This is not a political issue, but I figured if there's anyplace that would have someone who knows how advocacy issue think tanks are structured, dKos would be it.
I'm looking to set up what is currently an informal, virtual organization in my company promoting a specific methodology, into a cross-department, enterprise-wide think tank promoting this methodology. (it's a software-development methodology)
If anyone has experience, or thoughts about how to set up such a beast, come on over past the flip and read some more details and leave me your suggestions. I'm sure I'm not the only one interested in how to start an issue advocacy group.
More on the flip...
I think most readers of dKos are quite familiar with passionate evangelism of ideas. One of the areas where I have this passion is in how I have to do my work. At work we've recently been participating in a mostly-underground movement to train people in ways to do their jobs differently that will make all of our lives much better. (at least at work)
We've been fortunate enough to have a powerful advocate who got us seed money and funding to set up curriculum and start teaching people. This has lead to a viral-marketing type of infection to the point now where some powerful people are looking to take over our little operation. Unfortunately, few people in the company know anything about what we're doing beyond the most superficial level, and that we're really delivering value to the company.
What I'd like to do is take our little virtual organization, which we call a Resource Center and turn it into a cross-organization think tank. This would allow those of us in our one department to keep the thought leadership in the Resource Center after the financial sponsorship will eventually transfer over to another department where it makes sense for this to live, but where no one is qualified to really lead it.
Thought leadership is really where this should go. The techniques and values we're teaching are acquired skills that require training AND experience to do well. (so many, many people in our industry do this poorly that having hte wrong people who think they know what they're doing in charge is a huge risk)
I've tried to look into some models of established think tanks and the one that spells out their model the most clearly is the Roosevelt Institution, a student think tank that sets up centers at universities around the country.
So, does anyone have suggestions, links, thoughts on how to set up such an intellectual advocacy, thought leadership, think-tank-esque, organization?
Thanks so much.
Plane Crazy