AIGA Seattle Green Salon

Let's co-create this page.

Here is a list of questions to think about around implementing this new feature - please add to/edit.

 
1) Knowing that they are already many directories out there, does it make sense for the WiserEarth community to yet recreate a green business directory? Who would partner with WiserEarth to make this happen so the WiserEarth community does not have to do the data entry?

JR: I think this question frames the opportunity in a way that misses the point.  The idea is not to create a green business directory.  The idea is to create a community directory that includes all the entities that are working for a just and sustainable world.   There are businesses working "for benefit" and not just "for profit."  We want to empower communities to work together and sometimes this includes supportive government agencies and businesses.

JT:  I feel that the WiserEarth Community Network has tremendous value to offer prospective green businesses.  I feel that the communities strongest asset is in our power to collectively provide un-moderated multi-lingual/ cross-cultural public-scrutiny of a prospective green business.  I feel that a business that can cross that figurative river/ bridge that figurative obstacle is welcome within the cyberwalls of WiserEarth under a payment plan like I outlined in the WiserBusiness Cert Wiki.     

2) What would be the overall positioning and value proposition for WiserEarth once we bring the three entities together (NG0/For profit/Government)?

JR: The value proposition stays the same.  We are putting and keeping principles at the core of what we're doing.  Accountability, integrity, transparency all help to ensure that the value proposition does not change.  What we will be doing is recognizing that change requires those that care and think alike to be able to come together.  Therefore we need to be inclusive.

JT:  I agree with JR's sentiments.  My only addition - at the moment - is that I feel it is important to highlight the tremendous value that this network offers a prospective business.  If they want to come into the network and become empowered/ have their credibility confirmed by the communities voice (through a certification program), it is natural to ask them to empower the community in a reciprocal modest payment plan which will help sustain the website financially and provide "the average WiserUser" with an oppurtunity to democratically take part in structuring the future of the Wiser Community; online and in the real world.

 3) What are the benefits of bringing in these new communities, and how will they interact with non profit community on WiserEarth?

JR:  They will interact in the same way people and organizations are interacting now.  The benefit will be that you can now get all the parties some groups need tobe metaphorically sitting at the table, or tangibly as members of a wiser or group.   I predict that the growth of wiserearth will increase dramatically.

MELINDA: We could invite businesses to pay for their dedicated space on WiserEarth, which would in turn help sustain the site. The value prop for businesses would be: 

"Grow your base and promote your business practices

• Create a customized community space with dedicated URL
• Benefit from an interactive marketing tool with your target consumer base
• Collect reviews and testimonials about your business
• Showcase the innovations your company is making in sustainability and socially-responsible business practices
• Receive direct feedback and suggestions from your consumer base"

JT: I concur with JR's sentiments.  Growth will increase dramatically.  I believe though it is important -- for the sake of respect and for the sake of honoring our community guidelines -- to set up a system of self-sustaining solutions that address the numerous concerns voiced by the community.  I also feel that it is mandatory to require payment of any prospective For Profit entity : See my Proposal 3 in Implementation/ WiserBusiness Cert WIki.

4) How do we ensure that the for profit profiles don't bring unwanted commercialization onto the site?

JR: This is a wiki site.  It will be very apparent. The purpose of being present here is not to sell products.  The purpose of an organization being in the directory is for them to be identifiable and discoverable as having the shared values of working for a just and sustainable world.

MELINDA: By implementing the above plan, where businesses pay to create a dedicated community space (essentially a more customizable group), they would be opening their doors to public scrutiny on their sustainable business practices. This would help attract businesses that are making a real effort to become more socially and environmentally responsible, as they would be welcoming the direct comments/questions/suggestions from their consumer base.

JT: I disagree with JR: I believe that commercialization / debasement of stated community values (perhaps in subtle ways/ forms) are a very real concern for the community.  My perspective -- through a combination of intuition and observation -- is that this might already be happening to some degree.  I feel my plan addresses these concerns/ empowers the community of Wiser Users by allowing them to realize their value -- when working together -- in a tangible way.

5) Should there be criteria for which for profit to be included on WiserEarth?

JR: I think the key criteria should be values alignment.  As long as any wiserearth member can comment on any organization or edit their profile we will be fine.

 JT: I feel we should establish further detailed criteria that -- like JR mentioned -- focuses on the values of the community.  Also/ in addition have prospective businesses pass through a mandatory "magnifiying glass" open WiserBusiness Group trial period (perhaps 2 weeks?) before allowing them site access. This will confirm the value of access to this site for a socially responsible business, and will let the community activate collectively to monitor/ regulate the access of For-Profits to WiserEarth in a streamlined/ efficient sustainable system. 

(ideally could evolve into geographical regional sub-wiserbusiness groups - linked to the major wiserbusiness group - who focus on monitoring the applications for prospective businesses in their area/ and-or specific language group etc.)

6) How does this affect the NGO listing we currently have? until now, WiserEarth has been selective in terms of the types of NGO to be included? See methodology

We should still be selective just not have the structural element be the determining factor of who is in and who is not.

JT:  I have concerns.  I will look into this further.  I feel there is a world of difference between moderating NGO's presence/ additions to WiserEarth and the potential for moderating the much more murky world of For-Profit Entities. I have confidence that my program will allow the WiserCommunity to approach this task with a clear head/ clear conscience, and should gurantee best results for the current community of WiserUsers, the maintence of our stated values, and for prospective socially responsible businesses.  And it will encourage growth of the movement toward a just and sustainable world created by community both in this online community space and in the real world, and further bring the 3 entities: NGO/ Responsible Business/ Gov. together in a holistic efficient system.

7) If WE decide to go ahead, should each organization's profile (NGO/For profit/Government) be clearly differentiated through the User Interface and how should this be done?

JR: I would not differentiate them.  I would simply have the type field indicate that they are a for profit organization or a government agency.

JT: I have gone back and forth on this.  I am not sure how challenging it would be to differentiate?  If it is overwhelmingly complicated I would go along with JR -- but this site is about working toward the IDEAL correct?  I honestly think they should be differentiated in an obvious way so users can distinguish the difference between an organization that is For Profit and a NGO/ Gov entity etc.  I am not computer savvy but my weak analogy suggestion would be the current difference between "resources" and "organizations"...

8) Data: should we collect data from other sites? Should businesses pay to have their profiles on WiserEarth?

JR: I don't think they should pay.  We don't want advertising. They're profile being on wiserearth means that somebody cared enough to associate them with what we stand for.   Let's see how they respond. 

MELINDA: I think they should pay. It is an enormous opportunity for the site to sustain itself. Cost structure would depend on size of business. See my above comments.

JT: I agree 100% with Melinda that they should pay ... and will take it a step further to say that to let any For-Profit entitiy on this site without a payment plan is wiservalue suicide.  I think we should take into consideration any credibility certifications that they have obtained: example B corp etc., but ultimately the organic active community will be our most effective safeguard/ the figurative 'gauntlet' of global multi-lingual public scrutiny which a business -- upon successfully passing -- will truly have proved its Green/ socially responsible integrity/ worth... 

See my Proposal 3 in Implementation/ and the WiserBusiness Certification WIki. 

http://www.wiserearth.org/article/7cec79f3cd0af11ff5b52bd5bc347839/group/suggestions

AP: