Disqus - Latest Comments for rizwantayabali

Re: Participatory Design for a Sharing Movement News and Mobilization Website

Rizwan Tayabali — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 01:05:01 -0000

Just a thought on the partnership aspect. You could look at local language hubs in different countries/regions. These could be run by regional Shareable offices, or better still, local partners - there are a number of media based social entities in every country. Alternatively Shareable could encourage the startup of local entities that have to raise their own funding etc to operate, but can leverage the power, brand and support of a US based global Shareable hub to help get there. Maybe create a sort of shared and replicable model/franchise based on meeting quality standards rather than profits - i.e. the local entity can use the global brand and storage/hosting infrastructure as long as they meet quality and content standards and expectations and help fulfil the Shareable mission. In other words partners would use the same global template and functionality but with localised content; the best or most popular of which could be translated into other languages. Effectively Shareable would then be living its mission, by sharing it's capabilities and infrastructure with others who believe in the overall goal. The network could then grow spontaneously and much faster than it otherwise would.

Re: Participatory Design for a Sharing Movement News and Mobilization Website

Rizwan Tayabali — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 22:32:02 -0000

It's been great to see the development of Shareable from an idea into a fully fleshed out and operational project. The generosity and ingenuity that is shared is a rare change from the negativity and fear-mongering of most news and information sites out there. In a world of shrinking resources, the future has to lie sharing and co-ownership rather than the wasteful and proprietary protectionism that defines our current way of life. Shareable drives awareness and take-up and connects the early adopters in this space. With the web and connectivity evolving fast across the globe, there is huge and as yet untapped potential for Shareable 2.0. Definitely the network to fund.

Re: Adventures in North-Eastern Thailand.

Rizwan Tayabali — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:21:05 -0000

Too true! Although the previous night's alcohol usually helps on that front :)

Re: Globosocial Projects in Malaysia

Rizwan Tayabali — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 03:30:27 -0000

It's usually intense like this everywhere, but doesn't get as much of a write up because I usually tack it on to the travelogues :)

Re: Much Ado About Scale

Rizwan Tayabali — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 03:28:34 -0000

Nice article. I regularly see a dilution of quality of outcomes in the scaling process. The reality is that scaling social outcomes can and should be seen as independent of the organisations that create and prove the model of change. Recently put together some thoughts on scaling social enterprise here http://social-effect.blogsp... - thought you might find it interesting.

Re: I’m alive, I promise.

Rizwan Tayabali — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:11:09 -0000

Talking of good books, the best example of how much depth and dedication is really needed to understand a social context is the book 'The Corner'. It should be a must read for anyone involved in social change. Check it out if you haven't read it yet

Re: I’m alive, I promise.

Rizwan Tayabali — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:43:54 -0000

hey, on the question of why some countries are rich and others poor, read Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond. Brilliant attempt to explain why things are the way they are going back to a start point of modern human development 13000 years ago

Re: The Base of the Pyramid is a Lie

Rizwan Tayabali — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:02:26 -0000

The title was deliberately provocative to challenge the lazy acceptance of categorisation and terminology.

The report is not presented sensibly for the average reader. Purchasing power parity means nothing to the average person. I read the report and it definitely wasn't clear. While the report breaks the data down as it has to, the primary argument is still supported by aggregating the data into a huge homogeneous grouping of 4bn people, which I don't accept is sensible. Even coming from my usual view that people need to recognise more of the similarities in social challenges across cultures and economies.

The examples chosen do not accurately represent the nature of extreme poverty or even the nature of issues needing to be solved. Vast refugee encampments in Sudan, war devastated regions like Darfur or environmental devastated ones like Haiti now, AIDS and trauma decimated localities in central Africa... the long term viability for people is always economic, but the foundation for it is more complex and fragile.

No argument that poverty does not exist. Also definitely agree on human resilience and the longer term transactional basis of sustainable development. Same for the need for enabling people to become agents of change. Your last paragraph is perfectly apt. The problem is that most people don't have the understanding/experience you're displaying and trends towards simplistic presentation of human problems plus unchallenged use and acceptance of market categorisations like BOP is helping create a culture of people as markets and statisics instead of the empathic culture needed to create truly effective and lasting change.

