---
title: 'Conjunct Academy'
disqus: hackmd
---

# Conjunct Academy
Updated: 260819

# Table of Contents

[TOC]

# Internal Workstreams
---
### Meeting Minutes for 10 Oct Meeting with David

* Discussed takeaways from NCSS workshop
* Explored possibility of us managing the community as follow up - good test bed for our tools and content + BD opportunity
* Can start off with building a community page for them + putting all the tools we made + content for them
* Use their asset sharing tool to restart conversation and get people to start visiting each other etc
* **further work will be dependent on JC's discussion with NCSS next monday**
* Discussed about how Conjunct can rebrand beyond consulting activities

**Update on Existing Workflows**
* YSI - will get in touch with us after exams
* NCSS - pending JC's AAR meeting
* RAISE - pending XY's update
* Social Collider - pending XY's update

**To-dos**
* follow up on leads
* think about how we can manage the VM community post-workshop and how we can weave our tools in to solve their problems

---
### Next Steps for Each Team Member
**Nicholas**
* Commence product documentation for OpenJio and S4C
* Talk to SMU CLs on possible collaborations
* Follow up with YSI and NCSS leads

**Qing Ze**
* Follow up on SG Assist if necessary
* Follow up with OpenJio
* Continue with NTU lead
* Provide preliminary inputs for Nick for product documentation

**XinYu**
* Get into contact with Social Collider co-founder
* Talk to NUS CLs on possible collaboration
* Catch up with project
* *Future*: BD - lead generation

**Wei Ren**
* Catch up with project
* *Future*: Product documentation
---
### Stakeholder Management Snapshot
**Jia Chuan**
* branding, operations, how it will affect conjunct uni/pro
* current not aware of our plans and idea

**Yasmine**
* not updated on case studies, expected it to be done and that's it
* currently absolutely no bandwidth for us.

**David**
* supporting and seems okay especially when incorporating this into nccs workshop
* also thinking about the branding and integration aspects
---
### Recruitment

***Recruitment Target - 4***

* **2x Tech engineers**
* Design, create and implement solution

* **2x Business consultant/BD**
* Engage clients, scope problems, identify and design solution

***Status***
Confirmed Candidates:
* Cherie Fong - follow up once school settles
* Soo Han - QZ to follow up once SUTD sem starts

Further Recruitment:
* Looking more for tech engineers
* Shift recruitment focus to SUTD for now

---

### Landing Page
***Status***: Live @ tinyurl.com/conjunctacademy

***Source Material:*** [Template proposed](https://bulmatemplates.github.io/bulma-templates/templates/cards.html)

***Colour Scheme:*** #ee2228 (red) #26aef0 (blue) #010101 (black)

---

### Product Development
#### Event Page Management
**Client:** OpenJio
**Status:** Active, awaiting documentation

#### Page with Content Contribution and Upvoting
**Client:** Speak4Climate
**Status:** Active, awaiting documentation

---
# Client Overview
## Active Clients
---
### Openjio
**Client acquisition:** knew the founder and a volunteer, pitched the concept of using a free webpage that would host all their events because right now you can't track how users/event organisers benefit from the telegram channel

**Status:** Website created - up to Openjio to use

**Work Done:**
* Ability to host content from google sheets
* Displays Google Map directions when you click
* Banner to host priority events
* Displays poster
* Links to a second page (clone of telegram channel) with details

**Product Link:** [Page](https://fishbiscuit.github.io/openjio-prototype/)

**Next Steps:**
* Left SEO optimisation if we wish to pursue (QZ)
* Documentation Process (Nick)

**Impact:**
* 100% free
* OpenJio can now collect data on user behaviour

---
### Speak for Climate
**Client acquisition:** was approached to help with making a website to coincide with the National Climate Change Secretariat's call for public feedback

**Status:** Website implemented

**Work Done:**
* Voting function used off google sheets
* Contribution function used off google sheets
* Entire page hosted off Github

**Product Link:** [Page](https://fishbiscuit.github.io/test-repo/index.html)

**Next Steps:**
* Update (QZ)
* Documentation Process (Nick)
---
## Potential Clients
---
### Social Collider
**Status**:
* Xinyu has contact @ social collider and will contact them
* Trying to enter via SG Assist as well - email sent

