Craft as a Rural Economic Development Learning Area

Who or what is/was Duncan Hay?

• Researcher (UKZN & UF)• Businessman, lecturer,

practitioner, social entrepreneur

• Runner• To crafters – a friend, a

mentor, a meal-ticket• Someone trying to learn

and understand

The South African craft sector•R 4 billion and involves 1.2 million people

•Under-investment

•Opportunity for people to enter the

economy

•Increasingly demand driven with

diversified markets

•Increased focus on the entire value chain

•Formal public policy development

•A downturn fuelled by the global economic

decline

The Inina Craft Agency• 7 years old (in present form)• Over 500 customers• Exports – Canada, US, Iceland• A distinctive and recognizable brand• Delivers right product at right time at right price• Effective leadership, management and administration• Comprehensive communication systems (www.inina.co.za) • Inina is simply a conventional business (co-op with local

shareholding)• Acts as a living laboratory• Worked with leadership for 12 years• Support – partnership-based approach

So what have I learnt in our Inina laboratory?

Lesson 1

• Know who you are and what your role is– Researcher?– Practitioner/supporter?– Trader?– Regulator?– Producer?

Lesson 2

• 150 Jozi Rands ≠ 150 Rural Rands

Lesson 3

• Bigger is better

Lesson 4Make everything a learning experience and share what you learn

Lesson 5

• What is the difference between success and failure at the enterprise level?

• The quality of local leadership!!

Lesson 6

• Patience and consistency

Lesson 7

• Know business to mentor in business

Lesson 8

• Do as little as possible and make others do as much as possible

Lesson 9

• Get it right at all levels and in all spheres– holistic approach – partnership approach

Lesson 10

• It requires a team (You can’t do it on your own)

Lesson 11

• Know where to intervene in a system (Meadows - where to intervene in a system)

• My summary1. Paradigm/concept2. Social level3. Information level4. Economic level

Lesson 12• Measuring success – its not only about the money• Art Costa (in Senge et al 2000 – Schools that Learn)

– Persistence– Decreased impulsivity– Listening to others (with understanding and empathy)– Flexibility of thinking– Metacognition (awareness of our own thinking)– Striving for accuracy and precision– Questioning and problem solving– Drawing on past knowledge and experience– Ingenuity, originality, insightfulness, creativity– Precision of language and thought– Gathering data through all senses– Displaying a sense of humour– Wonderment, inquisitiveness and curiosity– Cooperative thinking and social intelligence– Courage (my addition)

Lesson 13

• Nothing succeeds like success!!

The brand new lesson

You can do everything right and success is not assured!