HACKATHON DESIGN PLAYBOOK:Gathering Brilliant Minds to Reveal

BREAKTHROUGH IDEAS

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TABLE OF CONTENTSEpiphanies from a Dozen Hackathons ..................................................... 2

Why Hack? Getting Clarity on Mission & Desired Outcomes ...........4

Challenge Creation: Are You Hacking the Right Problem? ................8

Nailing the WHO: Team Formation, Mentors & Judges .................... 12

Creating an Environment Ripe for Hacking ........................................ 20

Hackers’ Guide to Hacking ......................................................................23

Now What? Extending the Hackathon Afterglow .............................. 26

Recommended Reading .............................................................................28

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EPIPHANIES FROM A DOZEN HACKATHONSFirst, a little background about our eighteen-month-long hackathon learning journey.

It started with a mini-hackathon at PCMA’s Convening Leaders 2017 conference in Austin. Jamie facilitated this session, with Donna assisting behind the scenes with hackathon design.

Truth be told, neither one of us had participated in a hackathon before, but as we studied this model more closely, we were fascinated by the many ways it could be used to unleash priceless peer-to-peer exchanges at events… exchanges that reveal breakthrough ideas and set the stage for more purposeful networking.

While this first hackathon wasn’t perfect, feedback from participants was very positive. The hacking conversations that took place were what every event organizer dreams of inspiring. One participant was so delighted, she signed Jamie on to host another hackathon for her association soon thereafter.

We knew we were onto something, yet we recognized there was still so much more to learn.

Fast forward to today - separately and collectively, we’ve facilitated more than a dozen hackathons. With each experience, we’re debriefing with one another to figure out what worked and what didn’t, so we can continue to fine-tune our design strategy.

HACKATHONS DECONSTRUCTEDHackathons first emerged in the ‘90s as sprint-like events where tech-types would collaborate to solve a myriad of challenges. Spanning 24-48 hours, teams would often compete for prizes and the honor of being crowned Hackathon Champs.

As this hackathon model gained traction, the focus expanded beyond tech circles. Business leaders soon recognized how hackathons could help them better compete in a highly disruptive marketplace.

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Now think about your events and the communities you serve – members, customers, employees, partners, etc. You’re engaged with hundreds of brilliant minds regularly and many are respected leaders in their fields. Hackathons are outstanding vehicles to tap the collective wisdom of your crowd to transform your industry… during your events and well beyond.

With this eBook, we’re sharing insights we’ve captured from our own journey, as well as gems we’ve discovered through interviews with others, to help you take this hackathon concept even higher.

Are you ready? Let’s hack!

Jamie Murdock Donna Kastner Experient Retirepreneur

What exactly is hacking?

The best definition we’ve found comes from Josh Linkner, serial entrepreneur and author of the best-seller, Hacking Innovation: A New Growth Model from the Sinister World of Hackers:

Hacking [hak’ ing] verbThe act of solving complex problems in unorthodox ways.

Discovering fresh, unconventional approaches that replace prevailing wisdom.

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WHY HACK? GETTING CLARITY ON MISSION & DESIRED OUTCOMESWhile we’ve introduced hackathons as a vibrant model for client-facing events, they can also be an effective business performance catalyst for your own organization – as they break down silos and foster richer, cross-functional collaboration.

Like many of the organizers we spoke to, a hackathon grants employees, members, and others permission to escape their day jobs and dream in a safe space. To dream big in an idea incubator of sorts, where all ideas are welcomed and considered.

This degree of creative freedom allows innovation to flourish. People love to be part of the solution.

HACKATHON DESIGN CONSIDERATION #1:

Are you designing this hackathon for an internal or external audience?

Early on, hackathons tipped in favor of external audiences, but there’s been a recent surge in hackathons for internal audiences (aka your employees).

For an external hackathon, participants might be members, customers, exhibitors, sponsors, partners, etc. As hackathon host, you might tee up a variety of issues for these hackers to tackle, including solving industry challenges and/or exploring new opportunities to seize.

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But when we flip this model to serve internal needs, new goals start to emerge, including:

2 Scout out new talent Hackathons on college campuses are multiplying and observing student hackers

in action is often more revealing than traditional interviews.

2 Boost product development funnels

WHY HACK?

Grow Network

Innovate

Solve Problems

Seize Opportunities

Make a Difference

Have Fun!

To help you ponder the similarities and differences between the two types of hackathons (external vs. internal), we’ve mapped out the benefits within two overlapping circles.

Imagine what’s possible when different-minded professionals co-create.

2 Advance corporate social responsibility

From local community causes to more expansive global initiatives, hackathons are a strong conduit for making a difference in the community.

2 Strengthen corporate culture Hackathons celebrate diversity,

teamwork, experiential learning, and extra-mile collaboration. Hackathons help us advance from intentions to purposeful actions that ultimately make a difference. Even a small change or idea can be a big win for everyone!

Amplify Brand

Transform Industry

Deliver on Learning and Networking Promise

Industry Advocacy

Increase Sponsorship Revenue

Boost Loyalty

Recruit Talent

Product Development

Professional Development and

Continous Improvement

Strengthen Coroorate Culture

Team Building and Collaboration

Improve CSR

INTERNALEXTERNAL

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HACKATHON DESIGN CONSIDERATION #2:

When the hackathon ends, what’s your desired outcome? Does it align with what’s important to your hackathon participants?

Taking a page from the Covey 7-Habits playbook, where we “begin with the end in mind,” it’s important to get clarity on the over-arching mission and desired outcomes for this hackathon. Once we hit the hackathon finish line, what will success look like? If you can envision that, the design steps to follow will come easier.

Keep in mind, your mission might not be to solve the problem completely. Instead, it might be to get a jump-start on possible solutions you’ll explore and test later. If that’s the case, be sure to communicate this to participants early on, before they accept your invitation to hack.

For hackathons held in conjunction with a larger conference, consider giving this crowd a mini-hackathon taste. Give them a chance to experience this first-hand and get comfortable with this approach.

The shorter mini-hackathon taste might give you the proof you need to launch a grander, stand-alone hackathon.

Don’t overlook that “mattering” piece. This challenge you’re hacking is important to you, but are your hackers just as enthused and eager to solve this problem? If you solve this problem, what impact will it have on them?

If you’re uncertain, go interview a few potential hackers to test your assumptions and get their feedback.

Keep in mind, when desired outcomes for the host and participants are out of sync, that’s a warning sign that you could be solving the wrong challenge.

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SPONSORSHIPS: ONE MORE PROFITABLE “WHY HACK?” CONSIDERATION Sponsors are longing for richer investment opportunities where they can connect in meaningful ways with your community.

A well-designed hackathon opens up all kinds of sponsorship opportunities, but it’s crucial that you start by learning more about the goals and objectives for your sponsors:

2 What brand perceptions are they striving to change?

2 Are your hackers in lock-step alignment with the segments that matter most to this sponsor?

2 How might sponsors be showcased as subject-matter-experts who can help teams design more capable solutions?

There are many roles your sponsors could take on, including serving as:

2 Strategic Partners – Embedded throughout the hackathon journey; The 8 Phases of a Successful Event will help you chart out valuable sponsor touch points.

2 Presenters & Mentors – Sharing insights and stories to help your hackers advance faster and better.

2 Judges – For hackathons that culminate with an idea pitch competition and crowning winners.

2 In-Kind Support – Providing anything that improves the hackathon experience (tools, space, F&B, prizes, etc.).

Don’t overlook the recruiting benefits for sponsors. With unemployment rates at record lows, many will appreciate this opportunity to observe your “best and brightest” hackers in action to scout out talent.

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CHALLENGE CREATION: ARE YOU HACKING THE RIGHT PROBLEM?The problem or challenge needs to be something the audience is passionate about. They need to have skin in the game. The “What’s in it for me?” benefit must be crystal clear and matter highly.

Articulating the problem to be solved accurately and concisely is crucial. Beware of broad and sweeping challenges – they’ll likely cause hackers to veer off course and get frustrated.

Ideally, you’ll describe the problem focus in a phrase or sentence, with a brief description that outlines a few more considerations that will be helpful to know as they hack.

