Promoting Social Change

There could be an organization that offers a range of services that can support social change efforts. We could call it the Public Sector Innovation Institute. It would provide training and consulting on a creative thinking, problem solving, decision analysis, planning for social marketing, social innovation, social ventures, sustainable development, and economic development.

The main offerings would be training and consulting. The Institute could also offer facilitated sessions that combine brainstorming and planning. We would help people develop new ideas and make plans to implement the ideas. The workshops would be one way of providing this service.

Consulting and training are only two possible revenue streams. Partnerships with companies that sell software for idea management, knowledge management, and problem solving are another possible revenue stream. Lastly, charging for papers on certain topics of high value to customers could also generate some income.

What specific sorts of training and consulting could be offered? How about training on well- known tools like Lateral Thinking, design thinking, and DATT? The procedures taught in How to Think Like Einstein could be used in workshops.

The Institute would have a Web site of course! In addition to the usual information it would offer several added features:

1. Reviews of books on creative thinking, problem solving, innovation management, and the psychology of selling. The reviews would be written to help readers apply the techniques outside of the business world.

2. Software reviews written with the nonprofit and government user in mind.

3. White papers on how to use certain techniques to support particular objectives, like fundraising or economic development.

What can I do for this venture? Well, I have 6 years' experience studying some of the applicable techniques, plus a PhD in sociology. I'm familiar with some of the software that's available. One of my interests over the past 7 years has been studying social and technological innovations that support sustainable development. So, I would make a good resource in starting and operating the Public Sector Innovation Institute. I also have some ideas on marketing and advertising.

This Institute could be a new business or part of an existing company. The Institute could also be a nonprofit, or a program run by an existing nonprofit. The United Nations, plus economic development organizations in many low- and middle-income countries could become clients in any case.

Public Sector Innovation Institute

Idea #1: There are many tools, techniques, and strategies out there for problem-solving, innovation, planning, and decision making.

Idea #2: Thousands of organizations and groups are interesting making the world "better" in some way, often with poor results, slow results, or no results. Sometimes the unintended consequences cancel out any benefits.

Idea #3: An organization that offers training, advice, and information on stuff mentioned in #1 to people mentioned in #2 would seem to fill a real need in the world.

Thus, I imagine the Public Sector Innovation Institute as a way to provide support for using "business tools", for lack or a clearer term, to NGOs, nonprofits, activist groups, and government. Secondarily, the Institute would would work with social entrepreneurs to develop their ventures.

This idea and the requisite "business tools" have been an interest of mine for several years. So, I can bring a great deal of accumulated knowledge and thought to the project as a consultant or business plan writer. Oh, and I have written a couple of business plans so I can claim some limited experience and knowledge in this area.

This Institute could be a business or a nonprofit. It would have to have a "brick-and-mortar" location in addition to a Web site. Revenue could come from training, consulting, white papers, and possibly through referral relationships with software vendors. The Institute could also publish books on applying business tools to innovation in public sector organizations. I have a proposal and sample chapters for one such book and some detailed ideas for others.

If you would like a quick introduction to the sorts of "business tools" that the Institute would use or teach visit Innovation Tools.

You can see a draft Web site at http://sustainabilityideas.tripod.com/psi

Feel free to contact Chet Davis at chetdavis35@peoplepc.com or at 703-823-2145 between 7am and 10pm Easter time (Serious inquiries only!)

Television and Radio

How about 20/20 for those interested in social change and social issues? A television series combining science, technology, and human interest stories might be a hit, or at least profitable. It would be relatively cheap to produce, probably more than a soap opera or the home makeover show.

My social innovations program would be a newsmagazine focusing on social and technological innovations that support sustainable development. There would be segments on "green" technoplogies, new social institutions, people and their organizations (or personal missions).

We could attract advertising from companies with a socially conscious image to promote. I'm thinking specifically of Starbucks, Walmart, and GE. Car companies that make hybird vehicles would also be good prospects.

This could be a nonprofit project for Free Speech TV or PBS as well. A radio series for the Internet or for National Public Radio are also possibilities.

A companion Web site and book could generate additional revenue.

I know enough about the ideas, technologies, people, and groups involved to provide some research support and consulting services.

A related idea: World Changers would be similar to the above but with a broader focus on issues like poverty, domestic violence, and homelessness. It would deemphasize technology in favor of ideas and people-oriented stories in a newsmagazine format.

If you like either idea and can help, plese contact me! My email address is chetdavis35@peoplepc.com and my phone number is 703-823-2145. Please put "social innovations program" or "World Changers" in the subject line.

Ideas, Inventions, Innovations

Thanks for checking out my first blog, first on the topics of ideas. This blog is a repository for my social innovations, inventions, business ideas, social ventures, Web site ideas, movie and television ideas, and miscellaneous ideas that are hard to classify. If you are looking for ideas you can use in a business, nonprofit, or even a government agency, I encourage you to subscribe.

I want to shout out about the ideas I get but cannot find time to implement. Maybe they will inspire you. Maybe you will want to work with me on one or more of the ideas you encounter here. Wait, there's more! I'll also be talking about how the ideas could be implemented, and (importantly!) why I think they qualify as good ideas.

Feel free to contact me with complaints, comments, or suggested improvements to any of these ideas. Feel free to use my material. Please do cite the source and post a link to this blog or to What a Great Idea!.

Look for weekly updates, probably on Sunday.

If you are interested in any of my ideas and can help implement them in some way I would love to hear from you. My email address is chetdavis35@peoplepc.com and my phone number is 703-823-2145. If you email, please put the name of the project in your subject line so I know the mail is not spam.