Designing a scalable model and technical platform for United Invitations ambassadors
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | INVITATIONSDEPARTEMENTET |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 380 000 |
| Project duration | January 2016 - August 2016 |
| Status | Completed |
Purpose and goal
Invitationsdepartementet (United Invitations) connects new and established Swedes over dinners. The initiative is driven by so-called dinner ambassadors, the voluntary link that makes this home-cooked meeting take place. The aim was to develop a technical platform and a scalable model to facilitate the ambassadors´ work for a more inclusive and welcoming society. Our goal for 2016 is 5,000 dinners. In September, 775 dinners had been booked through the system, and nearly 4,000 diners had come together.
Expected results and effects
Today, Invitationsdepartementet (United Invitations) has a digital system available to all who choose to be voluntarily engaged dinner ambassadors. The technical platform is used by 18 of the 44 active ambassadors. When the project started, Invitationsdepartementet had 25 ambassadors in Sweden, a number that increased by 44% during the project. Invitationsdepartementet will continue to operate on a voluntary basis, on a national scale and work is underway of the simplification and user experience of the digital tool.
Planned approach and implementation
The project´s technical part included a feasibility study of how dinner reservations are made, product development as well as redesigning of and integration of the system into the organization´s website. Lessons were gathered about different approaches to the ambassador structure and parallels were drawn to other non-profit initiatives with similar problems. Pros and cons of developed alternatives were discussed jointly with the ambassadors and landed in a continuation of the volunteer-based approach for national scalability.