Blog #3

List the top 20 questions your team needs to answer to advance the venture forward. Categorize the questions if necessary.

Sustainability:

1. What are the best ways of approaching sustainability goals?
2. Can this project be implemented in other countries?
3. Is this a long term solution to the problems we are currently facing?
4. Will this project inspire similar initiatives/be recreated by other people?
5. Is developing smart technology environmentally detrimental?
6. How do we make the project sustainable?
7. Will this project lead to lasting change?

Impact:

1. How big is the impact?
2. Is change even possible without government help?
3. Are the problems we are addressing a priority?
4. What issues do they see that need to be solved?
5. Will our solutions impact their market?
6. Are we doing just as much harm as good?
7. Do we have the depth to really make a difference?
8. Are we inhibiting domestic social entrepreneurship?

People/Culture:

1. What kinds of partners are we looking for?
2. Will culture halt our progress?
3. What social barriers will inhibit our project?
4. How can we affect different kinds of people?
5. Is there a technology education and access gap?

Develop and Visualize the Theory of Change (Logic Model) for your venture.

Spring

Outputs:

• 2-3 Publications 
  • Smart City Innovations
    • Engineering for Change
  • How smart innovations are integrated in cities
    • Discuss the impact of smart technology on cities 
      • The benefits, possible cons, social acceptance, cultural impacts, etc
      • Longevity of the device (how long does it stay relevant and impactful
  • How smart cities grow and adapt
    • Discuss the interaction between people and technology
      • How it affects daily life, city efficiency, etc
• 3 practical products/solutions that we plan to test and potentially deploy to impact people in Almaty.

Outcomes:

• Publications allow for expanded outreach
  • More people on board with implementing smart technology in cities brings more awareness to the power and potential these solutions hold
    • Inspires others cities to implement them based on existing statistics that are included in the publications
• A viable device that will improve human life in Almaty but can be applied generally to other growing cities

Summer

Outputs:

• Develop an (2-3) MVPs (minimum viable product) or solutions to address real issues in Almaty.
• Identify focus groups to test products on.
  • Record how the product was perceived by the people
• Gather data to predict the projected impact our products would have.
• Propose future publication titles
  • How our products were designed and perceived
  • Potential ways to avoid future mistakes and further the cause of the project.
• Establishing what not to do for future teams.

Outcomes:

• Grow relations with partners in Kazakhstan.
• Spur entrepreneurial spirit in the market.
• Establish solutions to address problems. 
• Improve (established goal)