Document: Course of Action 


Resource Based Economy Foundation

Course of Action




Introduction


The content of this document is the result of the necessity for the organized planning. RBEF (as well as other ZG/VP related projects) currently experiences an organizational crisis, that came after the first inspiration boom – Storming stage of Forming – Storming – Norming – Performing model of group development. So there was a need in accurate problems detection and solution. RBEF main principle is the Scientific method. So the document is the result of application of this method to the mentioned problem.

Forming – Storming – Norming – Performing model
The Forming – Storming – Norming – Performing model of group development was first proposed by Bruce Tuckman in 1965, who maintained that these phases are all necessary and inevitable in order for the team to grow, to face up to challenges, to tackle problems, to find solutions, to plan work, and to deliver results. This model has become the basis for subsequent models of Team development and team dynamics and a management theory frequently used to describe the behavior of existing teams. It has also taken a firm hold in the field of experiential education since in many outdoor education centers team building and leadership development are key goals. [1]



1. Ultimate goal

The goal is to construct and apply a new type of world-wide social-economic relations (so-called Resource Based Economy). The questions are: what is it and how to get there?

2. Problems

  1. There is no strict definition of RBE, only a set of ideas plotting the general way
  2. There is no plan of achieving the goal
  3. There is nobody organized to do this plan (out of the frames of this document)

2.1. Goal definition

Strict definition of the target point should be declared. From the current point of view it can be said, that the goal is rather a mathematical limit than a point. Thus we can constantly approach to it, but never truly achieve. Although the last claiming can be disputable, the main idea is that we need a dynamic mechanism which is designed according to constantly optimize proper parameters.

Resource Based Economy
Resource Based Economy or Natural resource economy deals with the supply, demand, and allocation of the Earth's natural resources. This subfield of economics is therefore interested in the primary sector of the economy which engages in resource extraction (that is, the extraction of raw materials). One main objective of natural resource economics is to better understand the role of natural resources in the economy in order to develop more sustainable methods of managing those resources to ensure their availability to future generations. [2]

2.2. Plan

Goal achievement plan is in a strong connection to the target system itself. It is necessary to analyze the current situation, possibilities, requirements, predict consequences. Declare step-by-step plan with schedule and milestones.
Problems:
  1. There is nobody to do this work currently

2.2.1. Theoretical job

This job needs solution-oriented approach. That is we need:
  1. Experts
  2. Coordinators

2.2.1.1. Experts
It is necessary to find and recruit a number of experts in areas: mathematics, economics and sociology. Orienting requirements to candidates:
  1. High education degree preferred
  2. Understanding of social-economic systems in general
  3. Understanding and supporting the goal
  4. Understanding the current world situation
Problems:
  1. Motivation
  2. Working process

2.2.1.1.1. Motivation
We cannot rely on voluntary job basis here, even if individuals fully support the goal, they should be motivated to spend the time on proper tasks. The only motivation mechanism we can have currently is the monetary supply.
Problems:
  1. Funding
Motivation
Motivation is the internal condition that activates behavior and gives it direction; energizes and directs goal-oriented behavior. The term is generally used for human motivation. [3]

2.2.1.1.2. Working process
The best possibility for working process organization currently is instant job. This will allow to unite researches independently from location.
Problems:
  1. Communication
  2. Schedule
Instant job
The type of work process when personnel is not gathered at some particular geographic location. Communication then goes generally via internet.

2.2.1.2. Coordinators
Experts group job should be constantly controlled. They are fully responsible to the coordinators group. Coordinators group supply experts with:
  1. Funding
  2. Communication
  3. Schedule
And solves the questions:
  1. Controlling
  2. Recruitment
Problems:
  1. Getting funds
  2. Tools

2.2.1.2.1. Getting funds
Please note, that this problem will become very important on the plan implementation stage. Ways of getting funds:
  1. Profit-oriented business
  2. Donations
Problems:
  1. Auxiliary business projects
  2. Tools (donations)

Profit-oriented business
Activity, which aim is only a raising of funds.

Donations
A gift given by physical or legal persons, typically for charitable purposes and/or to benefit a cause.

