

(in which the WeValue InSitu approach was used for making intangible values more tangible)

Objective

·To assist third sector organisations to: enhance the awareness, nurturing and sustainable application of spiritual values in their operations, by building on the experience of innovative faith-based NGOs (FBOs)

Achievements

·Established a learning network of academics, practitioners and NGOs interested in the application of spiritual values in the process of capacity building for the third sector

·Conducted a preliminary mapping and typology of Faith-based NGOs in Hong Kong, based on different approaches to the application of spiritual values in social service

·Identified best practices for systematic and sustainable methods for drawing on faith and spirituality to empower individuals and groups to improve their lives and their communities. Produced written cases and designed an e-case scenario for use as educational resources

·Drawing on relevant social scientific theories and literature, developed models of spiritual principles and spiritual capital, and designed draft training modules for conceptual learning and practical application in personal life, group leadership and organisational management

·Introduced the WeValue model from Europe, a model of developing and measuring values indicators for third sector organisations

·Acquired initial skills to implement and adapt the WeValue model for the Hong Kong and Chinese social context

Impact

·Raised awareness in 27 NGOs and foundations through 51 site visits and focus groups

·Raised awareness among 300 scholars and graduate students through 5 public lectures and conference presentations in Hong Kong, Macao, Mainland China and the US

·Improved capacity through training of 100 leaders and members of 20 NGOs through 3 forums and workshops

·Improved capacity in the understanding of values indicators and measurement provided through training to the core leadership team of 3 NGOs and foundations, to be employed in the capacity building of over 30 community-based organisations

·Improved understanding of values indicators and measurement provided through training to 3 team members for future localised workshop provision

Event Highlights

Mar 13, 2013 Forum on Spiritual Capital: Values and Capacity Building in Third Sector Organisations

Jul 10-14, 2013 International Conference on Religion, Spiritual Capital and Civil Society

Dec 9-13, 2013 Workshop series on Making the Invisible Visible: Identifying and Evaluating Values in your Work

Dec 10, 2013 Public Seminar: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Measuring Values as a Catalyst for Organisational Change

Dec 13, 2013 Public Lecture on Measuring Values: A Catalyst for Organisational Change and Impact on your funders

B.The Second Theme: Spiritual Values in the Third Sector

(in which the WeValue InSitu approach was used for making intangible values more tangible)

Objectives

·To identify and measure spiritual values indicators

·To ensure spiritual values and long-term organisational growth and sustainability

·To generate theoretical innovation of spiritual values

Target Sector

·NGOs and Foundations interested in methods of drawing on spiritual values to enhance organisational effectiveness

Expected Deliverables

·Three closed-door workshops with partner CSOs; three public training workshops and an international conference on spiritual values

·Training Materials

·Localised, translated and enhanced training programme and materials on “Making the Invisible Visible: Measuring Values for Organizational Change”

·Revised, expanded, integrated and tested training programme and materials on “Motivation, Vision and Action (MOVA): Nurturing and Applying Spiritual Values in Civil Society Organizations”

·Two PhD theses on spiritual values among faith-based organisations

·Three academic articles to peer-reviewed journals

·A revamped, bilingual SPIRIT3 website

Event Highlights

Jan 13, 2015 SEEDS Assessment Tools Workshop

Formal documents and publications

Spiritual Capital | ExCEL3 https://www.socsc.hku.hk/ExCEL3/portfolio/spiritual_capital/#tab-tab-2-title

精神資本 | ExCEL3

https://www.socsc.hku.hk/ExCEL3/portfolio/spiritual-values/?lang=zh#tab-tab-2-title

Partners

Project Investigator

·Dr David Palmer, Department of Sociology, Hong Kong University