Dynamic4 Ideas
Articles on the past, present… and possible futures of strategy, design, tech, and social innovation
Social Enterprise Day 2021
#WhoKnew 11 November 2021 is Social Enterprise Day – part of Global Entrepreneurs Week, and a day to raise the profile of social enterprise around the world and amplify their impact.
Taking a Breath
Reflecting on the Solve Problems That Matter journey. How it started, the purpose, the strategy, where I’m at now, and what’s next.
Get Your Copy of Solve Problems That Matter
Watch the Solve Problems That Matter book launch at SydDT and get the book on how to design, build & launch your social enterprise idea.
20 Years of Dynamic4. What’s Next?
Today is our 20th birthday! It’s also the official start of Dynamic4 v8.0. What’s that mean? What are we focusing on and why?
Dynamic & Adaptable. Dynamic4: The 20th Year
Dynamic & adaptable is the fourth of Dynamic4’s values – or guiding principles. Tomorrow is our 20th birthday. Being dynamic and adaptable is key to being around that long.
Solve Problems That Matter: Cover Voting Results
Thanks to everyone who voted on the cover design concepts and shared your awesome insights. The puzzle heart cover won with 38% of the vote.
Catalyst 2030: People’s Report
You, me and us. How unique are our stories? What can we do if we come together? Play today and play your part in holding world leaders accountable to changing the reality of those often left behind.
Social Sector Transformation Fund (SSTF): Sefa Partnership
We’re excited to be partnering with Sefa, Orange Compass, and Future Directors Institute to provide services to health and social service organisations as part of the NSW Government Social Sector Transformation Fund (SSTF).
Perspective & Context. Dynamic4: The 20th Year
Perspective & Context is the third of Dynamic4’s core values and guiding principles. An active reminder to be mindful of how we look at and see things, and the meaning we make – all through the lens of our purpose.
NAIDOC Week 2021: Heal Country
The theme of NAIDOC Week this year is Heal Country… a time to come together to celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Positive Impact. Dynamic4: The 20th Year
Positive Impact is one of Dynamic4’s core values and guiding principles. Our first impact report outlines what this looks like in practice.
WWF Renewables Nation Campaign
Dynamic4 stands with WWF and over 100 proactive businesses calling for investment in Australia’s renewable future to become a #RenewablesNation. #UnitedWeShine
Green Elephant Show – B Corp Month Interview
I recently had a fun chat with Mike Saville on the Green Elephant Show for B Corp Month talking about the intersect of B Corps, social enterprise, human-centred design/design thinking & innovation!
Solve Problems That Matter… What’s On Your Mind?
Solve Problems That Matter: A Social Enterprise Guide to Human-Centred Design & Innovation is the book format of our Jetpack program with the key aim of reaching more people globally. I’d love your help to test my thinking!
People First. Dynamic4: The 20th Year
When I wrote out Dynamic4’s values over a decade ago – which I frame as our guiding principles – People First was number one. This is the driving principle and core approach to everything we do.
Intent & Direction. Dynamic4: The 20th Year
It’s pretty common to be making plans for the year ahead about now. I’ve always been fascinated by planning – and its tension with reality. Some things I’ve learnt…
Multi-Award Winning CSI/UNSW Social Entrepreneurship Teaching Team
Celebrating two years as a Social Entrepreneur-in-Residence as part of the multi-award winning CSI/UNSW Business School teaching team on the Social Entrepreneurship Practicum – a capstone project as part of a Master of Commerce.
Purpose & Happiness. Dynamic4: The 20th Year
Purpose and happiness. A couple of simple words that seem to have taken on the burden of so many connotations… At Dynamic4, the core of our purpose is to help create the conditions for happier people and communities. I guess I better explain myself.
Social Enterprise Day 2020
Happy global Social Enterprise Day 2020! A day to raise the profile of social enterprise around the world! How can I celebrate?
Open & Curious. Dynamic4: The 20th Year
This month Dynamic4 entered its 20th year. It seems a good time to reflect on the journey so far and some key things I’ve learnt on the way… starting with being open & curious.
Formative Jobs Reflection
A few days ago a good friend posted an interesting reflection challenge on Linkedin… formative experiences that taught you a lot while not being directionally aligned with your career path.
Market Signals for More Ethical & Sustainable Business
I often talk about what running a good business means now. Operating ethically and sustainably is the minimum baseline and increasingly the expectation is that businesses include a clear social and environmental purpose – and ideally embed impact in their business model. Why?
Fullstack Web Developer: We’re Hiring!
Are you a talented up-and-coming dev who wants to spend your time building digital solutions for more equal, inclusive, and sustainable communities? We’re looking for another fullstack web dev to join our team.
Ben Pecotich, Reflecting on 25 Years. Part 2: The AMP Years (1998-2001)
A couple of weeks ago it was 25 years since I started my first office job at 17. Reflecting on the journey so far… Part 1 of this series covered the Westpac Years (1993-1998). Part 2 covers the AMP Years (1998-2001).
Ben Pecotich, Reflecting on 25 Years. Part 1: The Westpac Years (1993-1998)
25 years ago today at the fresh age of 17, I started my first office job at Westpac. The beginning of my non-linear career in strategy, design, and tech. Now seems like a good time to reflect on the journey so far…
Jetpack Step 6: How to Design the Minimum Solution
In Jetpack Step 6, the goal is to clarify what the end-to-end lifecycle and the interactions between customers and other key people who receive value from your solution look like.
Jetpack Step 5: How to Choose Your Legal Structure and Story
Your goal in Jetpack Step 5 is to gain clarity on your legal structure and funding options. You’ll also aim to tell a comprehensive story about your idea and impact – to attract supporters, investors, and collaborators.
