Organizing a successful Hackathon event during the most difficult times in Sri Lanka
Over 80% of Fortune 100 businesses hold hackathons to spur innovation. More than half of the hackathons are repeat events, demonstrating that they are a dependable instrument for long-term innovation. Statistics show that most fintech-based companies are conducting such sessions frequently and in many other fields as well.
Why should we conduct a hackathon?
Hackathons?outperform typical innovation management approaches. It helps reduce the risk of product development and improves employee engagement through a focus on product thinking. Hackathons also help companies?find and retain excellent talent. During a hackathon, participants are encouraged to think through end-to-end product solutions, and this focus on customer thinking trains participants to adopt rapid prototyping,?improve?team collaboration,?and build community, brand, and leadership skills.
What is an internal #hackathon?
Internal hackathons are just for employees and allow them to forget about their daily obligations and constraints in order to create something creative. Teams work together to create a proposal, produce a prototype, and submit ideas to top management in order to gain financing or attention. These activities foster a maker culture, which is essential in today's digital organizations.
What are the benefits?
Internal hackathons are an excellent way to drive innovation within the company. If done well, periodic hackathons can help to
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The objectives of an internal hackathon.
How can hackathons help companies in the current crisis?
We have to find a solution to every problem that arises during a crisis. This may be a remote working method for some; for others, it may be secure and fast crisis communication, employee coordination, resource planning, delivery optimization, or online socializing. Hackathons help teams find innovative, creative, and surprising solutions. At the same time, three or four ideas are tested, and the one that fits best is implemented. For example, a new web application, a function for an online store, or a small mobile app can be created in a few days.
How did we organize a successful hackathon during the most difficult times in Sri Lanka?
We?had little clue that there was so much to consider in terms of organization. Considering the development environment, such as providing transport and other facilities, especially the inspiration just for our own engineers, we asked them to come up with their own topics that provide some solutions for the current Sri Lankan crisis situation. The teams may deploy the projects productively in the future, attached to the product development roadmap of the company rather than simply displaying them on the laptop.
The team was fully aware of the situation in Sri Lanka and accepted the challenge of organizing this event. In particular, the team invented fascinating solutions during the peak of the fuel crisis, high inflation, unsafe travel methods due to the unstable political situation, limited transportation, and immediately following the pandemic situation.
As a startup, we reached a major milestone by hosting the most successful event for the first time, which was rewarded by the attendees' energetic smiles. Furthermore, at the conclusion of the day, the team has come up with the most inventive ideas, which have included methods for automating elements of the country's most difficult timeframes and situations from various points of view.
Our leadership team also?offered technical assistance during the hackathon. All the teams created basic product prototypes that were utilized in the final presentation. A camera captured the judge’s facial expressions and estimated how often they were pleased, sad, furious, or anxious. The?results and the judge’s evaluations were nearly identical in the end.