Since 1996 the KaosPilots have worked with the concept of an outpost motivated by the desire and drive to create the very best organizational and professional framework for the school’s students when they head out into the world. At the same time the outpost functions as a professional and cultural receiver and transmitter for the education. And thereby inspires the entire organization back home in Mejlgade, Aarhus, Denmark, Europe.
The first KaosPilot outpost was in San Francisco, California (1996-2000), the second in Durban, South Africa (2001-2002), the third in Havanna, Cuba (2005). And then again San Francisco ten years after we did our first outpost in that beautiful city (2006), Vancouver (2007), Shanghai (2008 - 2010)
Normally there’s a differentiation between (at least) two forms of outpost: the general outpost and the focused outpost.
- The goal of the general outpost is to ‘scan’ the broad cultural, political economic and technological development trends in the geographical area covered by the outpost.
- The focused outpost is more specific in its area of interest, e.g. new technology or industry.
No matter what kind of outpost we’re dealing with, experience tells us that most outposts are driven and characterized by:
- An awareness that you get the most out of ‘new knowledge’ by being physically where ‘new knowledge’ is produced.
- The outpost being located in the midst of a dynamic cultural, socio-economic and political environment – the place new trends are ‘born’.
- The outpost not working with the same things the mother company usually works with.
- The outpost focusing on the future – a different focus and status than a traditional ‘overseas branch’.
- The outpost having the task of spotting potential future opportunities and the duty of (re)acting – fast.
2008 - 2010 Shanghai
2010:
The 3rd and final part will have the sole purpose of gathering, revisiting and updating all our experiences, knowledge, networks over the 3 years and sharing them though a DVD at the expo for people to explore Shanghai through explorative & innovative tours as well as cultural, creative, business filters, at the same time highlighting a social enterprise (Win, Win, WIn) approach to business in China.
2009:
This coming outpost will focus solely on the 'creative industries' from primarily a west to east perspective. We aim to work with Danish, Norwegian and Swedish SMEs and consulates in order to map out:
- the potential
- the overall process for entering the market
- marketing of creative scandinavian brands
- an overall strategy for companies in this sector to expand into the shanghai market.
We will do this through using and expanding our current network. 40 Kaospliots & staff plus our already established large local network (as a result of 08) inc. local experts, partner companies, and schools (continuing our work with and unique access to the post 80s generation students, the future of China in every way. Here is the students blog:
http://kaospilotoutpost09.blogspot.com
In the Spring 2008 - Team 13 went to Shanghai for a period of 3 months toplay with and explore the theme "Social Innovation". This was the first time the KaosPilots established an Outpost in Asia - but it will not be the last time (the Outpost for Team 14 in 2009 and Team 15 in 2010 will be Shanghai as well).
But why Shanghai?
Social innovation is happening in Shanghai. We wanted to explore, investigate and understand the trends in a country that repressed capitalism until not too long ago, and in a city with a huge population and a fragmented culture rooted in Confucian values. We wanted to connect with the “born after ‘80’s” generation who are rapidly moving forward. We wanted to engage with groups of Chinese students through projects and dialogue to learn how these and other complex elements relate to one another in shaping their future.
This is our short introduction to the Outpost:
And here is the students blog with facts, insights, inspiration and learnings.
Social Innovation: A travelors guide
Here is the result of the Teams outpost. A publication for those people beginning to explore SI & CSR. "You can always count on the KaosPilots to take you exactly where you need to go—in this case on a journey to the future." Alan Webber, founding editor of Fast company magazine.
2007 Vancouver
Team 12 went to Vancouver to explore the theme of Sustainability. Located at the KaosPilots homebase at 49 Cordova st & Abbott - and working together with our local partner Check Your Head the students engaged in a number of projects and with a long list of partners, organizations and companies. Click here for the project overview:
Vancouver was chosen because the city is at the forefront of sustainable urban development. Because First Nation culture and ideas are finding their way into the shaping of a new paradigm for leadership-thinking in sustainable societies. And because the city is a gateway between the west and the booming economies of Asia.