**Potential Collaboration**:
* Tool provider as part of the "accelerator service"
---
### YSI
**Status**:
* Explore opportunity through meeting on 5 Sep Thurs
* Attendees: Nick, QZ

**Potential Collaboration**:
* Will find out more @meeting on 5Sep Thurs

---
### NCSS
**Status**:
* To get contact from David/Jia Chuan when meeting them next week

**Potential Collaboration**:
* TBC

---
# Our Value Proposition


Similar concepts: [open design kit](http://opendesignkit.org/), [forkngo](https://jlord.us/forkngo/), [bulma-templates](https://bulmatemplates.github.io/bulma-templates/)

:::info
Example products -
1. 'Tech blog' guides to help nonprofits learn about what they can use. [cheatsheets](https://github.com/gregsramblings/google-cloud-4-words/blob/master/README.md)
2. Frameworks that they can plug and play [nanodegrees](https://mrdbourke.com/blog/aimastersdegree) [nocode](https://www.nocode.tech/)
3. Tools that help fulfill data processing challenges
4. Web tools that are free and easily configurable [netlify](https://www.netlify.com/products/) [no code tools](https://x.workandwhistle.co/no-code-list/)
5. Repackaging existing open source tools to simplify user complexity [webuildsg](https://github.com/webuildsg/webuild)
:::

## Hypothesis
**The Social sector can leverage on tools that don't require extensive technical knowledge to improve operations at every stage of their project.**

Nonprofits are already leveraging on technology (such as google drive for storage, google sheets for feedback etc) for their projects. These can be integrated for even greater impact.

** Groundups in the Initial stage** -project planning templates to help scope out what Ground-ups can do. Web landing pages, calendars and feedback analysis tools to evaluate ideas.

**Groundups in the Scaling up stage -** Consolidate and build operational processes that are automated so as to free up time for volunteers to do what they really love.

Organisations at different scales require increased levels of automation.
|Scale|Term|Budgets|
|--|--|--|
|x1|Ground-up|$0-$100|
|x10|Cooperatives|$100-$1000|
|X100|Social-enterprises/Nonprofits|$1000-$10000|
|x1000|Charities/IPCs|$10000-$100000|

---

**Open Source philosophy and ground-ups are highly aligned.**

**Transparency**. Whether we're developing software or solving a business problem, we all have access to the information and materials necessary for doing our best work. And when these materials are accessible, we can build upon each other's ideas and discoveries. We can make more effective decisions and understand how decisions affect us.

**Collaboration**. When we're free to participate, we can enhance each other's work in unanticipated ways. When we can modify what others have shared, we unlock new possibilities. By initiating new projects together, we can solve problems that no one can solve alone. And when we implement open standards, we enable others to contribute in the future.

**Release early and often**. Rapid prototypes can lead to rapid discoveries. An iterative approach leads to better solutions faster. When you're free to experiment, you can look at problems in new ways and seek answers in new places. You can learn by doing.

**Meritocracy**. Good ideas can come from anywhere, and the best ideas should win. Only by including diverse perspectives in our conversations can we be certain we've identified the best ideas, and decision-makers continually seek those perspectives. We may not operate by consensus, but successful work determines which projects gather support and effort from the community.

**Community**. Communities form when different people unite around a common purpose. Shared values guide decision making, and community goals supersede individual interests and agendas.

[Open Source Way](https://opensource.com/open-source-way)

## MVP - Open Jio Event Page Management
Our first MVP is an event page template for OpenJio, that shows how we can help a GUI go digital for free, in a short span of time.