Jetpack Step 4: How to Sustain Your Business
At the end of Jetpack Step 4, your goal is to gain clarity on the elements of your financial model and what would be required to reach monthly breakeven.
Win a Free Spot on Jetpack for Changemakers!
Win a spot on the 1 December Jetpack for Changemakers Steps 1 & 2 day in Sydney – worth $999. Get your purpose-driven startup/social enterprise rocketing.
Jetpack Step 3: Solve Real Problems
At the end of Jetpack Step 3, your goal is to have clarity on your solution concept and how to test the riskiest assumptions and pricing options.
4 Must-Haves: Is Your Startup Worth Helping?
What investors, philanthropists and mentors look for in your purpose-driven startup. Four key themes from the Amplifying the Value of Your Enterprise at the Social Enterprise Startup Bootcamp hosted by Allens Accelerate.
Jetpack Step 2: Create Purposeful Value
At the end of Jetpack Step 2, your goal is to have clarity on your target customers and the problem you’re focusing on. You should also have clear steps to test your riskiest assumptions.
Jetpack Step 1: Set the Stage for Success
Your goal at the end of Jetpack Step 1 is to describe your idea, its value, and the support you need to deliver it – within 60 seconds.
6 Steps to Launch Your Purpose-Driven Startup
We’ve worked with hundreds of startups. We’re often asked, ‘what advice would you give to someone who’s thinking about starting a social enterprise or a purpose-driven business?’ Over the years we have distilled what we have learnt from our personal experience into six steps guided by three principles. We call it Jetpack for Changemakers.
Jetpack for Changemakers… the Backstory
Being a startup for good can be very rewarding but it also comes with many challenges. Here are some thoughts on some challenges faced by purpose-driven startups and social enterprises, and what we’ve found to work.
Sydney Design Thinking Meetup. From 1 to 2,000 in 15 Months!
Milestones are funny and relatively arbitrary things but they do provide a good trigger for moments of reflection. Today our Sydney Design Thinking (#SydDT) meetup reached and passed 2,000 members… a moment to pause and look back on the 15 months since we started the meetup.
GA UX Design Guest Talk. Stuff You Might Want To Know…
I was invited to be a guest speaker at General Assembly’s User Experience (UX) Design immersive course. I decided to collect and share some wisdom from a few friends who are some of the most experienced designers and design leaders in Australia.
The Big Idea Webinar. Introducing The Business Model Canvas
I was invited to present a thought leader webinar as part of the The Big Idea competition coordinated by The Big Issue. In this 40 minute webinar I introduce the Business Model Canvas and provide some guidance on how it can be used in a social enterprise context.
Designing & Building A Website. Getting Started
We spend a lot of time talking with our clients and potential clients about designing and building websites, shopping websites and other digital solutions. For some, it can seem a complex process and be a bit daunting. We want to help make the process simpler. Here are four simple points to help get you started.
Start The New Financial Year Right!
We’re into the end of the Aussie financial year… time to finish it off well and start the new year right! To help, we’ve got a special offer running. Introduce us to your friends and they’ll get 10% off their first project if they start before 31 July 2015… and we’ll give you $100 for every friend’s first project.
Connect Golf: Calling All Social Golfers
Great news for social golfers (with an iPhone)… the Connect Golf app is now live in the Australian App Store. Connect Golf is all about making it easier to organise social golf…
Smart Locale: Building Smart Sustainable Local Economies
Dynamic4 is proud to be the digital partner for Smart Locale. Smart Locale is a collective impact program, initially focusing on the Ultimo Pyrmont precinct in Sydney. The mission is “Accelerate the transformation of the Ultimo Pyrmont local economy into an internationally recognised showplace for smart, safe, sustainable living by 2020.”
Search Marketing. The Basics
SEO… search engine optimisation. If you’re a small business owner, you’ve probably received at least one phone call or email in the last week by someone selling you SEO, PPC, SEM, SMO, SMM and some other acronyms. So… what is search marketing?
Web Design Tips
This is an email interview I was approached to do about web design tips for the Sensis blog. Some thoughts on what makes for attractive web design, how to create a great user experience and some key features your website design should include.
EventMojo’s Website Strategy
Dynamic4 is proud to be the design and technology partner for EventMojo – the online marketplace and community where you can find and book everything for your event. This is an email interview I was approached to do about EventMojo’s website strategy. Some thoughts on the approach we’ve taken and things we’ve learned on the journey.
Good Local: Doubts
It’s been a tough week. One of those weeks you kind of fear in the deep recesses of your mind but don’t give oxygen to, can’t afford to dwell on or you’d be paralysed with doubt.
Good Local: Making It Easier For People To Share And Trade Locally
Good Local will be a community and marketplace enabled by a digital platform to promote and map sharing services, making them easier to find and access.
Mobile Banking Applications Report 2013
BanterMob published the Mobile Banking Applications Report 2013 today. I was involved as a contributor to the report and was contacted by News.com.au BizTech “for some industry comment” for their Australian banks need to embrace mobile application users: Study article.
Design For Meaning: Local Sharing Concept
The concept I’ve decided to explore further is ways we might encourage people to ease up a bit on the mindless consumption cycle. A possible way may be to increase the awareness and adoption of existing local sharing services.
Design For Meaning: A Co-op Project For Positive Change
Last month (September 2012) Anthony Quinn, Yummii Ong-Tran, Stephen Cox & I started a little co-op project we’re calling Design for Meaning. Here are my ponderings…