Re: The Base of the Pyramid is a Lie

Rizwan Tayabali — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:25:08 -0000

Thanks oabello. Useful addition to the discussion. The key point I was simplistically trying to make is that it is important to challenge the even more simplistic categorisation, prejudices and assumptions that most people (including in the social sector) associate with this pyramid concept.

With regards to your first point, the assumption of any income at all is flawed when considering the significant populations surviving on humanitarian aid and handouts in conflict zones, migrant displacements, and areas facing environmental and political shock. Economic solutions continue to struggle here because they assume a market solution around stimulating wealth generation is the answer before addressing basic infrastructures like stability, health, hunger, safety and shelter when dealing with the extreme poor.

Also contrary to the point that all these income groups everywhere are intricately linked, there are significant interactional and geographic barriers between middle/low income and the extreme poor, except where the percentage of extreme poor is small relative to low income populations like in Brazil or India. In those areas the simple fact is that solutions are really targeting low income and not extreme vulnerabilities. In any case if we were to use the 'stands to reason' logic, you could argue that we're all just part of a much larger global market, but we know that's not solving the problem at all, just polarising the gaps.

The research report you listed is also clearly and conveniently skewed towards selling a case for economic and business solutions, hence homogeneously lumping 4bn people from completely different cultural and economic environments together in an apparent $5tn market. It doesn't make it clear if this is even an absolute number or relative like the $3000 purchasing parity threshold listed, and whether or not this is disposable or already tied up in survival expenses. As a basis for discussion then, World Bank or not, it is a report that is difficult to take seriously.

The really good point you make, albeit in a different way, is the need for holistic approaches to solving human vulnerability. Aid alone is not the answer and neither are business solutions. Infrastructural aid/investment plus economic and developmental opportunity are both key. The important thing to note is that the weighting is not the same at different levels of poverty, and looking at it as a convenient simplification isn't either.

Re: Hammertime!

Rizwan Tayabali — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:26:13 -0000

Thanks Bonnie. Totally agree. Unfortunately it's not even so much trained out of us, as not a part of normal development. Specialisation seems to be everything these days. Another legacy of a hyper crowded commercial sector! Actually I'm now working on course material around digital inclusion that is based on teaching transferable critical thinking skills to young people. We're having to make it up because nothing useful appears to exist!

Re: Adventures in Mexico Part 3 – The City & Sights

Rizwan Tayabali — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:26:53 -0000

nice pun ;) although I was sort of expecting them to be a bit higher. still, they were steep enough to make up for it!

Re: Project A - Journeys into the Social Unknown

Rizwan Tayabali — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 10:26:07 -0000

Thanks for the pointer. Would be great if you could put me in touch and I'll take it from there.

Re: On a bridge in Shelford

Rizwan Tayabali — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:54:37 -0000

Reminds me of this old saying by some greek guy I think - "No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man."

Re: Could Partnerships And Collaboration Save The Third Sector?

Rizwan Tayabali — Tue, 05 May 2009 05:42:01 -0000

Thanks Annie. I was talking more about partnerships for the myriad smaller social and charitable organisations that are struggling to stay afloat. These typically don't do any R&D, but you're absolutely right. Where charities are funding R&D for improved outcomes, particularly health, sharing facilities and pooling funds might be easier and more productive than organisational partnerships.

Re: Could The Retail Industry Save Itself Using Game Theory?

Rizwan Tayabali — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:11:40 -0000

Great point. You're absolutely right about transparency. Organisations would realistically have to work together openly not just within their industries but also with other key players like financial and regulatory institutions, and most importantly start talking to customers, to avoid unsustainable price wars. Otherwise you'd just end up with competing cartels that end with everyone right back at square one!

Re: The 15 Best Free Tools for Bloggers in 2008

Rizwan Tayabali — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:31:23 -0000

Thanks! Fingers crossed we make it onto the Google 10^100 shortlist!!

Re: Life After The Credit Crunch

Rizwan Tayabali — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 12:36:01 -0000

No worries. Will email you back when I get to my Inbox. Thanks for pointing out the contact issue... I should include some contact details on this blog!