HOW CORNELL UNIVERSITY TACKLES CHALLENGE CREATION Cornell University recently hosted Hilton’s first ever Hospitality Hackathon, where 115 college students were asked to build (hack) B2B or B2C hospitality solutions using technology. This hackathon spanned a weekend and we’re keen on how they framed three challenge categories for students to choose from, striking a perfect blend of structure and creative freedom:

1 Frictionless Experience This removes obstacles and makes the traveler experi-

ences as easy as possible. An integrated approach to put the customer’s preferences first through a blend of technology and physical channels. The goal is to develop an understanding of guests and create consistent experiences at every interaction with the brand. How might we use products to deliver a frictionless service or digital experience?

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2 Data, Data, Data Hoteliers’ most valuable application of artificial

intelligence is the mining of consumer feedback to expeditiously create and deliver meaningful solutions for guests. With the sheer volume of data flooding hoteliers today, machine learning can help with analytical tasks to power excellent experiences for guests. How might we harness data and use products to deliver meaningful solutions for guests?

3 Personalized Experience This aligns travel directly with the customer’s

individual preferences. It offers the right product to the right customer at the right time. For operators, many technologies – when used appropriately – can help with this effort. How might we use products to deliver priceless personalization for our guests?

THE POWER OF REFRAMING THE PROBLEMWhile many believe problem solving is the more arduous task, figuring out which problems to solve can be just as daunting. There’s an article from Harvard Business Review (HBR) that examines this challenge in greater detail: Are You Solving the Right Problems?

It opens with this startling statistic from a survey of more than 100 C-Suite executives:

85% strongly agreed or agreed that their organizations were bad at problem diagnosis.

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Later in this same HBR article, there’s a story that sheds more light on this problem diagnosis challenge, introducing a new concept – Reframing the Problem.

THE SLOW ELEVATOR STORYYou’re the proud owner of an office building, but your tenants are griping about the elevator. It’s antiquated, slow, and there’s lots of time wasted waiting. If you don’t fix it, several tenants have threatened to break their leases.

So you gather your team and start hacking away at this problem:

THE ELEVATOR IS TOO SLOW.

The team uncovers a few obvious hacks – but soon, they get stuck.

So you reframe the problem to this:

THE WAIT IS ANNOYING.

Suddenly, new hacks start bubbling up because the team is now focused on the wait experience.

BIGGEST TAKEAWAY FROM THIS SLOW ELEVATOR STORY?

When hackathon teams get stuck (and they will), encourage them to reframe the problem to open up new idea channels. You might share this story to help them better grasp this concept of reframing.

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TIME TO HACK IS ANOTHER CONSIDERATION FOR CHALLENGE CREATIONThe degree of challenge complexity is highly dependent on how much time you’ll have to hack. If you’re hosting a hackathon that runs a couple of hours or less, better to go with problems that are easier to fix. If you have the luxury of 24-hours or more, by all means, tackle the meatier, complex challenges.

“If I had an hour to solve a problem I’d spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about solutions.”

— Albert Einstein

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NAILING THE WHO: TEAM FORMATION, MENTORS & JUDGESNo doubt, you’ve experienced a few exhilarating brainstorming sessions.

You’re seated at a table with colleagues you respect. There’s a problem to solve that everyone cares about. The flow of ideas is fast and furious. The vibe is welcoming and inclusive. All voices are chiming in and there’s candid and respectful dialogue over the merits and perils of each idea proposal.

Then there’s the other extreme…

You’re seated in a room that’s chock full of naysayers who start each sentence with “That will never work.” Conversations are scattered because you’re trying to solve too many problems or the wrong problems. One know-it-all keeps hijacking the conversation. Before long, GroupThink sets in and the discussion unravels.

GroupThink (noun/North American):The practice of thinking or making decisions as a group in a way that discourages creativity or individual responsibility.

GroupThink intensifies when participants are like-minded, examining challenges using similar lenses. Fear can also be an accelerant. When there are differing opinions and trust is low, some resort to GroupThink simply to avoid conflicts and restore peace and harmony within the group.

Whatever the trigger, in the context of hackathons, GroupThink can be extremely hazardous, because it clouds our thinking and prevents us from exploring more promising solution pathways.