**Tech used** - Github Pages for hosting, Google Sheets as database, Google Analytics for web traffic data collection

**Intro** - Ground-up initiative using a Telegram channel as a portal to access events in Singapore

**Current State** - We're currently relooking at our vision w the new team! Want to focus on community engagement efforts as in, coorganising events with diff ground ups and building our network, so as to grow the community and encourage more to be involved! // and see how the blog and podcast fits in

In the long term it's more of advocacy and civic engagement! Perhaps even working with Corporates on how to improve CSR efforts as a bridge to the citizens and ground ups

**[Our MVP](https://fishbiscuit.github.io/openjio-prototype/)** - events page that replicates the announcement channel but allows for a more compressed view of all events. Users can click to go and access more details if needed

**Benefits for OpenJio**
* OpenJio can **freely host event pages** off Github
* **User activity can be discovered** on the event pages - allowing OpenJio to attribute conversion and driving of event attendance
* OpenJio subscribers **can easily see all the available events** and **filter their view** accordingly

# Project Plan
## Potential Operational Model
While providing the toolkits and templates for free, we can possibly provide services such as:
1. Customising built tools to nonprofits, whitelabelling products
2. Licensing fees for others to sell tools we have built
3. Workshops on how to use complex tools
4. Workshops on how to create tools
5. Workshops on introducing the latest tech platforms that we should be working on

## Ideal Project Cycle
> Our current hypothesis is that a standard product development lifecycle can run similar to that of the Uni-Consulting arm, operating in 4 key phases over the course of 4 months - allowing us to align to the semester timings when bringing university students onboard.

gantt
    dateformat YYYY-MM-DD
    title Product Pipeline
    excludes weekdays 2019-08-07

    section Design Team
    Needs Analysis           :active, a1, 2019-08-04, 30d
    Tool Creation            :active, a2, after a1, 30d
    Testing and Revision     :active, a3, after a2, 30d
    Deployment and Marketing: active, a4, after a3, 30d
    

## Project Ideas to be Explored

* Centralised data collection for some tools 
* Explore how to fully integrate our content across Github, Gitbook and Google Colab

# Toolkit Development Space
## Tool creation process
---
:::warning
The tool creation process follows three phases:
1. Gathering needs from NVPC/GUIs
2. Creating MVP to address needs
3. Perform reiterative cycle of getting and acting on feedback
:::

Academy -> NVPC/GUIs: Problem Enquiry
NVPC/GUIs --> Academy: I need to know how to XXX/ I need XXX but don't know how to get it
Note left of Academy: Creates MVP of tool
Academy -> NVPC/GUIs: (Show MVP) Would this address your needs?
Note right of NVPC/GUIs: Gathers feedback
NVPC/GUIs --> Academy: We need the tool to do XXX as well
Note left of Academy: Revise tool design
Academy -> NVPC/GUIs: Repeat feedback gathering process

> Read more about sequence-diagrams here: http://bramp.github.io/js-sequence-diagrams/

## Active Ideas
---
:::info
Contribute ideas for tools based on specific scenarios nonprofits encounter
:::
### Marketing

Feature: S4C Webpage - how to describe?
Background: 

Scenario: 

### Volunteer Management
> The real development I've seen of people in organizations, especially in big ones, comes from their being volunteers in a nonprofit organization - where you have responsibility, you see results, and you quickly learn what your values are. There is no better way to understand your strengths and discover where you belong than to volunteer in a nonprofit.
[name=Peter Drucker]

Feature: One-click deploy landing pages
    Background: having a web presence is key to most initiatives

  # Nonprofits needing to publicise and event
  Scenario: Event date is set
    Then single webpage is deployed with all details

  # Volunteers wanting event details
  Scenario: Volunteer signed up for the event
    Given volunteer has signed up and received confirmation
    When it gets closer to the event date
    Then volunteer must be able to view all details easily

> Read more about Gherkin here: https://docs.cucumber.io/gherkin/reference/

## Pending Ideas
### Volunteer Management

Feature: Overall Guide to Volunteer Engagement (Google Colab python notebook)
    Background: Sets the context for the "how", "when" and "why" of using the above features
    Content has been uploaded into Gdrive as volunteer_engagement_summary.docx

    Scenario: User needs to implement a volunteer engagement strategy

Feature: Feedback Form
    Background: feedback gathering is key to improving the volunteering experience
    As a volunteer, I want my feedback to be heard and acted upon

  Scenario: Volunteer completes a form (MS/Google)
    Given form is completed properly
    When volunteer manager collects the results
    And applies analysis
    Then automatic text processing can be applied to generate user insights

Feature: Volunteer Application Form
    Background: the onboarding process is the best time to learn about the volunteers
    The application form must ask insightful questions that reveal the 
    motivations and interests of the volunteer.
    
