Want to say congratulations to Jay Goldman, Eli Singer and Mark Kuznicki. Their article on TransitCamp has been published in the February 2008 issue of the Harvard Business Review.
For those unfamiliar with the concept of an unconference – like TransitCamp or the opencities unconference we put on last year – the article is a great starting point.
It’s a wonderful example about how citizens can be engaged in a truly meaningful way. As the website states: TransitCamp was – and will continue to be – a solution playground, not a complaints department. It is as much a celebration of transit as it is a place where people gather to figure out how to make it better.
Much like a NFL game is as much about the tailgating, social/community oriented party in the stadium parking lot as it is about the serious game going on inside the stadium, TransitCamp is as much about celebrating and uniting the transit community as it is about the serious work of figuring out how to make the TTC better.
And, to top it all off, it was a place where ideas get to flourish and are not subjected to consensus and other lowest common denominator approaches.
This, and all sorts of other good reasons, is why HBR made it a breakthrough idea for 2008.
(BTW: Go Pats Go)
eaves.ca 
“are not subjected to consensus”
While I understand the limits of LCD/consensus decision-making, I am not sure I understand how any of these flourishing ideas will be implemented or brought to fruition somehow. What happens with these ideas? Will they be submitted to any governing body with the power to implement them?
“are not subjected to consensus”While I understand the limits of LCD/consensus decision-making, I am not sure I understand how any of these flourishing ideas will be implemented or brought to fruition somehow. What happens with these ideas? Will they be submitted to any governing body with the power to implement them?
Benton,
Check out the TransitCamp site.
There was a submission made to the TTC and TTC representatives attended (as equal participants). There has been a significant amount of interest in the outcomes generated.
Benton,Check out the TransitCamp site.There was a submission made to the TTC and TTC representatives attended (as equal participants). There has been a significant amount of interest in the outcomes generated.
Thanks for the link David! (Unfortunately as I write this Stikipad, the TransitCamp wiki host, is down. Hope it comes up soon.)
Benton’s question is a very good one. I would argue that it is an organizational question for the public agency rather than for the community. Innovation needs freedom for play as a starting point. Ideas are free, execution is hard and is the job of professionals.
Thanks for the link David! (Unfortunately as I write this Stikipad, the TransitCamp wiki host, is down. Hope it comes up soon.)Benton’s question is a very good one. I would argue that it is an organizational question for the public agency rather than for the community. Innovation needs freedom for play as a starting point. Ideas are free, execution is hard and is the job of professionals.