Think Tank Methods

Unit 2 Discussion Board 3

Think Tank Methods

Primary Response

ThienSi Le

CS875-1602C-01

Futuring & Innovation

Dr. Imad Al Saeed

 (25-April-2016)

(Source: Adapted from fpcd.org, n.d.)

In Unit 2 Discussion Board 3 on the topic of “Think Tank Methods”, students are required to do research on a concept of think tank methods. This short piece of writing will describe the think tank concept and discuss its models, methods and typical key points about them.

1. What is a think tank?

According to Caliva and Scheier (1992), a think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy. Think tank is called as a reflection pool that includes a group of intellectual experts and scholars who collectively perform research and develop reports and recommendations on topics such as strategic planning, public policy. Its purpose is, in general, assembling a group of experts together who reflect the ideas on how to solve certain problem or issue (Stone, Fisher, Miller, & Sidney, 2006). The think tank’s service is usually funded by the government, corporate, or special interest group such as political advocacy group but some independent civil society think tanks are established as non-profit organizations.

The think tank participants often apply a process that includes two approaches: (1) in-depth and (2) beyond the individual and immediate. In the in-depth technique, they seek to analyze potential factors and proposed solutions. In the technique of beyond the individual and immediate, they are willing to sacrifice quick and concrete solutions in favor of the longer term benefits and visionary ideas for a future. The think tank process goes beyond “how” to “why” and beyond “what” to “what if” (Caliva et al., 1992).  

The most-cited think tanks in the US in the order from high to low ratings are the Brookings Institution, the Council on Foreign Relations, the American Enterprise Institute, the Heritage Foundation, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (Mendizabal, 2011).

2. Management of the think tanks

In general, the think tank models for willing of learning and solving problems lie in many forms. These forms are workshops, conferences, consultations, seminars, brainstorming, and materials related to specific wisdom. People may seek consultancy, influencing, advocacy and independent research:

     - Consultancy is the work of consultations done by a commission from specific clients to address one or two major questions. Consultancies often respond to an existing agenda.

     - Advocacy is the influencing work done by communications, capacity development, networking, campaigns, lobbying, etc. It can be research based on emerging evidence from consultancies.

     - Independent research is the work done with core or flexible funding that allows participants the liberty to choose their research questions and method. It could be long term big ideas without policy relevance, but it may emphasize a major policy problem that requires an in-depth research and action investment. 

The think tank may use the following models:

     a. Old time model

         In ancient time, a think tank method is simple when a small group of scholars who gather to address the issue. They use the face-to-face method in meeting places such as the church or Senate session. For example, under Roman Empire, senators might meet to address or advice some solutions of the issue.  

    b. Telecommunication model

        A diverse group of experts may use other think tank method in the form of telecommunications such as telephone, radio, telegraphs, Morse code, etc. to tackle the problem in the late 20th century. Notice that telecommunication model is evolved from the old time model.

     c. One roof model

According to Whittenhauer (n.d.), the one roof model is a think tank method of which members gather in one place for face-to-face and immediate interaction under one roof to discuss the problem and find a solution. They use the telephone and written correspondence when the cost of travel prohibited the group from physically gathering in the last decades. The one roof model is an effective think tank method when immediate interactive conversation facilitates a heightened thought process. 

     d. Without walls model

The without walls model allows the diverse group to assemble not under one roof. With the Internet and the World Wide Web, the facilitator can communicate immediately through emails, Internet telephone, social media, networking, and virtual forum in interactive mode at the quick, effective and low-cost means. Notice that the think tank does not pay the overhead costs such as computers and utilities spend funding in primary research in the without walls model.

3. Think tank methods

Think tank methods are communication activities for discussion and solving the problems or issues. Struyk (2002) described eight typical think tank methods with effective scale of importance from low (score 8) to high (score 1) as listed in Table below:

Table: Typical Think Tank Methods
Methods	Scores	Note
Policy memos	2.1	Respondents rated the importance of each method on a scale from 1 to 8, with 1 the most preferred method. Source: Johnson (2000)
Public conferences	2.5
Formal meetings (with policymakers)	3.0
Informal meetings	3.1
Policy issue papers	3.2
Issue briefings	3.6
Parliamentary hearings	4.3
Draft laws and white papers	5.2

          Some key points of these think tank methods are:

     - Policy memos: Staff writes and edits the memo. Senior management does review. Publication person does layout and key changes, then print and distribute to related people. Staff prepares the mailing list, mailing labels and does stuffing envelopes.

     - Meeting with policymakers: Staff sets up time and arrange the meetings/

     - Roundtable discussions: Staff organizes the event including preparing and distributing invitation, sending reminders, handling questions, and inviting key participants. Also, other activities are refreshment and renting a place to hold the event. 

     - Seminar participation: Staff prepares the presentation and participates in the conference, travel costs, and costs of documents to be distributed.

     - Newspaper articles: Public relations staff identify a reporter who is willing to do an interview. A researcher prepares a customized write-up with an “angle” likely to appeal to the newspaper, and time to meet with the reporter and work further with the reporter later.

The think tank methods are the most effective if the basic ground rules are well established to promote an environment of cooperation and respect. For instance, under one roof meeting, participants, who sit in the circle in an atmosphere that boosts morale, productivity and staff retention, most likely discuss and solve the problem effectively and dissuade rude and disparaging comments. Struyk (2002) introduced eight management principles for managing think tanks as follows:

     (1) Employee motivation

     (2) Quality of work  

     (3) Internal innovation

     (4) Choosing the right team leader

     (5) External oversights

     (6) Structure of the group

     (7) Financial management

     (8) Proper communication.

These principles are considered as the practical guidance for maturing think tank organizations.

          In summary, the writing defined the concept of a think tank with its purposes and described the in-depth and went beyond process. It highlighted four reflection pool models and constructed typical think tank methods and emphasized their effectiveness in applications.

(Source: Adapted from thinktankwatch.com, 2016)

REFERENCES

Caliva, L., Scheier, I. (1992). The think tank technique. Retrieved April 24, 2916 from

           http://academic.regis.edu/volunteer/ivan/sect03/sect03b.htm 

Johnson, E. 2000. “Think Tanks in Sub-Saharan Africa.” In Think Tanks & Civil Societies, edited by J. G. McGann and R. K. Weaver (465–90). New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers.

Mendizabal, E. (2011). On think tanks. Retrieved April 24, 2916 from

           https://onthinktanks.org/articles/different-ways-to-define-and-describe-think-tanks/

Stone, D., Fisher, F., Miller, G. & Sidney, M. (2006). Handbook of public policy analysis: theory, methods, and politics, New York, Marcel Dekker Inc. 2006: 149–157

Struyk, R. (2002). Managing think tanks. Retrieved April 24, 2916 from

           http://www.resultsfordevelopment.org/sites/resultsfordevelopment.org

           /files/Managing%20Think%20Tanks%20(Second%20edition).pdf

Whittenhauer, K. (n.d.). Effective think tank methods. Retrieved April 24, 2916 from

           http://www.ehow.com/way_5728092_effective-think-tank-methods.html