Page 11 - KZN Business Sense - Vol6 No2 -eBook

HOW A GLOBAL INNOVATION TEAM PLANS TO

TAKE ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

com) to assemble a team of The Raising of Ideas (Phase group is also creating solutions
design thinking and innovation 3) is when hundreds of ideas to assist SMEs, especially those
experts from around the world are generated and the best ones with insufficient government
to work together to develop selected and built into viable support, and provide effective
solutions to the crisis. The team concepts. The Testing of Ideas tools to continue education,
spans continents, representing (Phase 4) is also a critical step with a view to having a
many countries, including The as possible solutions must be presence at schools or
Netherlands, Germany, South validated. The final Homecoming universities that is impossible
Africa, Italy, Spain, Greece, (Phase 5) is when the team hands during lockdown.
Romania, Hungary, China over the viable solutions that 3. Solutions for the post-Covid-19
and UK. have been checked and are ready world, when the pandemic is
for implementation.
The goal is to reduce the negative finally over. This group
effect of the virus now and in the The project will last between five will focus on the opportunities
post-pandemic world, as well as to and eight weeks and the three inherent in this crisis. What
provide practical and immediate working groups have the following could be the “new normal”?
solutions, to contain the spread of points of focus: How can we create an even
the virus and mitigate the effect 1. Measures to reduce the rate of better life — socially, culturally
on infected people, social systems infection while preparing and economically? What
and the economy. health-care systems for the certainties are now less certain?
The task at and process at hand: effective care for all in need How do we prevent the
recurrence of such a crisis?
Coenie Middel — especially for those
With the assignment set and countries most in need of
he Covid-19 pandemic how we will survive this the team already past Full Steam help, including solutions for The need for people from all
has done what few ever unprecedented disaster, one Ahead (Phase 1), the members disadvantaged and over the world to stay home to
Tthought possible — that the UN has called the worst are Observing and Learning impoverished members of our limit the spread of Covid-19 has
grounded planes, shut mines humanitarian crisis since World (Phase 2), gathering relevant global family. ironically united us, despite the
distance between us, and this
and factories, emptied malls and War 2. The global economy information from around the group of international experts,
closed schools, not in one country is in shambles and a sense of world, and identifying the most 2. Innovative solutions that
only, but all around the world. desperation is palpable. critical issues (frictions) facing will alleviate the social and from all over the world, has come
people. Technologies are also socioeconomic effect of to find the innovative solutions we
As the number of infections This has encouraged Middel & Covid-19, including the loss so badly need. 
grow, and more people succumb Partners to spearhead a project being evaluated to determine of economic opportunities and
whether they can solve some
to the virus, governments, together with the FORTH income, depression, loneliness The solutions will be available on our
companies and civil society Innovation Collective (www. of the most critical frictions and reduced human-to- website (www.forthinnovation.com),
organisations worry about forthinnovation-method. and consider whether they are human interaction. This social media platforms and via email to
innovation opportunities. anyone free of charge.

DOMINATE INSTAGRAM THIS LOCKDOWN

Jacqueline Raw, Owner and Founder, there are many ways to build a and then going on to select the
Ycagel brand through Instagram. Jacqui right hashtag for your business
adds that those things aside, or brand is incredibly crucial in
s the second-largest social there is a single biggest missed your Instagram strategy.” Jacqui
media platform in South opportunity on Instagram – the however cautions that selecting
AAfrica (and growing strategic use of hashtags! “Using popular hashtags in hopes of
quickly!), cracking the Instagram hashtags strategically to reach new gaining exposure, will simply put
code has never been more audiences and engage your current your ‘artwork’ up in a museum
critical. According to Jacqueline followers is a massive opportunity against gazillion pieces of other
Raw, owner and founder of Ycagel, and when done right, is one of the content. “And then, what are your
Instagram is an ever-evolving single biggest contributors to your chances of being seen – really?”
platform. “Instagram stays close organic growth.”
to what their users want and have “Hashtags are like art museums,” So if you don’t go for the popular
a keen eye on their competitors; a Jacqui explains. “Some are huge ones, how do you select hashtags?
key factor that has contributed to like the Hermitage in Russia and Jacqui offers three top tips:
the platform’s growing popularity. others are as small as the Irma 1. Identify your hashtags: You
It is also for this reason that if you Steyn Museum in our home have a better chance of reaching
intend winning on social media country. The size of the museum new followers by posting your
in the next couple of months (and is dictated by the amount of pieces Jacqueline Raw
especially during this lockdown of art it has on display. The same content in a hashtag museum onto Instagram and type in your you don’t want to be labelled as a
period), you need to ensure you are rings true for a hashtag. The more that is not overly populated. hashtags in the search bar and look hashtag spammer by Instagram
featuring on Instagram!” images attached to one specific The strategy is to search for and at how big that museum is. If it’s a because you’re simply reposting
find hashtags right for you, in
From leveraging stories, creating hashtag the bigger, more relevant relevance and size, and then to reasonable size - compared to your the same hashtags onto each post
the right content and owning that hashtag becomes.” post quality content consistently current following, then bed that - create 4 or 5 different groups of
IGTV (IGTV is a standalone She adds that each hashtag until you outgrow the hashtag down as one of your new hashtags! hashtags that are relevant for you
video application by Instagram for ‘museum’ displays its own set of and move into a bigger museum. 3. Be selective: Instagram allows and rotate them!
Android and iOS smartphones); ‘artwork’. “Understanding this Take a minute jot down a list you up to 30 hashtags for each “This tactic works wonders – it
of all the hashtags you think piece of content, so make sure might take a bit of research and
would work for your business, ask each hashtag is there on purpose planning in the beginning, but
Hashtags – the Number 1 yourself the question, who is my and not because it sounds good! it’s going to work miracles in
target audience, what is my niche You want to reach the correct terms of growing your following
hack to grow your Instagram and what makes me different from audience that will engage in your organically,” Jacqui concludes. 
my competitors? content and in turn create that
following organically! 2. Research your hashtags: Go all-important lead generation that For more info, email
you have been looking for. Plus, Jacqui y.cagel@live.co.za

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