Activities & Outputs

Work packages

• Work package 1 - Project Management

  WP1 is responsible for project management and administration. In this WP the partnership agreement, project plan and virtual project room are established. This WP has the responsibility for a solid communication structure that provides an efficient information flow between partners. The WP leader will ensure that all work concerning the project is aligned.

  Activity output
  The project kick-off for SNOwMan was held over 2 days at VIA University College in Aarhus in November 2017. The kick-off was attended by all 13 partners and was the first time the SNOwMan partnership all met in person.

  Read more about kick-off and watch the video here.

• Work package 2 - Point of departure

  In WP2 the methodology guideline will be developed with focus on assuring the quality of the outputs. WP2 is responsible for carrying out an online survey of 200 business intermediaries and 80 interviews with SME owner-managers across the partner countries.

  Activity output

  Methodology guideline of the project:
  In WP2, a guideline for the overall methodology have been developed to ensure logical and efficient connections between concepts and outputs and the maximum validation of transnational and co-creative work processes. The guideline includes:

  • a condensation of existing counselling methodologies that are most frequently used by intermediaries
  • a preliminary concept of a new general counselling tool and supporting tools
  • competences needed and a list of roles and tasks in relation to transnational and co-creative work methodology
  • progression structure and action plan assuring the project’s end focus on achieving results and fulfilling aims
  • guidelines for quality assurance and risk management for all tasks and actions

  Data collection:
  The aim of the online survey and interviews was to gather real challenges related to current counselling practices in the four test-countries delivered directly by intermediaries and owner-managers of SMEs.  

  An online survey targeting Intermediaries has been conducted, receiving 160 answers from five countries. Furthermore, 76 SME owner-managers from five countries have been interviewed about their preferences to counselling and main challenges.

• Work package 3 - Toolbox development

  WP3 will be responsible for producing, designing and testing a prototype model of a new integrated counselling toolbox. Both intermediaries and owner-managers will test the toolbox during WP3, so that it will be ready for final refinement, materialisation, institutionalisation and dissemination in WP4.

  Activity Output

  Two of the activity outputs from WP3 are guidelines for the 6-step process and the spider web tool.

  Counselling guidelines for the 6-step process have been created to look closely at the specificity of each stage of the 6-step process and to recommend possible advice and tools for facilitation purposes. Based on different backgrounds each individual process may vary from company to company. Read it here: Final guidelines to The 6-step process (pdf)

  The Spider Web Tool is a part of the 6-step process. The Spider Web Tool can be seen as a radar that allows multiple factors to be compared simultaneously. The eight dimensions covered in this study are visualized on the basis of the statements giving by the owner manager and assessed in cooperation with the consultant. Read it here: Final Guidelines to Spider Web Tool (pdf)

  Co-creation of specifications of counselling toolboox:
  On September 11th and 12th 2018 project SNOwMan held a co-creative workshop with participants from Poland, Lithuania, Finland and Denmark. The purpose of the workshop was for the participants to come up with specific suggestions to the specifications and characteristics of the new counselling toolbox. The model used at the co-creative workshop is The Didactic Model CO-IN. The CO-IN model enhances processes of cooperation creating innovation drawing on a Scandinavian tradition. It is based on a cross-sectorial and multidisciplinary approach. With dialogue and the use of multi modal techniques as essential tools for conceptualizations gives a better clarification of the complexity and diversity leading to decision making based on knowledge as common.

  Find the process of the workshop beneath and read more about the model here.

   

  

• Work package 4 - Toolbox production and module development

  WP4: All elements of the new counselling toolbox along with the supporting toolbox were made operational and ready to launch on the online portal in WP4. Furthermore, a train-the-trainer programme was developed to train participants in using the counselling toolbox.

  After the second round of testing, the owner-managers continued in a post-test counselling process, where they completed step 5 and 6 of the 6-step counselling process Read the evaluation report on post-test outcome (pdf)

  Two of the activity outputs from WP3 are Guideline for Transnational Networking and cooporation and a Business Model Guideline:

  Looking for improvement of networking process and basing it on project experiences, we developed the Guideline for Transnational Networking, again targeting both intermediaries and owner managed SMEs. This document guides users through the process from assessing their strengths and weaknesses, to determining a strategy and action plan and supporting them in measuring progress against their goals. Read it here: Read the SNOwMan guideline for transnational networking and cooperation (pdf)

  The SNOwMan partners have also prepared the Business Model Guideline to assist the owner manager in the integration of new practices in his business activity. Consultant expertise is necessary to assess the current value and to help generate added value in new businesses. Read it her: SNOwMan Business Model Guideline (pdf)

  The book “6 Steps for Innovation” demonstrates the journey for the SNOwMan project towards the final product, the 6-step counselling process. Read the book here (pdf)

  To be inspired on how to integrate 6 Steps for Innovation in your institution’s curriculum and VET modules, read more in the HEI catalogue of curriculum and VET modules (pdf)

  The train-the-trainer programme and implementation of the counselling toolbox are the first step in the institutionalisation process in business intermediary and owner-managed organisations.

  Read the finnish operational teams plan of training.(pdf)

  Read the danish operational teams plan of training final (pdf)

  Read the polish operational teams plan of training final (pdf)

  Read the Lithuanian operational teams plan of training final (pdf)

  Read the evaluation reports of the train-the-trainer programme from each country below:

  Read the finnish evaluation report (pdf)

  Read the danish evaluation report (pdf)

  Read the polish evaluation report (pdf)

  Read the lithuanian evaluation report (pdf)

  Read the train-the-trainer curriculum here (pdf)

   

• Work package 5 - Institutionalization and closing

  Tekst WP5 Hjemmeside:

  WP5 is responsible for ensuring successful operationalization and institutionalization of all outputs and supporting instruments. Because of the COVID 19 crisis some of the activities from work package 5 was postponed. Some of the activities was transformed in to a digital format. 

  The SNOwMan partners have prepared a strategic plan for final institutionalization with the purpose to ensure the implementation and use of the main activity outputs: 1. The counselling toolbox and 2. The supporting toolbox. Read the strategic plan for institutionalization here (pdf)

  The Transnational Communication Team have developed a strategic plan for final dissemination. The overall aim is to ensure that the developed outputs, both the counselling toolbox and the supporting toolbox, will reach as many possible users in the target group as possible. Read the strategic plan for final dissemination here (pdf). To support the strategy the Transnational Communication Team decided to follow up on all communication activities that had been carried out in WP1-WP4.

  Based on this information the Communication Officer analyzed all the activities and developed good advice for all partner on how to reach our primary target group and create even more awareness on especially the 6 Steps for Innovation-platform. Read the analysis here and the complete communication activities report here.

  The main catalogue collecting successful results and experiences is also the product of a good collaboration in the Transnational Communication Team. Read the Main Catalogue, also called Inspirational Catalogue here. The four interviews for the success stories were recorded and transformed into four inspirational movies. Find them on the front page of this website.

  The Final Open Conference was postponed two times as we hoped there was a chance the SNOwMan partners could present the results physically in person – all together. The digital format had the advantage that we where able to reach a broader target group. The conference was held the 12th and 13th of November 2020. The SNOwMan project where presenting the main output of the project:

  The 6 Steps for Innovation portal. Both the SNOwMan project partners, business intermediaries, owner managers and business organizations joined the conference and where taking part in the final institutionalization og dissemination. Presentations from the conference can be found on the website here. Read more about the conference here. The conference received great feedback and the project partners are proud we succeeded with a satisfying Final Open Conference