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HACKATHON SUCCESS HINGES ON DIVERSITYWhile our human default is to surround ourselves with like-minded people, innovators tend to seek out different-minded people, to usher in new perspectives and unexplored, yet plausible ideas.

We’ve both encountered GroupThink roadblocks, but as we started to experiment with team formation, gathering a more diverse mix of perspectives within each team, the hacking conversations improved considerably, with more and better ideas generated.

Diversity within teams applies to gender, age group, education level, title, etc. The more diverse the team, the richer the hacks.

Then one day, we hacked this diversity card a step further.

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INTRODUCING THE WILDCARD HACKERPeople would register for a hackathon and we’d review the list and strive for the highest degree of diversity possible within each team. We would have them hack for a round or two – then we would introduce the WILDCARDS.

Wildcards are folks who are somewhat familiar with the problem, yet not directly involved with the industry this problem impacts. In turn, they’re less constrained by cognitive bias and tend to ask great questions that reveal new possibilities.

For one hackathon, the problem to be hacked was for the events industry:

“How can we get attendees to book in the housing block?”

Hackers were hoteliers, CVBs and event organizers and they were looking at this problem through similar lenses. Our wildcards? They were people who attend or exhibit at events. Most were unaware of this room block dynamic and some were even puzzled by the term “housing.” Still, these wildcards shared intriguing thoughts about what might prompt them to book in the block.

Wildcards introduce new plot twists to the hackathon story – revealing things others within the industry would never see.

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PROFILES OF A SUCCESSFUL HACKERWith all this talk about diversity, there are still a few attributes you’d like to see running through most, if not all hackers:

2 Insane Curiosity – coupled with a strong propensity to ask WHY

2 Radical Candor – both given and received, they’re vulnerable and open-minded

2 Great Questioners – and even better Listeners

2 Strategic Thinkers – forward leaning and futuristic

2 Change Agents – often seeing “status quo” as the riskier path

SEVEN INNOVATION RULES FROM IDEOIDEO, an award-winning global design firm, takes a human-centered, design-based approach to innovation. Having hosted thousands of brainstorm sessions, here are seven important rules they follow:

1. Defer judgement

2. Encourage wild ideas

3. Build on the ideas of others

4. Stay focused on the topic

5. One conversation at a time

6. Be visual

7. Go for quantity

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SHOULD TEAMS BE ASSIGNED IN ADVANCE?It depends – hackathon size and scope will be a key factor driving this decision.

For mini-hackathons (2 hours or less), it’s smart to assign teams in advance, as this will allow more time for hacking.

For larger scale hackathons where there’s a community that’s already formed and eager to hack, it makes sense to let them form teams on their own.

You might want to allow others to join a team once they’re onsite. If you go this route, it’s best to kick off with a Meet & Greet where they can engage in conversations and explore which team they’d like to join.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ON A TEAM?This is the ultimate Goldilocks question: Too hot (too big), too cold (too small), just right.

Once teams exceed eight members, conversations can get scattered and hackers will struggle with idea traction. After experimenting with team sizes, here’s our “sweet spot” team formula:

4 Hackers + 1 Wildcard = 5 Highly-Engaged Hackers

Having an odd number of people on a team also provides that important tie-breaking vote, should it be needed.

With team formation covered, there are a few more people issues we’d like to address…

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MENTORSIt’s smart to recruit mentors who will circulate and provide coaching or feedback to teams, as needed. These mentors are especially helpful when hacking complex challenges.

Seek out subject-matter-experts (SMEs) linked to the challenge category. It could be a technical specialist or a generalist, with solid command over several specialties.

When teams are refining their solution pitches, a mentor might listen and weigh in with ideas to improve their pitch.

For one hackathon happening during a larger conference, we encouraged teams to go out during a break and recruit their own mentors. After all, there were hundreds of brilliant people attending the larger conference. The mentor “brains” these teams recruited were outstanding.

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HOST/FACILITATORYour ideal hackathon host or facilitator will be someone very familiar with your industry, but also a masterful communicator with a strong stage presence. This emcee of sorts will play a pivotal role throughout the hackathon, as they’ll be helping teams navigate through a number of hacking check points, while keeping a watchful eye on the clock to ensure everyone reaches the finish line.

