Definitions of

think tank

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Related phrases: foreign policy think tank uk think tank bush think tank think tank training centre birmingham think tank left right think tank think tank directory weikersheim think tank british think tank

•a company that does research for hire and issues reports on the implications wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

•A think tank (also called a policy institute) is an organization or individual that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economy, science or technology issues, industrial or business policies, or military advice. ... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Think_tank

•Think Tank is a discussion program on PBS, moderated by Ben Wattenberg. It has aired weekly since 1994. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Think_Tank_(TV_series)

•Think Tank is the seventh and potentially final studio album by the English alternative rock band Blur, released on 5 May 2003 in the United Kingdom. It represented a major musical change for the group with experimental and World Music elements being added to the usual Britpop palette. ... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Think_Tank_(album)

•Think Tank is the seventh live spoken word album from Henry Rollins, released September 22, 1998 on DreamWorks Records. It was reissued with new artwork on 2.13.61 Records in 2007. The first disc was recorded on Henry's 37th birthday at the House of Blues in Chicago, IL. ... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Think_Tank_(Rollins)

•Various mecha appear throughout the Ghost in the Shell series and often play the roles protagonist or antagonist, and are also used as philosophical and foreshadowing devices. The mecha are listed in order of appearance, sorted by type. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Think_tank_(mecha)

•Think Tank is a comedy feature film written and directed by the Brian Petersen, star of MTV's "Sportblender". The film was produced by Chris Wyatt and Sean Covel (Napoleon Dynamite, Beneath). ... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Think_Tank_(film)

•Alternative spelling of think tank en.wiktionary.org/wiki/think-tank

•A group of which performs research and develops reports and recommendations on topics relating to strategic planning or public policy, and which is usually funded by corporations, interest groups, or government en.wiktionary.org/wiki/think_tank

•A group or an institution organized for intensive research and solving of problems. www.glenbow.org/mavericks/teacher/english/thm_poli/glossary.html

What Is A Think Tank?

A think tank is a process for looking long and deeply at underlying assumptions and values (in volunteerism, for our interest here) and feelings. Beyond "how" to "why" Beyond "what" to "what if" Concentration is on ‘why’ rather than ‘how to’ questions. (There were as estimated 3,000 workshops on volunteerism last year; we would be very surprised if there were more than a dozen think tanks over the same time period.) Think tanks appear to have very special, perhaps even unique value for us in the following ways:

to challenge advanced and/or restless-creative leadership for a renewal of motivation, rededication as an antidote to hardening of the categories in volunteerism as an especially powerful process for examining long-range issues and directions (as distinct from basics) to focus on a organization’s main challenge at a different level from a basic workshop Hopes – within a broad framework of volunteerism, examined via the think tank process:

to get substantial help with at least one primary challenge/issues of immediate concern to you as an individual to contribute substantial help re at least one major challenge of concern to volunteerism in general to learn the think tank process well enough to teach it and apply it "back home" to contribute to a continuing evolution in understanding the potential of the think tank process

Who Is It For?

Coordinators or other leaders of volunteers –

Who are visionaries…explorers…creative and in search of challenge… who can entertain unconventional approaches to problems which have resisted convention solutions…who feel the big picture of volunteerism merits their commitment…who are willing to re-examine basic assumptions in volunteerism today…chronic questioners within a framework of faith in volunteering…the restless seeker of broader perspective…We especially seek people of a mature, self-disciplined distortion who are comfortable in sharing and completely reliable in observing confidentiality.

Almost anyone in the right situation, e.g., one which calls for renewal, re-direction, etc. Amount of experience is less important than how the person uses that experience… Genius is not necessary… Both sides of the brain are helpful… So is patience with the problems of others: ability to function in a relatively unstructured, self-directed group; and "benign schizophrenia" re resource role.

Who Is It Not For? THIS IS WHAT THAT WANT YOU TO THINK!

People who mainly need help with the practical basics, such as how to recruit, place and train volunteers… people with such immediate program or professional problems that they have very little energy to devote to the problems of others or of volunteerism as a whole… people who assume that sheer longevity in the volunteer leadership field assures relevance of this think tank to their needs and style. People who need definite structure, rules, and objectives tend to have a lot of trouble with think tanks.

Special features of a think tank are:

Everyone is both student and teacher, both seeker and "guru" Rules released from are more important than rules imposed. Largely self-structured group responsible for its own well-being Group works within broad framework rather than narrowly defined topic From there, freedom to dream, to pursue possibilities wherever they may lead Visualization, "what if" thinking, imaging are key processes Unanimity is not There is deep suspicion of the "obvious" Instead, we concentrate on getting beneath the surface to underlying assumptions, values, feelings It’s OK to "get personal" in fact, it’s hard to remain robotic In the above ways, the process helps prepare the ground for more effective problem solving. But, unlike more conventional problem-solving processes, we do not rush to offer "solutions" until we understand what the problem really is

When and where appropriate? Occasionally, for: Renewal Raising awareness Team-building Re-direction: Getting out of a rut Clearing ground for more effective problem solving Long range planning, visualization