HACKATHON

Individuals coming together to problem-solve existing projects within workshops, this could be either online or in person.

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Summary Overview of the Engagement Tool/Innovation:

This toolkit aims to obtain creative solutions for a problem within a project. It looks to gain different perspectives to generate innovative approaches. The toolkit challenges teams to build a product within a range of restrictions. These designs are then judged by a panel with the best ones being chosen to be further developed and explored.

Role in decision-making:

The Hackathon brings participants to take part in problem solving within the design stage of the project. Participants do not have a say in which solutions are used for solving the project, however, they are given the freedom to create different solutions and show how effective their work would be. This would mean that participants have the chance to shape the project through the work they present.

Collaboration: bring together specialists from different fields to collaborate intensively on a specific problem.

Informing: participants are informed of the criteria and limitations of the project

Suitable for:

This tool would be suitable for a variety of projects, ranging from small to large ones, as the tool focuses on specific problems within the project. This tool would not be beneficial to community engagement compared to others; however, it would be useful to use it alongside other tools when expert and professional help is needed.

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HOW TO DO IT:

UGN would put out a brief presenting a problem they were facing regarding a current project they are working on. Interested individuals would express their desire to be involved and UGN would invite them to a workshop, either in person or online. From here the participants would work to find creative solutions to the project.

Following this they would present their ideas to UGN, or possibly a public meeting, showing their idea and explain how it would solve the issue.

If this final part is made public, then UGN could gather feedback from those attending on the different ideas and which ones they favour.

Format:

In person – The events could be held in person at UGN which would allow them to oversee the work being done and would allow for participants to have access to more materials.

Online – To engage a larger number of participants, there could also be an option to hold the event virtually, allowing participants to work from home.

Best to hold these in workshops where participants create physical solutions, therefore UGN would need to provide materials to either build or present the solutions