Some choose to go with co-facilitators – keep in mind, this will require more planning and preparation.

When we’re co-facilitating, we’ll go in knowing who’s “alpha” for various roles throughout the hackathon. Through trial and error, we’ve learned that Jamie is best as host, with Donna layering in “color commentary” throughout the hackathon. Again, this also hits the diversity button.

If you choose to go with two facilitators, best to choose two people who know each other well and have collaborated or presented together in the past. No doubt, there will be twists and turns along the way and this history will help them shift seamlessly.

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JUDGESIf there’s a competition involved, you’ll need judges. We’ve found three to be the magic number for a judging panel – again providing that important tie-breaking vote, if needed.

Once again, keep diversity in mind as you assemble your dream team of judges. Industry influencers make for great judges, as they already have credibility. Sponsors also appreciate an invitation to be on the judging panel.

JUDGING CRITERIA FOR HACKATHON COMPETITIONSIf there’s serious money or prizes on the line, you’ll need to be clear about judging criteria.

We’ve experimented a bit – here’s the judging criteria we outlined for our most recent hackathon:

ORIGINALITY (25%)Is the challenge and solution distinctive and/or fundamentally different from existing approaches, services or products in the market?

DESIGN (25%)Does this solution incorporate proper UI/UX principles & design aesthetics?

POTENTIAL (25%)Is the solution capable of implementing and scaling? Is it poised to deliver meaningful and measurable value?

PITCH (25%)Was the pitch presented succinctly, yet powerfully? Was it easily understood?

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CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT RIPE FOR HACKINGMany attendees are longing for more “white space” at events and for good reason. It can help improve learning and networking outcomes.

2 More white space on the agenda allows time for reflection about big ideas revealed in education sessions. It also allows for discussion with peers about best ways to apply these big ideas.

2 More white space in session rooms gives attendees more freedom to move about and engage in discussions or hands-on activities. Active participation (rather than passive listening) helps attendees to remember more of what they learned.

This need for white space extends to hackathons, too. Remember earlier when we talked about how hackathons allow participants the opportunity to step away from their day-to-day world to dream big? It’s hard to dream big when you’re crammed in a tight space.

Big open spaces are ripe for extra-mile hacking. Here are a few more tips to design a hack-friendly space:

2 Nature feeds creativity In a recent study of hikers on a backpacking trip, researchers discovered a 47%

boost in cognitive and creative thinking when people are immersed in nature. While a hike might not be in the cards, a room with windows where hackers can get a glimpse of nature would enhance their creative thinking.

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2 Visuals outperform auditory and written prompts The human brain processes images up to 60x faster than what’s heard or read.

Give hackers whiteboards, chalkboards, flip charts, butcher paper on tables, etc. to sketch out ideas together. If your hackathon ends with a pitch to judges, these visuals can also be used for their pitch.

2 Creative & colorful seating clusters If you’re operating in a hotel ballroom, ask the

hotels for more imaginative seating and room set options (like what many now sport in their lobbies). Many properties are beefing up their furniture inventory, with cozy couches, bean bag chairs, etc. First impressions are powerful – if hackers enter the room and see something unusual, this will get their creative juices flowing instantly.

2 Ambient sound boosts creativity While raucous noise impedes creative thinking,

a recent study found that moderate ambient noise levels, commonly found in busy cafés, actually perks up creative cognition. We’ll often assemble a playlist to run in the background while teams hack.

2 Peaceful spots and breaks to ponder With diverse teams, you’ll likely have a mix of extroverts and introverts. While

extroverts are more inclined to think out loud, introverts prefer solitude to process their thoughts. Giving participants a short break every now and then in a peaceful spot, plus journals to capture their thoughts will be appreciated.

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2 Exercise to Oxygenate the Brain While hackers will spend the majority of their time at tables hashing through ideas,

at various points, you’ll want to get them moving. Maybe you’ll kick off with an early- morning 5K run. Maybe it’s a mid-day round of Simon Says. You might consider encouraging pairs to indulge in a 10-minute Walk & Talk. Why is this important? Check out Dr. John Medina’s Brain Rule #1 video: Exercise boosts brain power.

