The Study Case of:

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The Study Case ofUnited Sounds Dortmund

• Christoph Kaletka
• 6th and Final SME ACTor Meeting and Workshop
• 24 October 2008
• Bucharest
• kaletka_at_sfs-dortmund.dec

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The Ruhr Metropolis
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Dortmund Part of the Ruhr Metropolis

• population 589.000 inhabitants
• unemployment 2004 19 2008 14
• market radius one car hour 18 million
• commuters in gt 80.000/out lt 58.000
• Main sectors retail commerce health IT insuran
  ce and banking logistics

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Former steel town ...
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... developing a new identity
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Target sector Cultural / music management

• Ruhr metropolis cultural capital of Europe 2010
• Decision not to target IT, logistics, MST
• ? Development of United Sounds as a music event
  organisers network had silently begun (grassroots
  / bottom-up, options for structural and
  methodical improvement)
• Sector Local / regional music scene, locally
  funded youth centers
• Target group Local / regional music event
  organisers

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Second tier facilitators The core team

• 4 learnshops (two-day learnshop at the end)
• 3-4 participants local youth and music center
  managers, music network organisers, event
  managers ? restricted number
• Aims Discuss and define the main goal(s) of the
  United Sounds network establish a core team and
  assign team members roles
• Aims (methods) Learning action learning by using
  action learning methods
• Very basic tools used repeatedly to create
  methodical understanding to-do minutes,
  visualisation, role of moderation, countdown
  planning

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Second tier facilitators Main results

• They learned action learning by using action
  learning methods (What does that mean?!?)
• Communication, results, techniques
• Core team structure as backbone of United Sounds
  built
• definition of network functions and long-term
  goals
• personal identification and belief in the project

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Labs for SMEs

• 7 learnshops
• 6-15 participants youth and music center
  managers, music network organisers, event
  managers, artists, local administration (SMEs
  local cultural stakeholders)
• Aims Establishing connections and a common
  interest between individuals re-establishing
  trust and communication structures
• History in cooperation critical factor
• Main tools used to-do minutes, visualisation,
  strong moderation and intervention

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Labs for SMEs Main results

• Growing number of participants
• Common goals defined
• First products (website, United Sounds events)
• Role of moderation given to 2nd tier facilitators
  at the end
• Automatic use of action learning methods and
  instruments

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Reporting on Labs Lessons learned?

• The brand-new facilitators say
• briefing and preparation are central aspects
• location and equipment simple but difficult
• Plan learnshop by defining aims, work contents,
  learning contents, methods, instruments
• Develop a project everybody can agree upon
• Learn about the role of a moderator
• Evaluate the learnshop
• What has been learned?
• Create new input

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Reporting on Labs Lessons learned?

• We say
• United Sounds is working as a network
• People feel responsible and work on the tasks
• United Sounds milestones have been defined for
  the next 24 months
• United Sounds makes constant use of action
  learning methods
• sfs withdrew from United Sounds in a good
  conscience

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Reporting on Labs Lessons learned?

• Final comment
• It was a striking experience to see how a few
  basic methods of communication can turn a flock
  of sheep into a relatively organised network and
  project (community of performance) with clear
  aims and strategies and accepted leaders.

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And after SME ACTor?

• Common learning
• Shared responsibility
• Consensus on co-operation
• Well-developed tool-kit
• -----
• Action learning changes the way you work!
• Silent dissemination
• Active transfer

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• Thank you !!
• Christoph Kaletka
• kaletka_at_sfs-dortmund.de