Wikimedia Deutschland/Evaluation/Institutional Partnerships Model

This page is maintained by Wikimedia Deutschland's Evaluation Unit. It provides a plattform for the continued development of the change model used in the Institutional Partnerships Program.

Program Goal

All the activities within the volunteer support program pursue a joint long-term goal:

Institutions contribute free knowledge to the Wikimedia movement.

To this aim, Wikimedia Deutschland supports the formation of sustainable relationships between Wikimedians and cultural, educational and academic institutions. On the basis of these relationships, institutions actively contribute free content to Wikimedia projects.

Change Model

A change model presents the program’s goal and the means by which it is to be achieved. It provides the theoretical basis for planning and evaluating projects. We illustrated this change model using an arrow diagram, which presents the dependence between individual intermediate goals (green). Marked in red are the points at which Wikimedia Deutschland will take action in order to achieve the intermediate goals.

The diagram can be read in two ways:

1. Read from top to bottom, the diagram presents the necessary conditions (in green) for the successful implementation of each intermediate goal. All the conditions belonging to an intermediate goal are always ordered one level beneath the corresponding goal.
2. Read from bottom to top, the diagram indicates the points at which Wikimedia Deutschland will take action (red) in order to achieve the intermediate goals (green).

Direct Products

Wikimedia Deutschland's direct products list details the measures that WMDE will take in order to achieve its intermediate goals. The bracketed figures in the diagram indicate the points (red) at which WMDE will implement the measures described here and the intermediate goals (green) along the causal chain that are to be achieved through these measures.

Developing networks between communities and institutions

• (1, 2, 3, 5) “Blanks” in Wikimedia projects are identified.
  • “Blanks” are gaps in method, content or structure.
  • In collaboration with the Wikipedia portals and other points of contact.

• (1) As a starting point, a list of suitable partner institutions has been prepared.
  • Based on the gaps that have been identified within Wikimedia projects.
  • In collaboration with the community.

• (1) Initial contact has been made with the institutions via Wikimedians and/or Wikimedia Deutschland.

• (2, 3) Volunteers have been invited to networking events.
  • Ongoing collaborations are discussed.
  • New plans are prioritized in collaboration with WMDE.

• (2, 3, 5) Networks are formed on a local level between institutions and volunteers from the communities.

Providing insights on free knowledge

• (1, 2, 3, 4) Representatives of institutions are communicated with individually.

• (2) Education, information, and participation opportunities for institutions are created.

Implementation of pilot projects

• (3) Ensure that agreements contain clear specifications on the type and scope of free knowledge that is to be made available.

• (2, 3, 5) Institutions have carried out pilot projects.
  • Pilot projects are documented.
  • Pilot projects are evaluated.

• (5) The implementation of such projects is supported by WMDE.
  • In collaboration with the community.
  • Make existing resources available (e.g. consultancy services, software development).

Indicators

The indicators proposed here will continually undergo prioritization and further development.

• (GOAL) Institutions have contributed free knowledge to the Wikimedia movement.
  • Indicator: Type, quantity and quality of the free knowledge that has been contributed.
  • Indicator: The degree to which this corresponds to the identified gaps within the Wikimedia movement.

• (A) Institutions have changed their internal rules.
  • Indicator: Success stories relating to the modification of internal rules by institutions have been documented.

• (B) Institutions have committed themselves to making free content available.
  • Indicator: Type and number of declarations (e.g. agreements, press releases, statements of intent, framework agreements, pilot projects, contracts, etc.).
  • Indicator: Joint agreements contain clear specifications on the type and scope of free knowledge that is to be made available.

• (C) Institutions have developed an understanding of how free knowledge works.
  • Indicator: Number of hours of events and consultations.
  • Indicator: Institutions that have received consultation understand the concept of free licenses, including their risks (e.g. loss of control).
  • Indicator: Institutions that have received consultation understand the advantages of free knowledge for the public and for themselves.
  • Indicator: Institutions that have received consultation understand which models of free knowledge have worked for institutions with similar structures.
  • Indicator: Institutions that have received consultation intend to contribute to free knowledge.

• (D) Institutions have identified required changes.
  • Indicator: Type, number and quality of requests. (Having identified the required changes, institutions request guidance from Wikimedia Deutschland. In this context, required changes are: making adaptations to the way in which knowledge is created, collected and disseminated in the digital community.)