EATING OUR OWN DOG-FOOD

Co-creation is at the heart of what we do, but what is at the heart of co-creation? In order to answer this question, we decided to give ourselves a dose of our own medicine. We asked an external moderator from Kaos Pilots to lead a co-creation session in which we would participate ourselves. 

To get a broad view and diverse input on the subject, we invited three of our clients from Heineken, Bugaboo and Leaseplan and three former expert-participants to join us in this session. Our goal? Get to the essence of co-creation! 

Between several exercises ranging from drawing each other's face without looking at your paper to imaginative sword fighting, various interesting topics were brought to the table. Group discussions eventually led to four co-creation essentials: 

• Synchronising: get everybody on the same level
• Equality: make sure everybody feels equal
• Management of expectations: acknowledge the different personal expectations
• Value-definition: know that everybody will value the session for different reasons
  

A result that will without a doubt add value to our co-creation sessions in the future. 

It was an interesting experience to be on the other side of the fence for once: not knowing what will happen in the following hours, not knowing what is expected of you and looking around at all other participants: What do they expect? How do they feel? What will they say? 

My biggest lesson? You will never get to the essence if you don't try it yourself, or, as one of our experts said: "It's good to see that your are eating your own dog-food!" 

Wroaf!  

MONOCLE ADVICE FOR AMSTERDAM

WHAT MAKES A CITY SUCCESSFUL?

Amsterdam Topstad is an ambitious project initiated by alderman Lodewijk Asscher, to mobilise entrepreneurs and individuals into a movement to get Amsterdam in the Top 5 lists of most popular, succesful, habitable, etc, etc cities of the world. The Topstad team organise regular 'inspiration & network' meetings to keep the fires burning.

Yesterday's session (charmingly organised at a former pathology lab) focused on consequences of 'The Crisis' and what it means in terms of challenges and opportunities for Amsterdam. Guest lecturer was none less than Tyler Brulee, founder of our Wallpaper and Monocle (our favourit magazine of the moment) - arguably one of the world's most inspiring lights on the topics of 'How to make urban living as rich as possible'.

To my surprise, out of all the issues that contribute to pleasant urban living and successful urban development, he zoomed in on RECOGNITION as the most important. Being recognised in the street, bakers' shop and by neighbours, apparently contributes so much to feeling at home, that it is central to successful neighbourhoods. An interesting one to think about.

He made another point that struck me more directly: having "A PLAN", preferably a clear and simple one, and sticking to it, was the best way to attract talent, business and residents. He also mentioned international connectivity (airports) and seamless urban transport as a key part of successful cities: so that you can get as much out of your urban day as possible.

More about successful cities: www.monocle.com (great magazine!)

HEY BABY,... WANNA POKEN?

POKEN... BUSINESS CARDS 2.0?

One of the other partners of the FIFI congress last week, was a company called POKEN, an interesting new product. Based on relatively simple Radio Frequency Identity Device technology, it enables you to exchange contact data, almost like swapping business cards.

Cleverly, you can add LINKEDIN profiles too, connecting the gizmo to established social networks.

By 'high-fiving' your counterpart, the tags are exchanged. The poken lights up (green light) when the data has been swapped. You then stick it in a USB port to upload and hey presto...a new friend.

Watch out for the limited edition 'Geisha' poken! More information at www.doyoupoken.com .

THE FUTURE OF THE INTERNETS

THE FUTURE OF INTERNETS

Last week, our partners XS4ALL (Holland's premier internet provider) celebrated 15 years of internet in the Netherlands. All subscribers were invited to take part in a conference called FIFI (hence the pink dog) which stands for Fear It or Fix It.

To comemmorate this special occasion, XS4ALL and Fronteer Strategy collaborated on an 'Inspiration Book' called ">5" : 26 visions of what the internet is expected to 'bring' us in the next 5 years. Rather than carting out the 'usual suspect' internet gurus, we decided to 'keep it real' by asking 'normal people' about their fears, hopes and expectations of the next 5 years online.

A primary school teacher, an Alderman, a police detective, the director of a Museum; this kind of people. A total of 26 different stories, from all walks of life, about what the internet will do to classrooms, democracy, profiling villains and interacting with science. What it taught me? That there really is not 1 internet - but many different internets all tied into one.

">5" is printed in Dutch only and so far, unfortunately it's not for sale. However, anyone who feels they would be inspired by it, please drop me a line at james@fronteerstrategy.com. We have a couple of copies that i would gladly share.

WELCOME ON BOARD - OR RATHER NOT?

WELCOME ON BOARD !

