For this targeted networking experience I had to do a little creative thinking. The best way to get some needed information from useful people and build up my social capital, I decided to talk with people in the Department of Housing. I figured people at different levels in the department fit the descriptions required by the assignment and would be the most help to developing ProgramPlanner2.0! I showed them my idea napkin and went from there...
Domain Expert:
I talked with an Area Coordinator who has worked for the Department of Housing and Residence Education for about ten years. They fill this domain expert spot because they are essentially engaged in the same business I am. They want RAs to build a community for their section and for the entire area--RAs mostly do this through hosting programs for their residents. And that's what ProgramPlanner2.0 would do. It organizes previously successful programs that have been hosted by RAs across campus and allows RAs to search for particular parameters that meet their needs for their upcoming program. I talk with them on a regular basis, so it wasn't hard to talk about this. They advised me that this was a good idea, but didn't have so much help on getting this idea up and running. I got suggestions on other people I could talk with, though. The expected return, I would assume, is just to continue doing well at my job. This person has a decent amount of influence in the housing community and could vouch for me and encourage other areas to become involved in this program sharing website.
Market Expert:
For this I talked with my graduate hall director. He has been a graduate hall director, basically the supervisor of RAs for about three years. He fills this spot because he continually advises RAs on the programs they host each month and is in charge of reviewing their paperwork (my ProgramPlanner2.0 would be an extension of the paperwork we already have to complete). They read all the programs that are hosted by each of the RAs they supervise and has a great idea of what programs are truly successful and would help me determine what decision factors would be an important part of the website. I would assume he hopes that I continue to host good programs that my residents would really enjoy.
Market Supplier:
For this I talked with one of the RAs in my area. We each work desk shifts, so I just hung out at the main desk to talk with one of them. She has been an RA for almost two years and is a supplier because her and other RAs would be the ones supplying the website with these good programs--and she hosts some pretty crafty ones! She liked my idea, especially the part about sharing documents and links to outside resources. We have a previously formed relationship, so she was happy to talk with me for a few minutes and we will continue to be friends and I'm always up to do small favors for her, like temporarily holding the on call phone. She will directly help ProgramPlanner2.0 because she would be one of the uploaders to the website.
Reflection:
I realize I will have to continue talking with people within the department to get this website up and running. Figuring out who is in charge of the Housing portion of the collaborate website would be a good next step. This assignment wasn't hard because I have already formed great relationships with these people, and next year when I will hopefully be a graduate hall director then I will have even more access to people that could really help.
Well done; I will only deduct minor points for the idea that you already knew these connections and the assignment was to "grow" your capital. That said I think you did a tremendous job with the assignment in presenting and promoting your idea. Good post and good luck!
ReplyDeleteHey Emily, it was pretty convenient for you that you already had relationships with some of the experts you chose, I am sure it wasn't that easy for some others. I am glad to hear that your able to get consistent, honest feedback from the RA's whenever you need since you see them on a regular basis for the most part. Maybe it would be a good idea to contact people outside of your circle of acquaintances to see the different feedback you get.
ReplyDeleteHello Emily,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your post. I liked that you showed each of these people your idea napkin as a way of starting conversation, because now that you mention it, it sounds great to use the information on your idea napkin as a networking tool. While I did not do exactly that, I feel that I communicated the same material that was on my idea napkin, but through personal memory. I hope you enjoyed expanding your network. I know it was a great--albeit challenging--experience for me.
I linked my blog post below. Feel free to take a look at it:http://entrepreneurship3003blog.blogspot.com/2016/03/growing-your-social-capital.html
Hi Emily!
ReplyDeleteI thought you did a great job with this and it was nice that you had people that you could talk to that would work well for this. It sounds like you learned a lot from this assignment. Unfortunately, this was a difficult assignment and I could not find the right people for each category so I was unable to complete it. Good luck with the rest of your semester!