Before we make our recommendations, we always clearly outline project constraints. The recommendations we make must achieve the objectives outlined at the inception of the project, while being respectful of the constraints that exist (by either accommodating them, or identifying ways to eliminate them as factors). We have identified the following constraints for this project with Global Studios (GS):
· Cost – An obvious consideration in nearly every project, cost is an exceptional consideration here. Many communication solutions could work well (developing a radio station, launching a newspaper, creating a cell phone friendly service system), but we have been told that the budget for a solution is minimal/negligible. The final solutions must have a minimal, financial set-up cost, and almost no financial cost associated with maintenance. (Note: We are not discussing resource costs as much because it is our assumption that with such a high unemployment rate, the community can find willing laborers to accommodate the final recommendations).
· Time – Another obvious consideration is time because the GS team only has until July 23rd (though members of the team can stay longer if they choose) to implement their solution or provide the members of the Diepsloot community with the tools and instructions required to complete the undertaking. The final solutions must be something that can be implemented quickly because the GS team should have the ability to watch their solutions in practice before leaving. Regardless of the diligence and thought the GS team puts into their solution, some obvious issues will arise once the program is implemented and it would behoove the GS team to be around for this first stage so the team can make recommendations for enhancements or improvements.
· Atmosphere – The tense climate and conditions in Diepsloot may potentially take some options off of the table as well, particularly as it relates to putting members of the government and community members in high standing at risk in town hall or larger community-based information events. The GS team will need to gauge the social climate upon arrival and determine whether or not any solutions requiring face-to-face communication/interaction are possible, or whether such solutions will invite additional conflict. In addition, our recommendations will include communication between public officials and community members. This is dependent upon how strained that relationship currently is.
· Mechanism – Because Diepsloot is a developing community with a large immigrant population, it is also important to consider the mechanisms used to communicate information. A high illiteracy rate means the written word alone will not suffice. A high unemployment rate means communicating information through employers will not be an effective channel for distributing information; juxtaposed, a high unemployment rate also provides a unique opportunity for communicating in social settings and environments—opportunities that do not exist for populations who are at work with their attention focused on their work. The final solution will need to employ a suite of communication mechanisms to ensure that the information people desire to communicate reaches as broad a population as possible.
· Social Networks - During our interview with GS, we learned that Diepsloot has a large number of informal community leaders who are recognized in the community as authorities. If GS does not engage these leaders in the process of developing a solution, we can say with the confidence that the team’s final proposal will not succeed and may actually be met with opposition.
· Focus – We felt compelled to add this one here, but perhaps more than any other project we have worked on, it is essential for GS to focus on the problem it has been tasked with solving: communication. Diepsloot is rife with issues and problems that GS simply cannot solve in the amount of time it has, and with the amount of resources it has dedicated. Whether it is crime (6 murders/week), unemployment (~50%), or blatant inequality (the impoverished Diepsloot is cruelly located next to Johannesburg’s affluent Sandton District), GS must keep it’s focus on finding a creative and functional way to address communication issues within the community without being overwhelmed by the breadth and volume of the issues facing Diepsloot overall.
With our objectives clearly outlined and our constraints clearly defined, we can begin with our recommendation. Ideally, if we have spent the right amount of time up-front (outlining the objective, interviews, research, defining the constraints), the viable answers should become clear and hopefully, even obvious. (In a project such as this, where viability, functionality and practicality trump all else, we firmly believe that our value is in our ability to ask the right questions up-front, define the objectives and constraints, and finally, to propose creative and practical solutions that satisfy the objectives while respecting the constraints).
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