The Joys of Airline Travel - published in Second Sight Trend magazine.(www.secondsight.nl)
Sorry - only in Dutch

Verdoemenis in het Inferno van Dante? Een zondagse wandeling in het bos – met pannenkoek! – vergeleken met het lot van een hedendaagse reiziger.

We gaan er even vanuit dat we niet bij de 5% “sorry overboekt” horen die met een McDonaldsbon het riet in worden gestuurd, noch dat onze vlucht wegens omstandigheden (niet vol) wordt gecancelled.

We hebben dan na de dame van de marechaussee nog precies een uur en achtendertig minuten om bij de gate te komen – en die hebben we nodig ook, want het is naar C99 nog 8 kilometer lopen. Snelwandelend geven we nog even 9 euro uit aan een flesje water.

Die wordt even later gelijk weer in de kliko-bak gegooid want water is natuurlijk streng verboden aan boord (?). En dan begint het: schoenen uit, riem af, horloge af, zakken leeg, kolbert uit, laptop uit de tas halen, door de scanner. Vervolgens natuurlijk tas open, toilettas open : STOKSLAGEN! Deze terrorist had bijna een halfvolle sanex-deo meegesmokkeld!!! Maar gelukkig; we krijgen voor deze ene keer geen straf en mogen een uur of wat op het gevangenismeubilair in de ‘lounge’ plaatsnemen.

En dan het voorlopige hoogtepunt - een uitvinding nog zinlozer dan de ‘file op zondag’: het PRE-BOARDEN! We ergeren ons ongeveer 40 minutenlang dood in een rij lelijke mensen (elk met een enorme rolkoffer EN een beautycase EN een handtas EN nog een boodschappentas… waarom moest ik mijn zogenaamd KLM-proof weekendtas inchecken?) om vervolgens aan de andere kant van de parelkettingtrut wederom op een ijzeren bankje te gaan zitten wachten.

Hosanna – we mogen het toestel in. Eindelijk, mijn plekje; lekker de achterste rij naast de WC natuurlijk, knus naast een naar nicotine stinkend Brabants stel met huilende baby (tja...poepluier!). Als de derde Airhead haar kar vol onverkoopbare taxfreetroep tegen mijn knieschijven ramt, zie ik het licht:

Ik begin mijn eigen airline. Het kost net ietsje meer, want er mogen alleen mooie, beleefde, lekker ruikende mensen mee. We vertrekken altijd vanaf gate B1, naast de douane. Ben je ajb 30minuutjes voor vertrek op Schiphol? Pak bij binnenkomst gelijk je eigen flesje tomatensap en zakje nootjes – het personeel doet namelijk uitsluitend nuttige dingen, zoals het besturen van het vliegtuig. Uit de speaker komt niets anders dan goeie jazz want we weten allemaal al hoe een stoelriem werkt, we hebben niks met Flyteam en Partners te maken en we zijn te intelligent om te foppen dat er bij een landing op water nog iets nuttigs met een drijfvest gaat gebeuren. Je mag gewoon bellen, mits rustig – alleen irritante ringtones zijn verboden.
Wie vliegt er mee?

RECESSION-PROOF RETAILING

Last week we were off to the Big Apple, doing a retailer landscape analysis for one of our cherished clients. Although the city was as vibrant and lively as ever, we soon got to see the flipside of it...

The overall message was clear: business really has changed for retailers the last couple of months. Whether you're an independent store, a chain or department store, the retailer landscape has some difficult times ahead. Several smaller players are expected to close their doors somewhere these coming months and according to most retailers, the worst has yet to come.

But how to survive? It's easier when money is moving and people are spending, but in times of recession retailers really have to be creative to get their share. In that case, perhaps it means that they shouldn't focus on what might not work, but rather think of what could work, explore boundaries. It's a time where companies have to get inventive and get resourceful to stand out.

Luckily for us, there was one retailer who invited this brilliant, famous little character to his store to trigger the crowds. That's where we found out that... Kermit the Frog is still alive!!

Only when it is personal it is interesting

XS4ALL, the renowned Dutch internet service provider organises a congress to celebrate its 15-year anniversary: November 28, 2008 in Amsterdam.

Fronteer has been asked to partner with XS4ALL to compile a book with inspiring personal stories about the future of the internet. 30 people from Holland and abroad will participate. Famous people, and not so famous people. The first reads have been wonderfully interesting. Knowing more about the impact of the internet on a single person's life and profession, and what she or he expects from the future, makes you think about it as well.

The book will be a limited edition available to XS4ALL's business clients at the congress.