FOOD FOR THE HACKATHON JOURNEYFeed the brain!

Every hackathon organizer we spoke to mentioned food as an important consideration. You can let your budget and vision guide you. The traditional tech world often provides pizza and sodas around the clock, while others fuel the hackers with healthier options throughout the day.

Ideation is exhausting, but you want to keep the ideas flowing. Proper nutrition and hydration can help.

BRAIN-FRIENDLY FOODS FOR FASTER/BETTER HACKINGThere are oodles of articles out there listing brain-friendly foods, including this one, from Smart Meetings magazine: Serve Brain Friendly Foods at Your Next Event

Here’s just a sampling of the brain-boosting foods they recommend:

AVOCADOSFor healthy blood flow to the brain; also rich in vitamin K, folate & potassium

BERRIES, ORANGES, APPLES & BANANASBlue berries are chock full of antioxidants; Oranges & apples help boost short-term memory

DARK CHOCOLATEKnown to ease stress and enhance problem-solving skills – but moderation is key

NUTSHigh in protein and healthy fats; almonds and walnuts are especially good for memory.

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HACKERS’ GUIDE TO HACKINGWhether you distribute a guide for hackers to reference throughout their journey OR you choose to have your facilitator and mentors share tips at key points during the hackathon, it’s helpful to have a hip-pocket list of tips to help hackers continue to advance to the finish line.

Breaking down the hackathon into four key missions, here are a few hip-pocket tips to consider:

HACKING MISSION #1: EXPLORE THE CHALLENGE - BE CURIOUS! Before you dive into solutions, take a minute as a team to unpack the challenge.

2 Who is affected by this challenge? Step into their shoes. What are they thinking? How will solving this challenge make their life easier/better? What happens if they don’t solve it?

2 What are the “known rules” or facts as it relates to the challenge? The truths that cannot be argued. Is there data from a trusted source to back up your assumptions?

2 What information do you not know? What questions still need to be answered? Who might you reach out to (“phone a friend”) to get answers to these questions?

2 Experience the challenge using your different senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell). What new thoughts emerge as you explore the challenge in this multi-sensory manner?

2 Experience the challenge as a child, a grandparent, a city bus, a car, a pencil. Get crazy!

2 Deconstruct the challenge. Take it apart. Reframe it.

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HACKING MISSION #2: IDEA/SOLUTION GENERATIONThrow as many ideas as you can at the wall. Let the ideas fly. Don’t hold back. Be brave and let the crazy concepts fly! Tap into your WILDCARD and make sure they’re chiming in. They’ll have a fresh view for you.

2 What if…? Suspend disbelief. Remove constraints and push through cognitive biases.

The sky’s the limit.

2 Yes and vs. Yes or/Yes but Allow the ideas to flow and don’t shut anything down at this point. Use

“Yes and…” vs. “No, we tried that.” A new idea could come out of a bad idea!

2 Borrow ideas Where and how have issues like these been addressed before? Dive into a

larger view, looking at other solutions and adjacent challenges. What ideas can you borrow and tweak?

2 Reverse Engineer it Work backwards. Start with the ideal outcome and work backwards.

2 Mash up This is Reese’s peanut butter cup. When you mix chocolate with peanut

butter, you have something better than either ingredient on their own. What two things could you mash up to create something extraordinary?

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HACKING MISSION #3: SOLUTION EVALUATION & REFINEMENTNarrow your list of possible solutions down and identify the winning idea to perfect.

2 What ideas won’t work? Throw them out!

2 Again, think about all stakeholders and step into their shoes. “How will this idea benefit me?” What benefits will be reaped once this problem is finally solved?

HACKING MISSION #4: PITCHING YOUR SOLUTION Your idea pitch is a fun and critical part of the hackathon. Here are a few tips to help you improve your solution pitch:

2 Avoid industry jargon. Can you explain your solution to a two- year-old? To your grandparents?

2 What words are you using to describe your solution? Are they helping the judges to envision how your solution will transform your industry?

2 Does your team align with the stakeholders who will appreciate this solution? If not, did you reach out to get insights from others to close these gaps?

