Our good friend and source of inspiration, Google, is turning 10-years and they’ve got an excellent site for their celebration. There is an informative and interesting timeline of their first ten years. Also, there’s link for their project related to their birthday, Project 10 to the 100. See the video they’ve published to get ideas that can help the most. What could be the idea of Monkey Business to submit for this competition? One of my dreams is to start a Team Academy type of initiative in Uganda, East Africa. And not only limit it to one country and continent, but to spread the idea all over the world. We’ve started in Europe all ready. There are Team Academy inspired initiatives in Bilbao; Basque Country, Heemstede; The Netherlands, Alsace Region; France, London, England. Also new ones are starting in Paris; France, Angers; France and in Mondragon; Basque Country. Oh, I shouldn’t forget the ones in Finland: Intotalo; Kajaani and ProAkatemia; Tampere just to mention couple. They ask six simple question to define the idea. Best ideas will be funded and implemented. Ok, the criteria first, and then the questions and my answers. Criteria:
Reach: How many people would this idea affect?
Depth: How deeply are people impacted? How urgent is the need?
Attainability: Can this idea be implemented within a year or two?
Efficiency: How simple and cost-effective is your idea?
Longevity: How long will the idea’s impact last?
Please help us develop the idea by commenting on the post. The deadline for submitting ideas is 20th of October so we have got about two weeks to develop this. And submit your own, too!
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7 Responses to “Google 10 years! Monkey Business congratulates!”
Ville, coming back from a really challenging design-team meeting with some lean folks in Karlsruhe there is ever more power for creative innovation:-))
The ideas from this side from the globe will come on in a few days.
Let’s spread the word of team entrepreneurship – slowly and steadily!
Great start guys! Here are my suggestions for sharpening your proposal:
1. Better define Team Entrepreneurship here by what it does. I would focus on Africa and rather than taking on the whole world, but do say that the model can then be replicated and used elsewhere in the world (shows continuity)
2. Tell us the skills and capabilities that are required by people entering the Team, what will developed whilst they are inside the team, and what they will leave with
3. (this is a question) Your target group is recent university grads – is this your only target group? Is it a big enough demographic for Africa? If so, show that the work of the grads will actually benefit their communities
4. Give examples here of what exactly will be learned and the type of real life projects you mean. You need to bring this to life to those who will be reviewing the proposal
5. Give some more clarity on who the ‘bunch of local partners’ may be (tie this in the types of projects you will mention in number 4 above
6. These kind of projects are strict on metrics – be as specific as you can. Target numbers, perhaps diagnostic or evaluation tools you may use, follow up reviews, etc. You and I may think this is unnecessary (how do you measure social capital?), but project investors love this kind of stuff!
Good luck guys, sounds like a fantastic project. Happy to provide further feedback if you need it.
Thank you so much for the comments and Marigo, for the excellent tips to sharpen our proposal. I have been too busy with other stuff to do the new copywriting but I will work on it. We’ve still got 11 days left We’ll keep in touch.
You really have inspired me to thing about my project that will surely start this year now.
My visit to Team Academy in August was sort of a birth-giving session as all of what I was looking for for years was just in front of me – current reality:-))
Deadlines, 20.10.2008, for the Google Project are there to keep the process as long as possible open and now after an interesting interview in Berlin I boiled down my ideas (due to Marigos rigorous comments and path leading:-)).
What one sentence best describes your idea? (maximum 150 characters)
Leading the region around Dresden and Saxony back to former economic strength: their people are the most precious asset.
Describe your idea in more depth. (maximum 300 words)
Giving Saxony back the former power of creativity and innovation (Odol, Melitta, Audi, BMW, all have started from that precious soil) the system has to change – most preferrably at grass-root level and this means in education. The current business world in the region has to be changed from inside. How to do that? We have to connect actively education to the local businesses, organizations and communities in Saxony despite the (present) lower income level as in other areas of Germany.
Starting a process consulting entrepreneurship and through personal networks at the local universities of Dresden and companies establish the groundwork for setting up an education institute. This will involve education institutions and the work world through the steady establishment of team entrepreneurship companies (very much like Team Academy in Finland. The members of the team companies will undertake projects in areas (establish new ways of working together to create a higher and sustainable life level in the local communities) where at present no consultants are present (due to money constraints).
Through cooperation with universities, private and public businesses this will generate, driven with a vision towards sustainability (also in the business context, as closing and reopening of companies is not sustainable in the sense of using resources, people, machinery, financials, etc.)