    Exact template with questions can be found in overall guide document in drive
    volunteer_engagement_summary.docx

    Scenario: Volunteer is signing up with a GUI (Google Form)
    Given form is completed properly
    When volunteer manager collects the results
    And applies analysis
    Then automatic text processing can be applied to generate user insights

Feature: Volunteer Communications Planner/Schedule
    Background: volunteer managers need to know WHEN to send WHAT messages
    Properly timed and relevant communications to volunteers will improve
    engagement rates and reduce churn
    
    Exact details of how this planner should work and what it should 
    achieve, can be found in the overall guide

    Scenario: Volunteer is signing up with a GUI (Google Form)
    Given VM has an average frequency of programs/events
    And VM knows the number and type of communications channels being used
    When all information is provided
    Then a monthly timeline is generated, showing when a communications 
    should be sent out, what type it should be, and the recommended template 
    for the specific communication type
    And the inputs from VM (event freq, comms freq) + output from planner
    is stored on our end to perform central analysis across GUIs

Feature: Volunteer Management System (Database + Signin Signout etc)
Background:
Scenario: 

### Impact Assessment

Feature: Theory of Change Creator
Background:
Scenario: 

Feature: Impact Assessment Calculator with data proccessing support
Background:
Scenario: 

### Team Management Optimization

Feature: RAPID Framework Implementation
Background:
Scenario: 

### Others

Feature: Ppt slides generator with different themes
Background:
Scenario: 

# Archive and Appendix
---
## Meeting Minutes
### Meeting Agenda for 21Sep/22Sep Weekend Meeting

**Key Insights from Workshop**
* Our asset-sharing template was very popular as a platform to promote collaborate and asset-sharing
* Several folks indicated interest to implement it with their own volunteer groups
* We need to think about how to implement and package (e.g. create github account for them? create conjunctacademy github as central host? etc)
* Event page template was also popular
* Volunteer Management system may not be an ideal area of focus
* Larger NPOs seem to expect/desire more established/complex VM systems - would require us building up very high quality software
* May still be applicable to smaller NPOs/VWOs/GUIs

**Moving Forward**
* **Takeaways from workshop - any change to our direction?**
* Workshop seems to validate our current direction, and has shed light on what products we may want to focus/divest from for now
* **Update/discussion on internal alignment with David and JC**
* Arrange next meeting with them ASAP
* Discuss with
* **Update on our previously defined "next steps"**
* YSI
* Poke
* Climate Change
* Chill for now - quite political
* NCSS
* Good lead, follow up with David and JC
* Social collider
* Poke 3 times liao, follow up (Xinyu)
* RAISE
* (Xinyu) can get a list, contact separately
* **Defining our current "next steps"**
* Arrange meeting
* Follow up on leads
* Clean up the products
* Explore this community managing opp with NCSS
* Discuss with David and Jia Chuan
* Can be: full on community managing, mini-consulting
* Take advantage of our takeaways from the topic modelling
* Note: October will be a bad month for XY
* **Manpower update - Soo Han?**
* QZ meet up

### 7 Aug Meeting with OpenJio
- OpenJio's goals discussed, they want to pursue more into co-organising events
- Willing to try a prototype but ultimately is looking at improving their core offering of a telegram channel
- Concerned about NVPC's own initiative in collating events
- Looking at Wix as their solution

### 8 Aug Meeting with NVPC
**Agenda**
1. Understand first impression of tool
2. Value Prop Validation
3. Identify other needs to address
4. Understand more about GUIs
5. Next task for FAQ Collab
6. Post-meeting thoughts

**1. First Impression of Tool**
* Second-class alternative to WIX
* Value of time-saving and cost-saving is not clear

**2. Idea Validation**
Mainly concerns
Can see where we are coming from
* Missing human touch
* Cost-saving and time-saving may not be significant enough
* WIX can do data analytics for low cost as well
* Contextual problems often implicate emotions,ego,legacy etc, which cannot be addressed without human touch

