Work hard, play hard (Part 1)

Let's start with the work...

This week has been busy with lots of meetings and interviews.  Team 1 and 2 worked together to develop interview questions and a survey which was used to gauge the satisfaction of the current TechnoPark tenants as well as get their thoughts on the proposed new services of the Innovation Center.  We divided into pairs, generally one person from each team, and met with 13 companies and conducted a workshop for young entrepreneurs / students who are looking to start new businesses in the TechnoPark.

There have been several times this week where we had to stop and realize we were taking things way too seriously.  Or maybe a better way to put is is that we were operating as if we were dealing with other IBMers on an IBM timeline.  But time just isn't the same here in Izmir.  It's a very laid back city where meetings generally don't start on time and no matter how short the meeting is you still take time to enjoy a cup of tea.  So our entrepreneur workshop, which we prepared for 15 attendees, only had 3 participants.  Some had classes, some had job interviews, and some just slept in and missed the bus to campus.  Oh well.  Throw out the plan, adapt to the new reality and get the best information you can.  All 3 had great ideas and one in particular was very impressive in his ideas and his passion.  He'd make a great change management consultant for IBM.  We'll have to pass his name along to IBM Turkey!

We also met with the Recktor (President) of the University.  He's a key stakeholder in the TechnoPark and is the one who came up with the idea of the Innovation Center.  He's a very bright man, excellent communication skills, and a great sense of humor.  It was a pleasure meeting with him and getting his vision for the University and the TechnoPark.  And he gave us a bottle of olive oil produced entirely on the campus.  It's a special edition for the 20th anniversary of oil production on the campus.  Everything from growing the olives, to processing, to research in more environmentally friendly ways to manage the processing chemicals and product waste.

Today we worked from the hotel to compile all the data we have gathered into our Phase 1 deliverables.  Tomorrow morning will be a final polish of Phase 1 (analysis of proposed services) and then move on to phase 2 (implementation plans).

Tomorrow afternoon we're doing our community service day and will be working with underprivileged children.  Like typical IBMers we've spent hours planning the agenda ... how best to overcome language barriers, how to teach them something, how to inspire them to work hard in school and be successful in life.  And I'm predicting we'll get through less than half of the games on the agenda.  Oh well, such is life in Izmir!

#ibmcsc Turkey 8

Here are a few more work related posts from other team member blogs:

Serina has a very nice post about learning to Pause and get on Izmir-time.  She has another one about the drive to work.

Here is an article about or work at the University.  Sorry, it's in Turkish!

Antonio has a great description of everyone on the team.