How do you create a Think Tank?

This is not a political issue, but I figured if there's anyplace that would have someone who knows how advocacy issue think tanks are structured, dKos would be it.

I'm looking to set up what is currently an informal, virtual organization in my company promoting a specific methodology, into a cross-department, enterprise-wide think tank promoting this methodology. (it's a software-development methodology)

If anyone has experience, or thoughts about how to set up such a beast, come on over past the flip and read some more details and leave me your suggestions. I'm sure I'm not the only one interested in how to start an issue advocacy group.

More on the flip...

I think most readers of dKos are quite familiar with passionate evangelism of ideas. One of the areas where I have this passion is in how I have to do my work. At work we've recently been participating in a mostly-underground movement to train people in ways to do their jobs differently that will make all of our lives much better. (at least at work)

We've been fortunate enough to have a powerful advocate who got us seed money and funding to set up curriculum and start teaching people. This has lead to a viral-marketing type of infection to the point now where some powerful people are looking to take over our little operation. Unfortunately, few people in the company know anything about what we're doing beyond the most superficial level, and that we're really delivering value to the company.

What I'd like to do is take our little virtual organization, which we call a Resource Center and turn it into a cross-organization think tank. This would allow those of us in our one department to keep the thought leadership in the Resource Center after the financial sponsorship will eventually transfer over to another department where it makes sense for this to live, but where no one is qualified to really lead it.

Thought leadership is really where this should go. The techniques and values we're teaching are acquired skills that require training AND experience to do well. (so many, many people in our industry do this poorly that having hte wrong people who think they know what they're doing in charge is a huge risk)

I've tried to look into some models of established think tanks and the one that spells out their model the most clearly is the Roosevelt Institution, a student think tank that sets up centers at universities around the country.

So, does anyone have suggestions, links, thoughts on how to set up such an intellectual advocacy, thought leadership, think-tank-esque, organization?

Thanks so much.

Plane Crazy

•  Thanks for any help you can give

  I really appreciate it. It's all about making our world a slightly better place through open communication and collaboration. Even at work.

  Plane

  by PlaneCrazy on Mon Feb 20, 2006 at 07:43:49 AM PDT

•  Steve Martin

  In one of his 70's routines, Steve Martin had a bit called, "How to become a millionaire."  The key?  "First, get a million dollars."  

  Same concept here.  Get a big pile of money, hire as many experts in whatever field you're into as you can afford as well as a good public relations/front person and some staff assistants to work the email, phones and faxes.  Start producing policy papers branded with your think tank's name and sending them to every possible outlet with an availability schedule for your experts to do interviews.  At the same time sponsor symposiums and endow scholarships and chairs at high-profile universities (who will likely be mroe than welcome to accept your cash).

  Then you'll be well on your way.  

  by ThirstyGator on Mon Feb 20, 2006 at 07:50:32 AM PDT

•  Why would you want to?

  I mean really, what do thinktanks accomplish?  They seem so elitist in my mind.  they probabaly miss out on a ton of opportunities to capitalize on the point of view of the average person.  I'm not saying expert advise is not valuable, but to the exclusion of all else is well...elitist to me.

  I'm more inclined to favor an open-source approach to a thinktank.  Get a group of people, experts and everydays and have them discuss topics and hash them out until you have something really wonderful.  I don't know if it's realistic or not but I'm going to try it and see what happens.

  by DawnG on Mon Feb 20, 2006 at 08:10:41 AM PDT

  •  Well the Corporate Side Has Invested

    googles of money into think tanks over the last 35 years or so, and it seems to have paid off very well for them.

    One problem with open sourcing is that the power structure installs spies and saboteurs to make sure nothing unpleasant develops. There's been talk of numbers CIA and other government agents working as reporters and editors in the mainstream media for example.

    Politics isn't about creating ideas as much as it is about capturing and exercising power. Given the stakes, there's no way an open source community will be left alone if its thinking turns towards meddling with the power structure.

    And if we don't meddle with the power structure, democracy is already over here.

    by Gooserock on Mon Feb 20, 2006 at 08:18:46 AM PDT

  •  "Back in the day", they were useful

    Think tanks used to be premier research centers, containing top scholars in particular fields, and leaving them to do research without the other responsibilities that university professors have.

    For example, the RAND Corportation (an Air Force-operated think tank) churned out some amazing work in applied mathematics (for example, Markowitz's work in finance and George Dantzig and his Simplex algorithm for linear programming.

    The problem is in the fact that the definition of "think tank" has changed. It used to be about conducting meaningful research. Now, you get groups with pre-conceived notions of what should be true and publish anything that supports your view (i.e. the Discovery Institute).

    by dennisl on Mon Feb 20, 2006 at 09:13:42 AM PDT