Richard,
How about the first mile? If we start from a different place the last
mile might be on a completely different road.
Many moons ago I experienced the Institute of Cultural Affairs. They
tried to start with a highly consultative approach in public meetings,
acting as facilitators with an eye to their ultimate absence. Laudable.
At the time they suffered some suspicion from their cryptic name that
was to close to the CIA. That was during the ex-patriot hey-day.
However this fellow Sirolli, suggests that the people you want at those
meetings, arn't there.
"Entrepreneurs never come,
<http://www.ted.com/talks/ernesto_sirolli_want_to_help_someone_shut_up_and_listen.html#434026>and
they never tell you, in a public meeting,
<http://www.ted.com/talks/ernesto_sirolli_want_to_help_someone_shut_up_and_listen.html#437732>what
they want to do with their own money,
<http://www.ted.com/talks/ernesto_sirolli_want_to_help_someone_shut_up_and_listen.html#440904>what
opportunity they have identified.
<http://www.ted.com/talks/ernesto_sirolli_want_to_help_someone_shut_up_and_listen.html#444520>So
planning has this blind spot.
<http://www.ted.com/talks/ernesto_sirolli_want_to_help_someone_shut_up_and_listen.html#448349>
http://www.ted.com/talks/ernesto_sirolli_want_to_help_someone_shut_up_and_listen.html
For low band width folks, the full transcript is available at the base
of the video window.
Alex
On 08/12/2012 11:56 PM, Richard Stanley wrote:
Crispin,
Te acuerdo, completamente.
Richard
===========
On Dec 8, 2012, at 10:45 PM, Crispin Pemberton-Pigott wrote:
Dear Richard
I really like the description of the challenge 'at the end' as the
'ultimate' one in the sense of if being the 'last one' (penultimate,
ultimate) but fear the word will be misunderstood.
There is another way to analyse the distribution chain and that is from a
more philosophical perspective. I am hoping Cecil (who is new to this group)
will rise from his slumber couch - it is amazingly comfortable - and comment
on this.
There are all sorts of challenges to the provision of improved and cleaner
stoves. One is suitability, another is a good fit into the transportation
network. Suppose the last mile is not a distribution problem, but is rather
the last mile of interactive design informed by a deep study of the cooking
culture and aspirations of the users?
In other words the last mile is the distance between the mouths of the
customers and the ears of the stove program managers. Words may not travel
that far whereas stoves can if you push them.
Another distance I find is long is from the hearts of the users to their
mouths. They may say very little, intimidated by the presence of the
economically powerful or extremely polite to the foreigners. When offered a
product claimed to be a step up, they may not have the will to say 'no.'
They speak with their feet.
The products may deliver exactly what the policy managers want, but isn't
that what all vendors think? So, given the colourful history of stove
projects around the world, it may be worth the effort to consider the last
mile to be an mental rather than material gap.
Regards
Crispin
_______________________________________________
Stoves mailing list
to Send a Message to the list, use the email address
[email protected]
to UNSUBSCRIBE or Change your List Settings use the web page
http://lists.bioenergylists.org/mailman/listinfo/stoves_lists.bioenergylists.org
for more Biomass Cooking Stoves, News and Information see our web site:
http://www.bioenergylists.org/
_______________________________________________
Stoves mailing list
to Send a Message to the list, use the email address
[email protected]
to UNSUBSCRIBE or Change your List Settings use the web page
http://lists.bioenergylists.org/mailman/listinfo/stoves_lists.bioenergylists.org
for more Biomass Cooking Stoves, News and Information see our web site:
http://www.bioenergylists.org/
_______________________________________________
Stoves mailing list
to Send a Message to the list, use the email address
[email protected]
to UNSUBSCRIBE or Change your List Settings use the web page
http://lists.bioenergylists.org/mailman/listinfo/stoves_lists.bioenergylists.org
for more Biomass Cooking Stoves, News and Information see our web site:
http://www.bioenergylists.org/