In the press: http://thetyee.ca/News/2007/04/04/KaosPilots/
2006 Nourisment for life
Team 11 spent 3 months in the creative and innovative melting pot of San Fransisco, California. Here they had a peak at what the future might bring when it comes to leaders of the future, corporate and organisational sustainability and generative dialogue. They worked with a numer of projects concerning the exploration of different perspectives within the sustainable future.
These projects culminated in a “Showroom for a hopeful future”, which was presented for american businesses and organisations in San Fransisco. The purpose of the event was to explore, inspire and create optimised sustainability through the 3 bottom lines: people, profit and planet. The event was repeated back in Aarhus to share the learnings and experiences with the Scandinavian organisations and business life.
Cuba
It all started with a question. Is it possible to surf at Cuba?....a group of students of Team 10 asked themselves, and talked about the waves of Mexico and the fabulous winds of Igla Margarita. Both of these are practically located in the back yarden of Fidel Castro, and the students therefore came up with an answer saying yes. Hence, during the 2005 outpost in Havana the students brought together cuban skaters, surfers and hip hoppers in an alliance with the Cuban Ministry of Sports and the EU to create the first cuban extreme sport festival ever. A rally between sub cultures, authorities and international interests!
The event attracted more than thousand people and is remarkable because the target groups are regarded as semi outlaws in socialist Cuba; and because the official Cuba and the EU hadn’t been collaborating for three years; and because the event was repeated in 2006 without the KaosPilots being present - and hartly ends up here.
The seven archetypes
The school is today inspired by the seven entrepreneurial motivation profiles developed by our own students in conjunction with students from the European Studies department of the University of Aarhus. The identification of these seven archetypes was the main conclusion of a large innovation project launched by the Confederation of Danish Industries in 2003.
- The business man
The traditional entrepreneurial profile. The desire to make money and attain economic prestige is the primary driving force. Works in a focused way to gain the comptencies necessary to start a company and is very conscious of the potential market.
- The mountain climber
Actively searches for challenges to push him or herself to the limit. A restless soul that is risk-loving and will happily start a new company from scratch when the privious one has become established.
- The playful child
Allows desire to drive the company. Wants to combine work with lifestyle or hobby, and is therefore not driven primarily by the desire to make money. Customers and the private sphere often melt together.
- The idealist
Politically conscious and not driven by personal gain, but want to do something for other people. Frustrated by lack of action for example around human rights, the environment and unemployment.
- The globalist
Travels unconcernedly around the world and is motivated by working globally with people who share the same values. The globalist’s products mirror the inspiration gained from different cultural environments.
- The inheritor
Has taken over an existing company along with customers and the network. Wants to maintain the company as-is and becomes the entrepreneur when the product or organisational structure needs to be changed.
- The survivor
Is almost forced into entrepreneurship in order to survive and is driven more by need than desire. Has, however, started from the bottom and as such has the freedom to decide the direction of the company.
In simple terms, the KaosPilots as an educational establishment can be said mainly to attract four of the above-named personality types: the mountain climber, the playful child, the idealist and the globalist.
The Chaordic Alliance
During 1996 and 1997 The KaosPilots established an external classroom in the Ferry building in San Francisco. Team3 had their 1 year outpost in the city and during that time the team worked together with Mr Dee Hock - former CEO for Bank of America and the founder of the VISA card.
Dee Hock has established the organisation The Chaordic Alliance working with research and the development of new organisational models - creating new ways of approaching the organisational challenges all organisations are faced with and creating new models that can replace the outdated models that most organisations have been working from within the past 400 years. Team 3 were given 15 questions and assignments from Dee Hoch to work with - all of them relating to the theory on Chaordic and how to find the new balance between Chaos and order.
The team were researching on needs, trends and possible new ways to organise, developing new organisational models for both the team internally and external customers and finally the team were working with how to communicate this externally and how to create fundamental understanding of the new challenges and opportunities.