hackathons: driving innovation through organic creation

HACKATHONS: DRIVING INNOVATION THROUGH ORGANIC CREATIONRACHEL PARSONS@PINKEERACH

HACKA-WAT?!

What it isn’t

Hacking into secured systems

Just for college kids

Writing high quality software

WHAT IT ISBUILD. COLLABORATE. BRAG.

What it is

Build something cool

Collaborate with other people

Friendly competition

HACKA-WHY?

ALL THE COOL KIDS ARE DOING ITSXSW, FACEBOOK, YAHOO, ATLASSIAN, DUOLINGO, CARDINAL SOLUTIONS, PACKARD PLACE

BENEFITS

Benefits: New Stuff

Products

Features

Bug fixes

“It was a chance to create some of the ideas for products that we always wanted, but

never had time to execute in our day-to-day jobs.”

– Duolingo’s blog on their inaugural hackathon

Benefits: Communication

Improved collaboration

New relationships

Knowledge sharing

Benefits: Morale

Engagement

Mastery

Autonomy

“Control leads to compliance; autonomy leads to engagement”

–Daniel Pink, “Drive”

HACKA-HOW?

Cardinal’s Approach

Idea Meeting

Team Prep Meeting

Hack Day

Idea Meeting

Pitch your idea in 2 minutes

Answer questions for 3 minutes

Pick projects & teams

Team Prep Meeting

Define requirements

Plan of attack

Set goals

Hack Day

Coding: 12 hours on a Saturday

Judging: 1.5 hours same day

Relax on Sunday

LOGITISTICS

Things to Consider

Know your participants

Location, food, & supplies

Consider intellectual property

HOW TO START

It’s Easy

Determine your format

Find a location

Schedule it