Facilitators-Handbook-For-Permaculture

Workshop Module 13: Cooperatives and Enterprise Development 345

EXERCISE

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Creative thinking : Resources and products analysis

Method : Participatory small groups brainstorm

Tools : Analysis questionnaire, large paper, markers

References : PC Book MOD 13 – Cooperatives and Enterprise Development

Objective : Participants apply an analysis questionnaire to potential products

A resource and products analysis is an important part of working out what are
the best projects and products for a community group or cooperative.

When you have a list of ideas you can ask some simple questions to help decide the best
projects or products for your cooperative or small enterprise.

This exercise is good for the participants to:

• Become familiar with these questions.


• Determine what are good products to produce and sell.


• Understand how to improve chances of success.


• Understand how to minimize potential problems.


• See the importance and benefits of value adding.

Preparation

• Prepare enough of the questions from the “Resource and products analysis”
  section of the PC Book MOD 13 – Cooperatives and Enterprise Development,
  so that each participant can use them in this exercise and take one set of
  references home.


• Identify different local examples of base products that can be used to provide
  products for a cooperative or small enterprise – For example:
  
  
  • Coconuts.
  
  
  • Soybeans.
  
  
  • Bamboo.
  
  
  • Community forest wood products.
  
  
  • Aquaculture.
  
  
  
  


• Write or draw these ‘base product’ examples on small cards.