Margaret J. Wheatley and The Berkana Institute partner with Tomoye Corporation
April 30, 2003
Ottawa – CANADA, – The Berkana Institute, founded by internationally acclaimed organizational consultant, Margaret J. Wheatley, has chosen Tomoye as their partner for a new initiative that supports pioneering leaders around the world through Communities of Practice.
“Most pioneering leaders feel alone and estranged. They have no idea that there are many others out there, struggling with the same issues, focused on the same visions for a healthier future. Connecting them to each other always yields great benefit.” Margaret Wheatley, the President of Berkana and author of the path-breaking book, Leadership and the New Science, has been working with people for 28 years to develop radically new practices and ideas for organizing. “In my work with pioneering leaders, I have found that when they belong to a Community of Practice – a group of many more people like them who share the same challenges and visions - they gain confidence, courage and competence. Their participation in the community stimulates their own creative problem-solving and innovation. And their learning can contribute to the larger field of positive change in the world.”
For more than a decade, Berkana has been supporting leaders and their communities in life-affirming projects. One example is Manish Jain, who left careers at Morgan Stanley and UNESCO to live in India where his organization, Shikshantar, works on many different initiatives to transform the Indian education system into a more diverse and vibrant learning ecology.
Berkana uses many means to connect people who are engaged in similar pioneering work, including Communities of Practice. Through a new initiative, Berkana Strategic Partners, they have partnered with Tomoye Corporation to provide an online Communities of Practice space, called “NewWorkSpaces”, where these leaders worldwide can have conversations, find knowledge and experts, and share best practices. “Tomoye’s commitment to supporting leaders and communities through technology enables Berkana to further our commitment to serving life-affirming leaders around the globe,” says Wheatley. “This partnership helps us fulfill our goals.”
Berkana’s “NewWorkSpaces” will be powered by Tomoye Simplify, the leading Communities of Practice software solution. David Marsing, former vice-president of Intel Corporation and Berkana’s Board Chair, says “Tomoye Simplify represents the best combination of capabilities that support collaboration and provides an adaptive environment to serve diverse Communities of Practice”.
The Berkana Institute joins a list of Tomoye customers – such as the United Nations and many U.S. and Canadian federal government agencies – who are on the leading edge of organizational transformation, nurturing online Communities of Practice that are powered by people. “Margaret Wheatley’s philosophy has profoundly influenced Tomoye’s mission to make Communities of Practice easier to kick-start and grow,” says Greg Searle, Tomoye co-founder and chief technology officer. “To have the Berkana Institute choose our technology to support their own work amongst world leaders is evidence of that commitment. We are proud to be changing the world alongside Berkana.”
About Tomoye Corporation and The Berkana Institute
Tomoye is the Community of Practice company. They help leaders in knowledge-intensive organizations worldwide make the most of their collective know-how by building better Communities of Practice. The company's flagship product, Tomoye Simplify™, offers tools and features designed to foster dynamic, productive Communities of Practice.
The Berkana Institute supports life-affirming leaders around the globe. Berkana intentionally supports those who are giving birth to the new forms, processes, and leadership that will restore hope to the future. Since 1991, Berkana has gradually expanded its work to reach pioneering leaders and communities in all types of organizations and in dozens of nations. We define a leader as anyone who wants to help, who is willing to step forward to create change in their world.
Tomoye, the Tomoye symbol, Knowledge Powered by People, and Tomoye Simplify are registered trademarks of Tomoye Corporation.
Berkana Media Contact:
Deborah Frieze
The Berkana Institute
+1 (617) 308-7729
debbie@berkana.org