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what's an ideathon?

Why do this thing?

· ideathon,events

What is an Ideathon?
What is an idea? It’s a thought or suggestion to a possible course of action. In logistics, you need lots of ideas, your entire job is to figure out what the next step is, what action to take in so that you stay on course. What is a hackathon? according to google: an event, typically lasting several days, in which a large number of people meet to engage in collaborative computer programming.

Now if you combine but rearrange that, you have what we came up with for the SCLAA, an Ideathon. It takes people and combines them together with the tools they might need to engage collaboratively when looking at what the next step might be for logistics and supply chain in Australia. There’s no programming as such, its brainstorming, idea refining and working out value. Plus a little healthy competition from opposing teams to help stimulate progress.

How did it happen?
When I first joined the SCLAA (a volunteer logistics association) in 2017 the president (Dan) at the time asked what I’d like to do and my response was “bring students and professionals together”, I don’t want to go into too much detail but the following happened. Several months later, an opportunity came up with RMIT to put on a program which would do exactly that. So since roughly November December from memory, we have been planning this event and the big day is right around the corner.

Why do this?
The reasons for doing this are clear, students of logistics need to get to know the current generation of managers. And managers need to gain an insight into what the next generation's approach will be to today's problems.

So bringing young and motivated people with professionals, giving them a topic and the tools to work on a problem collaboratively… that's a no-brainer.

That's why we are doing this. To bring people together and to see what the next big ideas might be. And honestly, to bring a bit of the entrepreneurial-problem-solving into an industry which is very difficult in Australia (re tyranny of distance) but one with a lot of talented individuals (just look at what carsales.com did with auto ads as an idea of what Australian creativity can come up with).

Register where?
The event hasn’t happened yet so if you want to register, go here, there are limited places and they are filling fast. We have put a lot of effort into this thing so it will be a great day, the heart of the intent is there and execution will be too.