Update on my Big Project for 2009
Written by Elmine Wijnia on April 17th, 2009[I apologize in advance for not being a native English speaker 
]
Update on my project from Elmine Wijnia on Vimeo.
What’s next on the agenda:
- a proper name for the project (suggestions are welcome!)
- planning
- costs
17
PM
Thank you for the update. It is very refreshing when a project is transparent like that, when you let it happen out in the open and let us follow along.
17
PM
I’m very interested in you findings. I realise we do not have the research you are doing (and I need your findings!!!) Change in the way we work is a hot issue in education (the knives are being sharpened). thanks!
20
PM
Elmine
Great idea - Is this not about telling a composite story about the discovery of a new way of life while the old way still exists. The pioneers like the early settlers in America or maybe like the Dutch themselves who fought for freedom against the Spanish and the Monarchical system (Orange was a new kind of King)
Only the story will hep others move. Only the composite story will have the principles in them to help see the pattern - for there will be one. The stories will be different but the pattern will be stable
On the funding side I have this suggestion: that you put together a fractal small whole of the entire thing - a few stories and the pattern - this gives you a visible and viable model that will have a better chance of getting funding than just the ideas
All the best
Rob
20
PM
I like your sense of historical perspective, Robert.
And putting together “a fractal small whole” is probably a good strategy to tackle this huge ‘monster’.
20
PM
Hi Elmine … I think video (and visual ethnography) is an interesting angle. Keep up your persistence - it’s the road to serendipity.
Perhaps you could do more frequent but shorter videos?
Talking of videos and on a completely different path, but lots of fun .. check out these videos of my friend Lucy. I love them: http://www.lucypepper.com/pt/
20
PM
I promiss the next update will be shorter and I even state a frequency in my project plan for the video-updates.
Love those video’s by Lucy Pepper. Thanks for the link!
22
AM
Hi Elmine, Nice video. Yes, maybe try to make it shorter. To a maximum of two minutes. In case you look for people for your project to be interviewed, I am available for interviews (in case you are interested). Regards, Simon
22
PM
Thanks for your offer, Simon. I’ll put you on my “wants to be interviewed”-list.
22
PM
I think looking for funds is worthwhile.
I also recommend really scoping it out quite severely (not that it seems to suffer from scope creep already from what you say) but the big big danger with this kind of project is indeed that it will grow and get out of hand.
My dissertation teacher told me: it’s almost as important to decide what you leave OUT than what you’re going to do research on (I’ve found that making a list of all the stuff I’m NOT going to cover helps).
I think the project is great, the topic is interesting and important.
Some project name ideas (not that I’m very good at this, but anybody can brainstorm):
- how we work
- working now
- us now at work
- work and change
I’m sure you’re aware that by documenting the process of this research, you are in fact illustrating what you’re talking about?
22
PM
Thanks for your comment, Stephanie. Good tip, about making a list of what I’m NOT going to cover.
Part of my plan is to think big and act small. One of my strategies will be to treat each seperate interview as an end-product. It will probably take a long time to gather enough interviews before I can compile them into a bigger story. By treating each seperate interview as a mini-documentary I want to keep it alive for myself and for anyone that is interested in the project.
Documenting the whole process is one of the key aspects for me, for several reasons. I will probably post something on that soon.
As soon as I decided on a name for the project I want to create a seperate website where I can gather all material I use and produce.
On the name: I was also thinking something like ‘the way we work’.
24
AM
Nice update- good luck pulling it together
24
PM
Elmine,
First of all I want to complement you with your first update; the start of the project is the most interesting phase, so it is good that you taped this also.
Second, I would like to recommend to read the book: deep change by Robert E. Quinn. His book is about the choice people make.
Last, you don’t have to apoligize for your English. It is much, much, much, much better then/than/dan my English
Say hi to Ton for me !
25
AM
Thanks, Richard