Innovation awards

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Awards programs are a great way to recognize the great innovation in your sector. Whether as a nominee, judge or sponsor there are many opportunities to participant.

The iAwards program is designed to discover and celebrate the endeavours made by companies and individuals who are leading the way with the development and application of innovative technology in Australia and are helping to drive the future and productivity of the Australian economy.

The hosts ACS, AIIA and the Pearcey Foundation saw there was a need to recognise innovation and what it delivers Australia through the ICT sector. The iAwards’ goal is to provide external stakeholders from business, industry and government with a clear view of the people leading ICT in Australia and the quality of innovation being produced.

The iAwards Judging Council are lead by the Chief and Executive Judges along with the Associate Judges for Development, Industry, Pioneer, Professional, Service, Society and Student Domains. Over 100 judges volunteer their time and expertise throughout the annual program.

As iAwards Executive Judge Kelly Hutchinson oversees the judging process to ensure confidentiality, transparency and integrity are maintained. Kelly took up the role in January 2012 after having run the iAwards for AIIA from 2008-2011.

For more information on how being involved in an awards program can benefit your organization contact us

Membership in a state of flux

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Membership continues to undergo radical shifts and doing some thinking before taking the leap is a good first step.

Organisations considering introducing membership to their business model can find it a challenge but it’s not rocket science. The following provides some good insights before you embark on a new model.

Membership Innovation

While innovations in membership models are important, contemporary wisdom tempered by sensitivity to changing conditions suggests that innovations in membership models will need to be:

[a] based on behavioral research

[b] demonstrate a probability of sustainability over time;

[c] be reversible or adaptable; and

[d] preserve membership as an artifact of something more than momentary participation.[1]

Associations Unorthodox Shift #1: De-emphasize membership.

Mobile, social and related technologies are reinventing the fundamental human experience of associating, altering the economics of membership and raising stakeholder expectations for new value creation. Associations need to implement imaginative business models focused on new value creation instead of membership. New models must integrate compelling value propositions, robust organizational capabilities and meaningful incentives that can create new revenue streams and increase future market share.[2]

Model Shifts

“The old model, is that organisations would offer a one-way relationship: sending out a newsletter, for example. Then they might offer a return channel – give us feedback. However, these days members and supporters are able to communicate laterally with each other. I’ve previously used this diagram to illustrate typical arrangements – hierarchies, clusters, and networks – with different propositions: join us, join up, join in.”[3]

If you’d like to discuss how to approach these challenges then contact us for a free consultation. 

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what’s in a name?

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A name is the first step on many a journey and it usually has a back story that gives it meaning.

In the case of membership matters here is an insight into where this name took its inspiration.

According to wikipedia ‘a name is a word or term used for identification’.

It’s the first thing you ask when you hear that someone’s had a baby or started a new job. Google ‘name’ and a plethora of baby sites pop up.

Now social media adds another dimension where your twitter or Facebook profile is another name to be identified by.

It’s an introduction ‘hello my name is Kelly’ and what follows next is either the name of where I work, where I live or what I do.

It can also be the name of where I belong. The groups or communities of which I am a member.

Take the case of Elaine, she’s a Hawthorn supporter, ocean swimmer, board director, vestry volunteer and school staffer. All names of her where she is a member. Her memberships identify where she belongs, contributes and creates meaning in her life.

Finally the name that means the most to me is that we share the same surname. Yes Elaine’s my mum and through her example I know that membership matters.

Hence the name says it all.