Week 4:2<\/p>\n
There are some job titles that are so perfect that they become less than the subject that they describe.\u00a0 How about \u201cBusiness Development Manager\u201d, BDM? \u00a0The words are flat, like cardboard.\u00a0 I used to work with one when I was a Business Analyst and this morning, at Working With Newcastle <\/a>\u00a0a joint Newcastle Science City, Newcastle University event I met a bunch of BDM\u2019s from Newcastle University; if the job title is cardboard then these people are the origami.\u00a0 To be effective at the job a BDM must know: who knows what + and who needs what = bring together the \u201chave knowledge\u201d and the \u201cneeds knowledge\u201d.<\/p>\n One has to find people with knowledge that wants to develop \u2013 one way or another.\u00a0 It is all in relationships, the links between people, and active networks. Then you want to turn those links into business \u2013 into money \u2013 and that can so easily seem venal.\u00a0 But it is not.\u00a0 Mostly because the successful BDM relies on repeat business and repeat business relies on honesty, transparency and a willing seller, willing buyer principle.<\/p>\n Advice to Businesses by Tommy Lovell of Kablefree.\u00a0 His point of view.\u00a0 Universities have brilliant minds and knowledge that is different from yours.\u00a0 When approaching a university for collaboration then you should have an existing conundrum, a problem that needs solving.\u00a0 Work at understanding what strengths the University has.\u00a0 Stay in touch with them even while you do not have a problem because then, when you do that, something can spark.\u00a0 Keep yourself aware.\u00a0 Then.\u00a0 How do you work with the university and get a product out at the end?\u00a0 You must know what you want.\u00a0 Do not let them manage the project because if you let them run it you will end up with a research project.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0I wonder whether researchers on the whole would have a problem with this description.\u00a0 Tommy is very positive about working with Universities; it\u2019s just that he is clear about what he sees as the strengths that each partner has.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Week 4:2 There are some job titles that are so perfect that they become less than the subject that they describe.\u00a0 How about \u201cBusiness Development Manager\u201d, BDM? \u00a0The words are flat, like cardboard.\u00a0 I used to work with one when I was a Business Analyst and this morning, at Working With Newcastle \u00a0a joint Newcastle … Continue reading Origami People<\/span>