NRE701 Master’s Project ProspectusProject Name: Promoting New Progress IndicatorClient: Redefining ProgressAdvisor: (Professor Tom Gladwin?)Group Members: Rina Horiuchi (rinah)Mike Horn (mikehorn)Greg Shopoff (gshopoff)Kris Jadd (kjadd)Purpose:Many flaws exist with the current GDP’s measurement of progress. GDP includes spending on disasters and other problems in society in its definition of progress while excluding factors such as level of health, education, and employment. Several institutions have created new types of indicators to address these issues; however none to date have been adopted nearly as widely as GDP or GNP. The purpose of this project is not to analyze the importance of new indicators, as this has been done by a number of organizations, but rather to address the issue of how a new indicator can be widely adopted. The idea is that if a new progress indicator becomes widely accepted, that common ideas of “progress” and the actions people take in order to achieve progress maychange as well. Main Research Objectives: Analyze how indicators are developed and then become adopted nationally as well as globally. Determine how a new progress indicator is adopted by different sectors – government organizations, financial firms, educational/research institutions, corporations, the public, etc. Develop a plan for a new indicator to become widely adopted. Have several key organizations to commit to using a new indicator.Audiences:Various institutes have done extensive research and development of new indicators and may be interested in learning how to have them adopted widely. In addition, organizations and corporations who focus on sustainability and have a role in promoting these indicators would be interested in the results of this research as well.Questions Included in Research: How is GDP currently measured? Who measures GDP? Who uses GDP? How was GDP widely adopted? At one point GNP was more popular. How did the shift to GDP come about? What are the business implications of an indicator such as GDP? What are the policy implications of an indicator such as GDP? What are the social implications of an indicator such as GDP? What are the leverage points in society that would help spread a new indicator? What would it take to have a new indicator adopted at a local (instead of national or international) level? What are the current indicators being used by major organizations to measure global progress?Research Deliverables: An analysis of the adoption of new indicators A strategic marketing plan for a new indicator Commitment from organizations to use a new indicatorResearch Method & Timeline:February – March: Research effects and processes behind existing indicators (including GDP) Research intensions and actions of current organizations addressing this issueApril – June Identify key leverage points throughout system that can spread indicators Interview various organizations who may adopt new indicatorsJuly – September Develop a strategic marketing plan for new indicator Test and gather feedback on this planOctober – November Write bulk of research paper Write plan for clientDecember – January Get commitment from organizations to adopt new indicators Track results from adoption of new indicators Edit Research Paper Edit Plan for ClientBudget:Airfare (4 people to San Francisco) $2000Accommodations (2 weeks) $3000Phone calls $200Printing materials
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