1.   Can you tell me about your background?

I was a software engineer for 17 years and then I spent the last 10 years trying to coach teams, networks, communities and groups to work better together.  I decided to analyse all the most common mistakes I saw (and I made) and encapsulate the learning in a software tool for group collaboration.  It's called Swarmteams.

Along the way I studied biological groups and teams (think ants, bees, geese and dolphins)  for 2 years and wrote the bioteams blog. 

The biological teams research heavily influenced the design of the software tool.  You have to respect nature.  Their teams have survived the ultimate test - 3.8 billion years worth of evolution and survival of the fittest.

You can learn more about Ken's background here and here 

2.   You've just released Swarmteams which provides groups with an integrated mobile phone and web solution to instantly share information.  Why would a nonprofit use this tool? 

Swarmteams centers group communication around the mobile phone. It does not expect the users to have fancy modern mobile phones with internet capabilities, it just uses standard text messages.

I think this works well for a non-profit because:

1) They don't usually  have sophisticated IT/Internet infrastructure.

2) If staff are not tethered to a desk in a office throughout the work week, the mobile phone is the ideal device for managing one's work.  SMS is ideal because it is pushed and you receive it instantly without doing anything

3) If an organization's work is based in the developing world, the mobile phone is often the only communications technology available.

3.  This tool design is based on the BioTeam Manifesto,  6 of the 12 principles. Which 6 principles? 

The 6 principles myself and Robin Good developed in the bioteams manifesto came from careful observation of biological teams such as ants, bees, geese and dolphins and are:

RULE 1: Stop Controlling. Communicate information not orders.

RULE 2: Team Intelligence. Mobilize everyone to look for and manage team threats and opportunities

RULE 3: Permission Granted.  Achieve accountability through transparency not permission.

RULE 4: Always-On.  Provide 24*7 instant access for all team members

RULE 5: Symbiosis.  Treat external partners as fully trusted team members

RULE 6. Cluster.  Nurture the team's internal and external networks and connections

4. What type of "culture shift"  would a nonprofit need to effect in order to successfully adopt this tool?  What habits or behaviors do team members need to have if adoption is successful?

To make these principles alive there are two major headshifts needed in the team, not only for the leader but also for the members.

1)  Treat every team member as a leader - move away from command and control which produces compliance.  This takes a brave leader because until it begins to work it can look like total chaos.

2)  Connect team members, partners and networks synergistically. Start really focusing on making connections inside and outside the team.  (Where connections mean communication channels and relationships.)  You need to get every member taking responsibility for part of the teams connectivity - that is not just the leaders responsibility.  This is the other side of treating people like leaders - everyone must also behave like a leader.

Swarmteams attempts to embody these principles in software design.

5.  There are other social networking mobile applications.  How is this different?

First, I want to say that these other applications are great and I am not claiming that SwarmTeams is the only tool which can support bioteaming principles. I would love to see a whole directory of tools which embody some or all of the principles.

Swarmteams is unique because:

1. It spans text messaging on mobile phones and instant messaging on the internet - for example we have 'smart messaging' where the system can check if you are online and on IM and if so, ping you, if it does not find you online it will text you - that means you can send a message to your group without having to work out which channel everyone is on at that moment.

2. It supports 'peer' groups where everyone has equal rights (many-to-many interactions) as well as the more common 'star' groups where the leader has control.  Peer groups are the fastest way to get things done quickly or in an emergency provided everyone is serious and committed.  Star groups are good for controlled and formal groups and peer groups in their early stage

3. It embodies a number of team dynamics principles such as different rings of commitment and how to mitigate the dangerous effect of cliques in groups (more about this here) which makes it easier for groups to operate successfully.

4. The swarms can all be connected up into an ecosystem which is a fantastic resource for any team member who can broadcast a request over the entire ecosystem and have direct responses coming back.

6.   Where can people learn more about it, get an overview, and try it for ree?

I'd like to invite nonprofit organizations to try it.  You  can sign up for a free swarm-it account here.   We will give you 50 free SMS messages plus the same offer to every member they invite to join. 

The best way to get a quick overview is to watch the 3-minute demo (you can stop it and tab through it page by page if its a shade too fast)

Swarm-it is for individuals and public communities whereas Swarm-pro is for closed communities and organisations.