Leverage hackathons as a powerful catalyst for rapid innovation, empowering you to tackle your organization's challenges head-on through collaborative engagement
Key Features
• Learn how to identify challenges in your organization quickly by engaging people
• Understand how to organize your hackathon to find practical and impactful solutions
• Execute winning solutions through a scientific, customized acceleration program
• Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBook
Book Description
Discover the transformative power of hackathons with expert guidance from Ann, founder of the Hack for Earth Foundation. With a background in psychology and years of experience as Head Project Manager at Hack for Sweden, she brings unparalleled insight into human behavior and citizen-driven innovation, a concept she coined. In this book, Ann introduces the innovative Dream-Hack-Build method and guides you in taking action through the hackathon process and implementing solutions fast.
The book is divided into three parts. Part I explains why hackathons are effective for innovation in today's complex business landscape, showcasing real-world examples of citizen-driven innovation and how to use them to drive impact in your organization.
Part II delves into organizing a hackathon, emphasizing audience engagement by creating challenges with a deep sense of urgency. You'll learn how to choose the right hackathon platforms, structure, and communication strategy, and manage hackers, mentors, jury groups, and partnerships to serve your hackathon purpose and achieve impactful results.
Part III is where you'll bring hackathon solutions to fruition by designing a customized acceleration program grounded in science and established facts of startup success.
By the end of this book, you'll be on your way to becoming a business leader-a changemaker of the future.
What you will learn
• Find out what makes hackathon a game changer in innovation
• Identify and tackle challenges in your organization by finding practical solutions
• Activate engagement among customers, partner organizations, and employees through an interactive and fun hackathon experience
• Leverage the Dream-Hack-Build method for enhanced organizational performance and brand development
• Customize your hackathon using the best platforms for your challenge
• Create a personalized acceleration program rooted in group dynamics and psychology
Who this book is for
This book is for business leaders, C-suite executives, and decision-makers in search of impactful solutions to their organization's challenges. While a basic understanding of hackathons is beneficial, no other technical skills associated with hackathons are required to derive value from this book.
Author(s): Ann Molin, Love Dager, Mustafa Sherif, Carolina Emanuelson, Kristofer Vernmark
Edition: 1
Publisher: Packt Publishing
Year: 2024
Language: English
Commentary: Publisher's PDF
Pages: 272
City: Birmingham, UK
Tags: Social Media; Communication; Team Management; Mentorship; Hackathon; Citizen-Driven Innovation
Cover
Title Page
Copyright and Credits
Contributors
Table of Contents
Preface
Part 1: Why We Hack
Chapter 1: Redefining the Hackathon Tool
Driving impact through hackathons
Exploring the types of hackathons
Traditional hackathon versus non-traditional hackathon
Internal versus external hackathon
Understanding the scope of open data in hackathons
Core values driving the movement
Summary
Chapter 2: Making Citizen-Driven Innovation Work for You
Understanding citizen-driven innovation
Our journey with citizen-driven innovation
Supercharging citizen-driven innovation with Dream for Sweden
Why citizen-driven innovation is powerful
Generating a sense of urgency
Internal hackathon
External hackathon
Living your massive transformative purpose
Making hackathons something for everybody –Redefining democracy for the 21st century
Manifesting your core values with citizen-driven innovation
Communicating your core values
Example 1 – Dream for Sweden campaign
Example 2 – Dream for Earth 2021 campaign
Summary
Chapter 3: The Dream! Hack! Build! Method
Why the Dream! Hack! Build! method is more impactful than merely hosting a single hackathon event
The United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals
Understanding the Dream! Hack! Build! method
Storytelling and communication
Partnerships
Example – a global hackathon at Dubai Expo 2020
The ABC of a hackathon’s success
Summary
Part 2: Introduction to How to Hack
Chapter 4: Creating the Perfect Challenge for Your Hackathon
How to create a great challenge that serves your purpose
Crafting effective hackathon challenges – building the foundation of innovation
The challenge categories – a framework for exploration
Strategic design of hackathon challenges and categories – fostering innovation and focus
Empowering participants through choice
Communication through challenge categories
Illustrating the relationship – challenges within categories
Inviting your audience to find the right challenges
Example 1 – Dream for Earth 2021 campaign
Example 2 – Dream for Sweden campaign in 2018-2019
Learnings of the Dream for Sweden and Dream for Earth campaigns
What signifies a great challenge
Challenge creation and communication
Summary
Chapter 5: How to Organize an Impactful Hackathon
Creating diverse teams
So, what are the types of teams you can create?
Meet & Match – team creation and networking session
Hackathon platforms
Communication channels
Communication timeline
Submission and evaluation
Networking and Meet & Match
Online hackathon versus IRL hackathon
Opening, closing, and prize ceremonies
Summary
Chapter 6: Communication and Managing Hacker Teams and Mentors
The importance of communication
A flexible communication plan
Internal communication
To whom are we communicating?
Communication channels
Social media as a communication channel
Communication channels with the active hacker community
Communication channels in a physical hackathon
When to communicate?
Communication with hackers and mentors
Hacker communication
Hacker engagement through communication
Mentor communication
Creating the right hackathon vibe in your channels of communication
Summary
Chapter 7: Partnerships for Success
The power and purpose of a strong partnership community
The importance of a diverse partner community
Finding suitable partner organizations
Crafting competitive partner packages
How can it be executed?
Managing your partner community
Mentorships
Jury duty
Partner communities in a national and international context
Example 1 – Hack for Sweden 2019
Example 2 – Hack the Crisis Sweden
Example 3 – EUvsVirus
Example 4 – Hack for Earth at Expo 2020 in Dubai
Value for partner organizations – communication, branding, and recruiting talent
Relevant resources offered by partner organizations
Summary
Chapter 8: External Communication and Social Media Presence for Hackathon Success
Communicating effectively to drive your hackathon
Exploring the variety of social media platforms and their uses
Exploring real-world examples
Strategies to facilitate interaction via social media
The three steps to implement your social media strategy
The nuances of various social media platforms
Another consideration – paid advertising
Building your audience and hacker community
Building a strong community
The importance of timing
Summary
Part 3: Introduction to How to Build
Chapter 9: Taking Citizen-Driven Innovation to the Next Level
The final step in citizen-driven innovation
After reaching the finish line
Traditional acceleration programs
Google Aristotle research
Why Build for Earth is unique
Exploring the challenges of making winning solutions come to life
Can’t I just have a hackathon event and skip the acceleration program?
Impact on the future
About prize money
Tracking winners
Example 1 – BrightAct
Example 2 – Recy-Block
Summary
Chapter 10: Converting Hackathon Results into Real Tools
Creating an acceleration program – Build for Earth
The importance of psychological safety in teams
How to create psychological safety
Transformational leadership
Working with virtual teams in digital settings
Content and themes in Build for Earth
Description of themes and content
Voices from participants
Setting up your own acceleration program
Summary
References
Chapter 11: Build for Earth Learnings – How to Make a Startup a Success Fast
General takeaways from successful hackathon winners
Example 1 – Recy-Block, winner of Hack for Earth at Expo 2020 in Dubai, 2021
Example 2 – BrightAct, winner of Hack the Crisis Sweden in 2020
Example 3 – Coronafree, winner of Hack the Crisis Sweden in 2020
Key factors for the success of hackathon winners
Grit, resilience, and relevant competence
Sense of urgency
Storytelling and communication
Pitch technique
A great team
Networking
Branding
Embracing incompleteness
Key takeaways
Summary
Appendix A
Appendix B
Glossary
Index
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