OBJECTIVES, PROGRESS SO FAR & NEXT STEPS Quito, 6-10 April 2015
Objectives • Provide think tanks with knowledge that will allow their leaders to shape their organisations’ business models to better serve their missions, given the contexts in which they operate. • The main questions are: • What are the key aspects that characterize effective business models in the context of developing countries? • How do these work in each context?
Progress until Quito meeting… • Literature review on think tanks’ business models • Definition of dimensions within the business models concept • Selection of case studies. Criteria: accessibility and diversity of think tanks. • Done with designing the tools for data collection • Interviews with Indonesian think tanks has been conducted! Leandro has achieved positive progress in collecting data for Latin America case studies • Done with writing two initial research notes (IRE and Jawa Pos Institute for Pro-Otonomi) in Indonesia. • Initial findings have been discussed.
Dimensions Value proposition
When producing and selling their bundles of products and services, what value do think tanks offer to their users?
What are the activities that think tanks carryout in order to Core business create value propositions, and consequently, generate activities revenue for their organisation? Leadership
What are the characteristics of leadership that support effective business models?
Governance
How does the organisation set up its governance in order to make decisions regarding its business model?
Funding structure
How does the organisation organize and manage the different function regarding funding?
Staffing
How do think tanks identify, attract and motivate their staff members?
Financial How does the organization deal with revenues and costs to management ensure its sustainability?
Progress during Quito Meeting • A blog post on the project objectives and methodology • Interviews with Grupo FARO board member, ED, finance director • Preliminary analysis of the Indonesian case studies • Discussion on micro context influence • Case studies structure has been developed • Timeline for next steps defined
Preliminary Findings • Micro context (labor law, taxes regulation, NGOs/nonprofits laws, market competitiveness) affects business model decisions more than macro context (democratic openness, political and economic environment, media freedom) • Feedback?
Next Steps ACTIVITIES
SCHEDULES
Conduct interview with CADEP (Paraguay) and ARU (Bolivia)
April 2015
Data clarification on the initial findings with SMERU and Jawa Pos Institute for Pro-Otonomi
April 2015
Develop case studies
May - June 2015
Discuss cases studies on think tanks business model with comparative perspective
May - June 2015
Develop comprehensive report covering reflection on July 2015 think tank business models (structure TBD). Presentation in Indonesia (with KSI Partners in Jakarta and IRE’s network in Yogyakarta) and Paraguay (Leandro)
August 2015
So what after the project done? • Undertaking wider scopes of research on business model using quantitative and qualitative methods and new case studies • Annually conducting measurement on think tank business model Latin America/Indonesia Think Tanks Business Model Index