As Saxony is not the only region in the world with creative and innovative people the concept will be spread through various already over the span of eight years established personal social networks (SoL network, Lean Thinking Network, System Dynamics Network, Logistics Network) crossing present boundaries.
The ultimate vision is to grow people inside their area of living towards their strengths so they can build up an economy that is sustainable and much more resistant to crisis that we face right now.
What problem or issue does your idea address? (maximum 150 words)
The recent and seen problem in Saxony is that jobs have been cut in the past (GDR cooperations closed and very little manpower has been needed to run new established ones funded in great parts of the state). After the time bound for subsidies has run out and economic turmoil is all around companies close their plants in Eastern Germany moving back “home” to West. This leads to further drain of highly educated people (either in the working world or the universities, as jobs are much easier to be found in Western Germany).
Intervening the system in order to change that dynamics that ends in a vicious cycle (money infusions into the region will be necessary to keep up normal life – even with closing companies) will be the mission.
If your idea were to become a reality, who would benefit the most and how? (maximum 150 words)
Benefit will the students and people actively working in the team company(ies) as they will learn team entrepreneurship, which will enable them to actively take business opportunities (which actually lie all around – we just have to grab them) in the future not being dependant on large employers. The local business will grow into stable business networks that weave a solid ground for future growth of the region making people proud of what they have achieved by their own. Establishing to extend networks outside the region and connect with other regions in the world will generate wealth in knowledge, problem-solving capabilities and the ability to generate a future one really wants to become true in exchanging stories. In the end striving businesses will pull future prosperity in the region.
What are the initial steps required to get this idea off the ground? (maximum 150 words)
Starting as a single entrepreneur by the end of this year getting first projects going, that will give real sustainable benefit to the partners and clients involved. In the meanwhile grounding the already in place networks to act as a fertile ground for founding the “Saxony Team Entrepreneurship”. Scanning the area of Dresden for an appropriate building that would suit the needs of on learning organization that will be evolving through the future team entrepreneur company(ies).
Describe the optimal outcome should your idea be selected and successfully implemented. How would you measure it? (maximum 150 words)
The optimal outcome will be that “Team Academy“-projects like the one described will spread slowly around the world and will be the seeds for future sustainable economic wealth and growth especially in regions that are in economic struggle – there are many around the world.
In times where oil and logistics will become more expensive as is at present stated through prices the idea of web-based knowledge communities will become more important especially as we face more complex issues in our communities and societies as ever before.
The described education-work model will enable communities (of every size and remoteness) to grow on their people’s personal strengths – and what you don’t know somebody around the globe knows already, you just have to find and connect with him/her.
….hoping this has not be too overwhelming I appreciate any comments on the idea and how this could connected with others that exist already and we probably don’t know of.
Cheers,
Ralf
PS.: Thanks folks for posting that interesting link:-))
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Ville what a great idea to take part on this challenging competition!
Ville, coming back from a really challenging design-team meeting with some lean folks in Karlsruhe there is ever more power for creative innovation:-))
The ideas from this side from the globe will come on in a few days.
Let’s spread the word of team entrepreneurship – slowly and steadily!
Cheers,
Ralf
Great start guys! Here are my suggestions for sharpening your proposal:
1. Better define Team Entrepreneurship here by what it does. I would focus on Africa and rather than taking on the whole world, but do say that the model can then be replicated and used elsewhere in the world (shows continuity)
2. Tell us the skills and capabilities that are required by people entering the Team, what will developed whilst they are inside the team, and what they will leave with
3. (this is a question) Your target group is recent university grads – is this your only target group? Is it a big enough demographic for Africa? If so, show that the work of the grads will actually benefit their communities
4. Give examples here of what exactly will be learned and the type of real life projects you mean. You need to bring this to life to those who will be reviewing the proposal
5. Give some more clarity on who the ‘bunch of local partners’ may be (tie this in the types of projects you will mention in number 4 above
6. These kind of projects are strict on metrics – be as specific as you can. Target numbers, perhaps diagnostic or evaluation tools you may use, follow up reviews, etc. You and I may think this is unnecessary (how do you measure social capital?), but project investors love this kind of stuff!
Good luck guys, sounds like a fantastic project. Happy to provide further feedback if you need it.
Cheers
Marigo
Dear Henna, Ralf and Marigo,
Thank you so much for the comments and Marigo, for the excellent tips to sharpen our proposal. I have been too busy with other stuff to do the new copywriting but I will work on it. We’ve still got 11 days left
We’ll keep in touch.
