Hi All

The topic for this post is think tanks.  Finding a definition for what think tanks do was a bit of a challenge.  Ruser (2018) shared that it is challenging to define what think tanks do and even the influence they may have on policymakers is not well known.  United Nations University (2015) shared that think tanks are responsible for driving change.  Think tanks accomplish this by bringing people together to share and argue ideas.  An output of a think tank could be a survey, policy changes, or research (Ritter, 2009).   

There are several methods that successful think tanks utilize.  This discussion board will focus on three methods.  One method that a think tank can use is known as “without walls.”  The “without walls” methodology focuses utilizing technology such as computers and conference calls to bring people together to exchange ideas (Whittenhauer, n.d.).  This methodology allows large numbers of diverse individuals to gather and exchange ideas without the requirement to be in the same location.  This method has the ability to allow many people to participate.  This method is also relatively low cost as the technology utilized is paid for by the individual rather than the think tank.

Think backward is another think tank method (Ally, 2019).  The think backward methods require the think tank to think of the end state of the product and then define an approach to get to that end state.  This method allows the think tank to define the ideal end product and then define steps to get there.  One benefit of this approach is that there are deliverables along the way, so the think tank has the ability to measure progress. 

Creating an internal incubation fund is another method used by think tanks (Ally, 2019).  The benefit of utilizing an internal incubation fund is that it allows individuals or groups of individuals to focus on ideas that otherwise may never have been funded or prioritized.  The internal incubation fund fosters innovation.  The one drawback to this approach is that time could be wasted on ideas that will never be actualized.

According to United Nations University (2015) one of the benefits of a think tank is that think tanks provide a safe space for people to share and argue their ideas while having the opportunity to learn.  Think tanks also have the opportunity to shape research and policy.  Probably the biggest benefit of a think tank are the new ideas that are generated (Islam, 2018). 

References

Aly, O. (2019, July 6). Think tank methods. https://thinkandknowledgetank.home.blog/2019/07/06/think-tank-methods6/

Islam, M. (2018). The role of think tanks in social policy-making: The Bangladesh perspective. Journal of International Business and Management, 1(1), 1-13.

Ritter, W. (2009, October). The role of think tanks: Are think tanks an indicator for societal progress. https://www.oecd.org/site/progresskorea/43596145.pdf

Ruser, A. (2018). What to think about think tanks: Towards a conceptual framework of strategic think tank behaviour. International Journal of Politics, Culture, and Society, 31(2), 179-192. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10767-018-9278-x

United Nations University. (2015, March 17). What are think tanks good for. https://cpr.unu.edu/publications/articles/what-are-think-tanks-good-for.html

Whittenhauer, K. (n.d.). Effective think tanks. https://classrom.synonym.com/effective-think-tank-methods-5728092.html