**3. Identify Other Needs to Address**
* Web crawling feature (For OpenJio)
* Feature to seek out keywords across many pages to aid in updating information (For databases)
* Legal advice (careful to commiting to solution, even lawyers always give conditional answers)
* Where to find physical space to address
* Strategic planning on how to break big goals down into achievable smaller milestones

**4. More contextual knowledge about GUIs**
* Majority of GUIs - satisfied with current scale, or unwilling to commit to scaling up (e.g. IRL commitments)
* Minority of GUIs - big goals, seeking help to grow fast
* Interest in impact assessment is usually to understand if they are actually making an impact

**5. Next task for NVPC Collab**
Pass over whatever content we have by end of August

**6. Post-meeting thoughts**
* Problem/Needs not as urgent in the GUI space, may need to consider the NPO space again
* Need to really highlight the value of time n cost saving
* Need to address concerns like aesthetics of tools, ability to retain branding (e.g. domain name), customizability of the page
* Highly likely that GUI leaders will find it hard to appreciate the value without live demos
* Need to show how the tools would fit into their processes to aid their visualisation of how to realise the potential benefits
* Impact assessment seems like a no-regrets move

* **Decision point:** follow NVPC sensing of GUI needs, or follow our own sensing, and whether/how to start into NPO space (NCSS does not really have NVPC equivalent of team on the ground)

### 24 August - Internal Team Meeting
* Brought Xinyu and Weiren up to speed
* Wrapped up Hub engagement
### 3 Sept - Meeting with Jiachuan and David

### 4/5 Sept - Meeting with YSI

---

## Project Planning Ideation
### Workplans

gantt
    dateformat YYYY-MM-DD
    title Workplan (1 Aug)
    excludes weekdays 2019-08-07

    section Design Team
    MVP Creation             :active, a1, 2019-08-04, 2d
    Testing MVP with OpenJio :active, a2, after a1, 7d
    Testing MVP with NVPC    :active, a3, after a1, 7d
    MVP Revision             :       a4, after a2, 7d
    Discuss Go2mkt partnerships          :       a5, after a3, 7d
    15 Aug - Internal Update          :crit, a5, 2019-08-15,1d
    Next MVP                 :a6, after a4, 5d
    section C2 Uni Cycle
    26 Aug- Info session             :crit,   pc1, 2019-08-26,1d

> Read more about mermaid here: http://knsv.github.io/mermaid/

### Potential Operational Model
While providing the toolkits and templates for free, we can possibly provide services such as:
1. Customising built tools to nonprofits, whitelabelling products
2. Licensing fees for others to sell tools we have built
3. Workshops on how to use complex tools
4. Workshops on how to create tools
5. Workshops on introducing the latest tech platforms that we should be working on

Key Partners currently identified to assist with our go-to-market with our MVPs:
1. NVPC
2. A Good Space

:::info
Jing Kai from NVPC mentioned most groundups are more willing to just remain small and not looking to scale. However there are some that are just in the groundup phase and is looking to become social enterprises.
:::

Ground-ups we have spoken to:
1. Accomodate
2. OpenJio

Social Enterprises we have spoken to:
1. Praxium- volunteer management, bantu is just matching but doesn't help with all the other tasks
1. Growthbeans- marketing material, slides, helping with coordination
1. Sg assist- social enterprises in general might have some tools they need, can let us tour social collider with them
1. 5cents project adrian trying to make it more operationally sustainable, + some strategy planning
1. GUILD doesnt seem like they need anything. very established by now, just that they recruiting

The above partners are all deeply involved in the GUI scene, with the ability to connect us to the GUIs to do testing, needs analysis and finally getting them to use our tools.

