Here’s an Idea – the Currency of Creativity
After a brief recap of the lessons learned during Day 1 of the KiPiDi SYOB workshop and presenting the homework assignment, Day 2 was all about exploring a process (ideation) entrepreneurs can follow when generating business ideas / identifying opportunities that can be exploited for commercial gain.
As an aside, in attendance was Lineo Tsotetsi, the Councillor for Region D, Ward 35. Councillor Lineo had approached the KiPiDi team towards the end of last year with a request that we bring the workshop to Ward 35. The Councillor was instrumental in securing the Jabavu Youth Centre at the Methodist Church as our base for the duration of the workshop. A big Shout Out and thank you!
Entrepreneurship is a process
Back to the workshop. Relying on a lightbulb or “a ha” moment for ideas is all well and good, but unreliable. Ideation, when approached from the perspective of being a process that can be mastered by anyone, alone or in a group setting, provides a starting point for the would-be entrepreneur without an idea and who cannot get past the blank sheet of paper in front of them.
The class was introduced to three tools – brainstorming, mind mapping, and Walt Disney’s Creative Strategy – and soon learnt how to apply the process, before evaluating and short listing the more promising ideas using the Evaluation Board.
After working through the theory behind these tools the class was split into two groups and assigned the task of ideating and evaluating their own business idea using the tools they had just learned about. Each group would choose a representative to present their idea to the class.
No shortage of ideas in Kasi
If the outcome from the group activity was anything to go by, the Youth from Jabavu were quick on the uptake and applied the tools they had learned about to good effect. Two ideas, one from each group, demonstrated that given the opportunity Kasi is more than capable of identifying opportunities for new products and services that meet the needs of the community they are located in.
The first idea, a rooms for rent app, spoke to the growing need for accommodation in townships, specifically backyard rooms for young people trying to establish their independence away from the family home. While there are many classified ad and property for rent websites, none focus solely upon the rooms for rent segment in Kasi.
The second idea focused upon a learning app that digitises entrepreneurship education for the unemployed in Kasi. A digital “KiPiDi” so to speak.
Each group nominated a speaker who was then subjected to a rigorous question and answer session, supported by their team members.
MBA syndicate work by another name
While the ideas were definitely on point what was more important was the fact that the class was able to break into groups comprising individuals who didn’t know each other, work together in a short period of time, applying knowledge they’d learned less than an hour ago and deliver a presentation that was structured and ordered, one which they were more than capable of defending.