2 People remember the last thing you say most of all (Peak End Rule). What strong statement will you land on at the end of your pitch? What convincing and compelling value point will score you a spot in the winner’s circle?

HACKING MISSION #5: CELEBRATE A JOB WELL DONE!

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NOW WHAT? THE HACKATHON AFTERGLOWYou’ve inspired your hackers to reach for the stars and explore an assortment of incredible “what if?” possibilities. Hackers entered as strangers and many will soon exit as friends. So many amazing solutions spilled out and everyone’s jazzed about this experience.

This is the point when many hackathon hosts make the mistake of packing up their tents and wrapping up, without proposing a few next steps these creative thinkers might enjoy taking in the future.

You worked hard to build up this magnificent innovation momentum. It would be a shame to let it dissipate when it can be re-channeled in so many powerful ways.

Next steps you might tee up include:

2 Signing up for updates about how these hacks are refined and implemented.

2 Enlisting support for the testing and application phases for winning solutions.

2 Connecting this newly-formed community with one another, so they can continue these conversations, online and off-line.

2 Feeding this community content that aligns with the remarkable experiences they just savored.

2 Recruiting a few extra-mile hackers to become Mentors for your next hackathon.

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Hackathon participants want to see these ideas advance. It’s important to get clarity on WHO will champion these post-hackathon advancement steps. For an internal hackathon, HR will likely be your best champion. For an external hackathon, it’s often the host who serves as champion.

Bottom line: Be sure to save a few minutes at the end to pitch next steps. You might conduct a quick show-of-hands poll to gauge which next steps matter most to this crowd. Then make sure your champions deliver on your promise to do something with all this brilliance you’ve unleashed.

Do this well and you’ll be amazed at how this enriches, engages, and expands your community.

“Energy and persistence conquer all things.”

— Benjamin Franklin

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RECOMMENDED READING

Hacking Innovation: The New Growth Model from the Sinister World of Hackersby Josh Linkner

While we’ve pored over many books on this hackathon journey, this is one we’ve consulted repeatedly, as Josh Linkner has done a masterful job of “cracking the code” on hacking for nobler causes and making a difference. As he pioneers new pathways for innovation, reinvention, and transformation, Linkner reveals the Five Core Mindsets and Ten Primary Tactics of hackers as the new model for complex problem solving and fueling healthy growth. “Hacking Innovation translates the complex hacker philosophy into a simple, yet effective system for modern business success.” Be sure to check out his website, too: https://joshlinkner.com/

Creativity, Inc. Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspirationby Ed Catmull

Written by the president of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios, Creativity, Inc. is an outstanding guidebook for leaders striving to take their teams and organizations to new heights. We’re especially fond of Ed Catmull’s “Braintrust” model, built on this simple premise: “Put smart, passionate people in a room together, charge them with identifying and solving problems, and encourage them to be candid.” While Braintrust has been a catalyst for some of the most successful films in history, Catmull reminds us that success hinges greatly on the team dynamic. “Give a good idea to a mediocre team and they will screw it up. But give a mediocre idea to a great team and they’ll either fix it or come up with something better.”

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RECOMMENDED READING

Ask More: The Power of Questions to Open Doors, Uncover Solutions, and Spark Changeby Frank Sesno

There were two key traits running through nearly every extra-mile hacker we’ve observed – they were great at asking questions and even better at listening to the answers. This book, written by Emmy-award-winning journalist and media expert Frank Sesno, explores the art and science behind brilliant asking. “Questions help us break down barriers, discover secrets, solve puzzles, and imagine new ways of doing things.” This book is filled with interesting stories and techniques to improve questioning strategies, making it an outstanding guide to share with your mentors.

Hilton HackathonWe’re sharing this link to the Hilton Hackathon website, organized by Entrepreneurship at Cornell, as there are plenty of ideas to borrow. They did an exceptional job of curating information in one handy place to help their student hackers be more successful, including a vertical timeline to help them better manage their time and hit the finish line gracefully. Kudos to Ami Stuart, Tech Events Manager at Cornell and her team. The Hilton Hackathon is one of several successful hackathons organized by this mighty team. Click here to scan their full hackathon portfolio with more ideas you can borrow!

www.experient-inc.com