### Ideal Project Cycle
> Our current hypothesis is that a standard product development lifecycle can run similar to that of the Uni-Consulting arm, operating in 4 key phases over the course of 4 months - allowing us to align to the semester timings when bringing university students onboard.

gantt
    dateformat YYYY-MM-DD
    title Product Pipeline
    excludes weekdays 2019-08-07

    section Design Team
    Needs Analysis           :active, a1, 2019-08-04, 30d
    Tool Creation            :active, a2, after a1, 30d
    Testing and Revision     :active, a3, after a2, 30d
    Deployment and Marketing: active, a4, after a3, 30d
    

### Project Ideas to be Explored

* Centralised data collection for some tools
* Explore how to fully integrate our content across Github, Gitbook and Google Colab
---
## Recruitment Planning
***Conjunct Uni Process:***
(Coffee Chat - Training - NCC - Final Interview)

***Possible Process for Us:***
1. Receive application form from candidate
2. Arrange for coffee chats, and ask them to look at our recent work
3. @Coffeechats - Have them present a business case for any of our recent works
4. Let candidates know that they will be informed in 2 weeks if shortlisted
5. Accept candidates + onboarding party after recruitment complete
6. Give them 1/2 weeks to absorb training materials and familiarize themselves with our existing products and the GoogleXGithub ecosystem

***Recruitment Process Ideas***
1. *Tech-slant*: challenge them to apply a tech product (their own, or open source) to a business case
2. *Business-slant*: Provide candidates with examples of past project deliverables (sanitised) and suggest a way to digitise/ apply tech to it
3. *Others*: Ask them what they're interested in and we quickly scope something that can be done in 2 days

---
## Landing Page Design

***Conjunct Consulting Reference***

About us
Conjunct Consulting is Southeast Asia’s first social change consultancy:
engaging, mobilising and empowering  talent to strengthen social good organisations in Singapore. 
We do this through consulting projects, strategic collaborations, and corporate skills-based volunteering programmes. 
Since our inception in August 2011, Conjunct Consulting has delivered 233 consulting projects with a total of 127 nonprofit partners serving various community needs and creating over $5 million worth of social impact.

At Conjunct Consulting, we equip our partners in the social sector with sustainable strategies and thought processes to ensure they are ready for future challenges. 
Conjunct also empowers the next generation of social change leaders with the business skills and knowledge needed for continual strategic change.

Our  Conjunct Uni projects help nonprofits in the following areas:

Financial Sustainability
Human Capital Development
Operations Management
Impact Measurement
Branding & Marketing
Strategic Planning

***Conjunct Academy Content***
*(Note - we need to be clear about our affiliation/history with Conjunct Consulting. And how we help nonprofits in what areas.)*

**About us**
Complementing the Consulting arm's strategy offering, Academy builds technology capability to accelerate social good organisations.

We equip our partners in the social sector with sustainable technology solutions and knowledge to improve operational processes while minimising the need for technical knowledge.

**What exactly are we doing?**
We leverage free and open source platforms such as the Google and Github ecosystems to create easily implementable tech solutions.

Apart from being free, open-source, and instantly deployable, our products enable data analytics by integrating google cloud n drive features into the products.

**Some of our recent works**
Our recent products are mainly focused on volunteer management, team management and impact assessment.

1. Event Management Page with user tracking analytics (Open Jio)- Link

2. Organisation Landing Page (Speak for Climate) with Content Contribution and Voting Capabilities - Link

3. Volunteer Management Portal - Allowing for volunteer sign-in, sign-out and information storage - No Link, just concept

**Join Us**
We are looking for tech-savvy folks to join us in the following roles! If you know someone who may be interested as well, help us spread the message :)

***Business consultant***
Business consultants will be meeting, identifying and engaging clients. You will identify the problems to be solved, and co-design the solutions with your tech counterparts, facilitating solution implementation once the product is ready!

***Tech engineers***
Exercise your technology and design chops by co-designing the solutions for our partners, and creating said solutions, and going on to implement it for our partners in an end-to-end fashion of service.

**Interested? Begin your journey now!**
Step 1: Fill in an application form here (https://forms.gle/W9TLpcAJS2WTRkQWA)

In the event of overwhelming responses, shortlisted candidates will be contacted directly to arrange a coffee chat session, while candidates not shortlisted will be informed as well.

Steps 2: Attend our coffee chats (held online through Skype!) from 26-30 August, and 2-3 September!

**Our Core Values**
###### tags: `Ideas` `Documentation`