The above situations could be the result of the In Touch Stakeholder project, a collaboration of Finch & Beak with USP Marketing Consultancy. The initiative is aimed at bonding different stakeholders in the neighborhood, increasing the engagement as a result. It consists of an online application with which the residents and local business stakeholders can exchange small needs and offer each other help. Building blocks for the applications are USP’s neighborhood research, ASK software for self organization and the application of existing social media.

With the use of In Touch Stakeholders, house owners stimulate an interactive and frequent converse between the different local stakeholders, leading to more active participation of different groups of stakeholders, and an increase of vivacity and quality in the neighborhood. As a social housing corporation, one stands to gain experience with the application of social media, create more openness and transparency in the neighborhood and, as an example of social innovation, it will benefit the corporation’s reputation.

 

The project starts with a study conducted by USP regarding the neighborhood experience of current residents and local business stakeholders who operate in the area. What are the positive and negative element that influence the livability? Furthermore, the study focuses on leisure, engagement willingness, willingness for volunteering, online and offline media consumption of residents and the employment of communication by local stakeholders.

 

In this (possible) continuation, the results of step 1 are custom implemented. Depending on the nature of the problem, the focus can be on stimulating collaboration, safety, exchange of knowledge and service in a “bob-a-job” fashion. ASK will be used in combination with social media to launch the interaction between residents and local business stakeholders in the area, in such a way that an ‘exchange economy’ gets going.

 

Finch & Beak develops the project plan and manages the coordination of the project between the social housing corporation, ASK and the neighborhood ambassadors. Furthermore, Finch & Beak actively guides the communication via social media and takes care of the communication with business stakeholders.

 

Explicitly, In Touch Stakeholders will deliver the corporation the following results:
• Insights into the experience of the neighborhood
• Benchmark with fellow social housing corporations who participate in the project
• Clear points of improvement to increase livability
• Development of the use of social media, based on target group’s individual preferences
• Concrete plan of action

In Touch Stakeholders has launched in September 2011. To participate in the initiative or to receive further information about In Touch Stakeholders, please contact Nikkie Vinke, consultant, at nikkie@finchandbeak.com or call +31 6 28 02 18 80