Forget having a think-tank, be part of a do-team!

Forget having a think-tank, be part of a do-team!

THE IDEA
At the ciChange Event Preparing for a Digital Future it was suggested that some of our biggest challenges may be better resolved by replacing Think Tanks with Do Tanks, and actually get the job done rather than offer advice or comment from the side-lines.

ciChange propose we have combine both as Think Tank and Do Team
Think Tanks – discussing and sharing tools, techniques, templates and ideas about change
Do Team – teams of people brought together for a special purpose to tackle a specific problem

MY THOUGHTS ON HOW IT WILL WORK
Organisations (Business, Government or Charity) will publish a challenge through ciChange. This may be sponsored, with funding and expenses made available to the team or un-funded depending on the sponsor and the nature of the challenge. ciChange will then organise and invite a team of suitable skills and interests and organise necessary resources to tackle the challenge. There are different views, see below!

MY THOUGHTS ON THE METHOD
Each Think Tank and Do Team will be self-organising and may be different according to the challenge, people, funding or sponsorship. However it is anticipated that a work-shop based approach may be used as follows.

1. Introductions
2. Understanding the Problem
3. Reviewing the Factors/Issues/Constraints
4. Agreeing Success Criteria / Output
5. Possibilities and Options
6. Proposal and Plan
7. Report & Recommendations

SOME INTERESTING DISCUSSION

Comment
Re the Do Teams, I had imagined from the presentation that they would be aimed at indentifying and proposing/developing solutions to problems – a sort of “Improve Jersey” I see that you are suggesting organisations including businesses come to the Do Teams to solve specific problems and may include funding. Do you see this including time costs when solving problems for businesses (and government) – ie a form of co-ordinated counsultancy – or is it a more honorary/promotional activity?

My Reply
A good question! I await to see how it develops. There is a role for charity/volunteering. However maybe some of the most challenging problems need modest cash to be able to get to a solution. I also fear that people might be reluctant to give significant commercial advice for free. All my work for ciChange is free, but I doubt many consulting firms would or could be so philanthropic so maybe we need to offer some modest return to maintain people’s commitment? This isn’t aimed at being a consultancy and charging a consulting fee: there are many good folks doing that. Instead this is cross-discipline task forces putting aside commercial rivalry help solve a (community?) problem. However solving problems like “Sand Street Car Park” at the very least may require tea/coffee and sandwiches and a hotel room, and possibly more. It might work almost like a tender: we have “Problem X” and £5000, these are the criteria, who is interested in being part of a team to address this. I would welcome your thoughts. Maybe our first challenge should be to get collective ideas and agreement how this would work!

A Suggestion
That's really interesting. I have a Solution..... Pick 5 simple problems and spend 90 mins mapping and solving One of them. You need a project manager, a coder, a industry specialist and a change manager and facilitator. "Famous 5 Do Jerseyland". The doc that is produced is then given to (the Sponsor –example the Economic Development Minister) who has 21 days to respond. All solutions need to cost less than £5000

MY THOUGHTS ON SUBMITTING A CHALLENGE
If you or your organisation (Business, Government or Charity) has a challenge that could be resolved using this approach and a team of specialists with specific skills and interest in the subject invited please contact us. timhjrogers@cichange.org

FEEDBACK AND APPLYING TO JOIN A TEAM
ciChange are inviting people to complete and submit the form below. The purpose is to understand the people and organisations and what skills and interests may be available for Business, Government or Charity to tackle their challenges.

JOINING A DO TEAM
Email me timhjrogers@cichange.org (or use the form below)
Subject ThinkTank/DoTeam
Your Name
Your Email
About You (Skills, Qualifications, Experience)
About Your Expertise and Interests

SUGGESTING A CHALLENGE
Email me timhjrogers@cichange.org (or use the form below)
Subject ThinkTank/DoTeam
Your Name
Your Email
About the challenge (scope, what, why, when)
About the criteria (key factors, budget, time)

I will give it a week or so to get all the information together and then update generally on where we stand, and email directly those who are keen to be involved either as participants or presenting a challenge.

Name:
eMail:
Phone:

About You (Skills, Qualifications, Interests)


Suggestions for the Think Tank and Do Team