Keep it yellow! Ville
Hi Ville,
You really have inspired me to thing about my project that will surely start this year now.
My visit to Team Academy in August was sort of a birth-giving session as all of what I was looking for for years was just in front of me – current reality:-))
Deadlines, 20.10.2008, for the Google Project are there to keep the process as long as possible open and now after an interesting interview in Berlin I boiled down my ideas (due to Marigos rigorous comments and path leading:-)).
What one sentence best describes your idea? (maximum 150 characters)
Leading the region around Dresden and Saxony back to former economic strength: their people are the most precious asset.
Describe your idea in more depth. (maximum 300 words)
Giving Saxony back the former power of creativity and innovation (Odol, Melitta, Audi, BMW, all have started from that precious soil) the system has to change – most preferrably at grass-root level and this means in education. The current business world in the region has to be changed from inside. How to do that? We have to connect actively education to the local businesses, organizations and communities in Saxony despite the (present) lower income level as in other areas of Germany.
Starting a process consulting entrepreneurship and through personal networks at the local universities of Dresden and companies establish the groundwork for setting up an education institute. This will involve education institutions and the work world through the steady establishment of team entrepreneurship companies (very much like Team Academy in Finland. The members of the team companies will undertake projects in areas (establish new ways of working together to create a higher and sustainable life level in the local communities) where at present no consultants are present (due to money constraints).
Through cooperation with universities, private and public businesses this will generate, driven with a vision towards sustainability (also in the business context, as closing and reopening of companies is not sustainable in the sense of using resources, people, machinery, financials, etc.)
As Saxony is not the only region in the world with creative and innovative people the concept will be spread through various already over the span of eight years established personal social networks (SoL network, Lean Thinking Network, System Dynamics Network, Logistics Network) crossing present boundaries.
The ultimate vision is to grow people inside their area of living towards their strengths so they can build up an economy that is sustainable and much more resistant to crisis that we face right now.
What problem or issue does your idea address? (maximum 150 words)
The recent and seen problem in Saxony is that jobs have been cut in the past (GDR cooperations closed and very little manpower has been needed to run new established ones funded in great parts of the state). After the time bound for subsidies has run out and economic turmoil is all around companies close their plants in Eastern Germany moving back “home” to West. This leads to further drain of highly educated people (either in the working world or the universities, as jobs are much easier to be found in Western Germany).
Intervening the system in order to change that dynamics that ends in a vicious cycle (money infusions into the region will be necessary to keep up normal life – even with closing companies) will be the mission.
If your idea were to become a reality, who would benefit the most and how? (maximum 150 words)
Benefit will the students and people actively working in the team company(ies) as they will learn team entrepreneurship, which will enable them to actively take business opportunities (which actually lie all around – we just have to grab them) in the future not being dependant on large employers. The local business will grow into stable business networks that weave a solid ground for future growth of the region making people proud of what they have achieved by their own. Establishing to extend networks outside the region and connect with other regions in the world will generate wealth in knowledge, problem-solving capabilities and the ability to generate a future one really wants to become true in exchanging stories. In the end striving businesses will pull future prosperity in the region.
What are the initial steps required to get this idea off the ground? (maximum 150 words)
Starting as a single entrepreneur by the end of this year getting first projects going, that will give real sustainable benefit to the partners and clients involved. In the meanwhile grounding the already in place networks to act as a fertile ground for founding the “Saxony Team Entrepreneurship”. Scanning the area of Dresden for an appropriate building that would suit the needs of on learning organization that will be evolving through the future team entrepreneur company(ies).
Describe the optimal outcome should your idea be selected and successfully implemented. How would you measure it? (maximum 150 words)
The optimal outcome will be that “Team Academy“-projects like the one described will spread slowly around the world and will be the seeds for future sustainable economic wealth and growth especially in regions that are in economic struggle – there are many around the world.
In times where oil and logistics will become more expensive as is at present stated through prices the idea of web-based knowledge communities will become more important especially as we face more complex issues in our communities and societies as ever before.
The described education-work model will enable communities (of every size and remoteness) to grow on their people’s personal strengths – and what you don’t know somebody around the globe knows already, you just have to find and connect with him/her.
….hoping this has not be too overwhelming I appreciate any comments on the idea and how this could connected with others that exist already and we probably don’t know of.
Cheers,
Ralf
PS.: Thanks folks for posting that interesting link:-))
….not much just that Google has written to us
http://leanthinkers.blogspot.com/2009/09/googles-project-10tothe100.html
….let’s make our dreams become reality:-)