2.2.1.2.2. Tools
Preliminary set of tools that should be provided by auxiliary development projects:
  1. Communication
  2. Organizational
  3. Donations
Problems:
  1. Auxiliary development projects


3. Auxiliary projects


As it was noted above, there is a need of auxiliary projects of at least two types:
  1. Business
  2. Development

Auxiliary projects
Relatively small projects, with strictly defined goal, resources and schedule. Needed for the main project.

And now raises another problem: What to do with these all?
The solution is in the organization.


4. Organization


WHY, WHAT and HOW
This is a useful analysis paradigm, that states that any problem examination goes through the following three stages:
  1. Motivation argumentation (WHY)
  2. Goal declaration (WHAT)
  3. Solution proposal (HOW)

Organization is a number of individuals working on one particular problem. Above we have declared WHAT (leaving WHY as obvious). And now it is necessary to plot the process itself – answer the HOW question. First of all we need an engine unit – a group of people who is interested in results. Engine unit is a Center in organization model. Secondly we need execution unit (Agent) – a group of individuals producing activity. Engine unit forms execution unit with the operations: Assign and Replace. Execution unit is fully responsible to the engine unit. If an individual from the execution unit does not meet the expectations – he should be replaced, or punished in some other way. So we have the following scheme so far:

pic1

Construction and processing plan:
  1. Form the engine unit
  2. Form coordinators group
  3. Declare needed resources
  4. Open AuxBis and AuxDev opportunities
  5. Form AuxBis and AuxDev
  6. Get needed resources
  7. Form experts group
  8. Start experts processing
  9. Stop experts processing
  10. Finish the first stage


4.1. Engine unit

Engine is a set of individuals interested in the results. Engine performs the following operations:
  1. Assign individual at execution unit activity slot
  2. Replace individual from execution unit activity slot
  3. Start execution unit activity
  4. Stop execution unit activity
  5. Encourage execution unit activity
  6. Deprecate execution unit activity

Decisions about operations are taken in a form of committee – every single individual of engine unit participates in decision taking. Proposals about operations can be suggested by both engine and execution units (for example, stage 3).
Problems:
  1. Agreement
  2. Tool


4.1.1. Agreement

Engine unit must be provided with an agreement, which is a set of rules that state members rights and obligations. Also it must describe organization structure and the ways of interactions. The basic point here is that any new member must accept the agreement before join the organization.

4.1.2. Tool

Engine unit needs a tool for activity. The tool should support the following actions:
  1. Open proposal
  2. View proposal
  3. Vote proposal
  4. Discuss proposal
  5. Reject proposal
  6. Conclude proposal
  7. Notify individuals

4.2. Milestones and Schedule

According to implement mentioned construction and processing plan, we need to pass through the following stages:
Step A. (basic organization)
  1. Form the engine unit; make an agreement
  2. Decide about recruitment policy; make a tool
  3. Declare auxiliary public projects opportunities (voluntary)

Here we don't need funds or full-time approach.
Step B. (legalization)
  1. Legalization, after that we can accept and distribute funds

Again no need of full-time activity, but can be necessary some funds
Step C. (fund raising)
  1. Start AuxBis projects, or any other activity for getting funds. AuxBis is good because it is self-supporting.
  2. Get enough funds for full-time Coordinators group
  3. Coordinators group will have a month to declare needed resources and workflow
  4. Pause coordinators activity; get needed resources, recruit experts group

Here we need full-time activity and funds
Step D. (processing)
  1. Start Coordinators and Experts activity
  2. Stop activity


Preliminary Schedule:
Step A: 1-2 mn
Step B: 2 mn
Step C 1-2: hardly predicable, but lets say 6 mn
Step C 3: 1 mn
Step C 4: even worse, can be more than 12 mn (if we don't have money boost)
Step D: at least 1 yr
So, in the normal case it will take 3 years
In the best case (fast funding) - 1.5-2 years



References

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forming-storming-norming-performing
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_resource_economics
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motivation
Author: _dm | Created on: 05 Jan 2010, 15:22 | Views: 956 | Downloads: 137
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