EcoTeam or Eco Dream?

I must say the idea of the Ecoteam sounded a good one and as Tom demonstrated on Wednesday there are a number of benefits associated with the concept, for example it provides a framework, offers mutual support, helps information to be shared, sets targets and measures against these. However, as Tom also pointed out, there are challenges with the concept.

As I mentioned on Wednesday there are parallels between the EcoTeam idea and various change management projects I have worked on. Typically these involve setting up and training teams of employees from across the organisation and tasking them with identifying issues and problems, nmainly with business processes, and putting forward potential solutions. In my experience they are are very good at motivating individuals and do deliver real benefits. But they are usually unable to deal with the really big issues that will deliver the really big benefits be that a different organisation structure or a new IT system. These issues only get dealt with if they have a champion at the Board Room Table. My guess is that EcoTeams will have similar challenges - they'll get individuals to recycle, maybe insulate the house but are unlikely to be able (in the short term at least) to change local transport infrastructure to reduce car use.

Is there anything to be learnt from history on how revolutionary groups spread the gospel, and their success or otherwise in doing this? My history is a bit rusty but I seem to recall that in Czarist Russia revolutionary groups invested alot of effort trying to politicise the serfs but with little success. What led to change was the effect of war and food shortage. Going back further in time, Christianity was an underground movement for many years and only became the official religion of the Roman Empire because the soon to be Emperor had dream/vision on the eve of a victorious battle, not because the early Christians convinced the majority of the popualtion that their religion was a good thing. I would be would be interested to hear whether anyone is aware of where movements have succeeded in creating change from within and how they went about doing it.

So in conclusion, I think that EcoTeams could have a role to play in accelerating changes in individual behaviours and lifestyles but are unlikely to change the systems and structures that need to be changed at the rate required.