Milliongenerations talk:Prize

A prize might be awarded to the most (positively) referenced contributor (or contribution). Some other mechanism in which the users themselves determine the outcome of the competitionin a pre-established (and transparent) system may also be viable.

• A prize will provide credibility and authority to the project.

• It will generate media interest for the cause and people will start to think about the assumption and questions.

• It may provide focus in the dialoge.

• It may provide a way to attract contributiors.

• It may allow to establish rules for the discussion.

• The prize should be given out on the basis of a panel judgement but rather as a result of common judgment of the users themselves.

• Such a system would require separating the contributions of different users. Editing the contributions of others would probably first require citing and copying and then publishing a modified version.

• It would also require mechanisms to prevent fraud.

• Users may be allowed to use aliases, but could only cite/reference with one unique identity.

See also:

• McKinsey's Study on philantropic prizes. They found that prizes are a powerful tool with open, competitive and media-friendly attributes, they produce change by identifying new levels of excellence and encouraging specific innovations and by changing wider perceptions, improving performance and mobilizing new talent and capital. The study identifies a number of promising practices that have begun to emerge, but also notes that designing and succesfully implementing prizes is hard work. Recommendations:
  • Start with clearly defined aspiration (= existence of future generations)
  • Translate into specific objectives that are
    • significant
    • motivational
    • actionable
    • results-focused
    • time-bound
  • design is significant and includes
    • specification of competitor pool
    • rules
    • award attributes that reinforce the strategy
  • Process is at least as important
    • attract candidates
    • manage competition
    • celebrate winners
    • publicize effort
  • Post prize activities
    • convert result into longer term impact

• X-prizes initiated by Peter Diamandis, who explained the history and rationale of the prizes at the Long Now Seminar of 12 Sep 2008. Prizes provide legitimacy to causes, draw attention and have an outstanding leverage.