Why is element14 having so much delay in announcing the challengers?

I can't respond to the specific challenge you are asking about, since it's not a program I manage, but I can offer a few common reasons for delays.

#1-- I think one of the major causes of delays is the time it takes to go through each challenger's project and understand what they are doing and then objectively judging them. Reading projects isn't like reading a magazine or a summer novel. Sometimes one must really spend time with all the projects. 

#2-- In general, when a program participant notifies the element14 team that they have a health issue or a family issue, we provide some extra time. After all, one's family comes first. So, this could delay the announcement. 

#3 -- Our managers often are on business travel, giving presentations, attending trade shows and, yes, promoting the design challenge projects our participants have submitted. Sometimes business travel is out of their control, thus, a delay can occur. 

There are other reasons, but the above three are the common ones

WE try as hard as we can to judge the projects. but we go through each and every applicant's submission, so it takes some time.

Randall

--element14 team

to be fair, I think there is some self-reflection to do. It was announced that it would be a month ago. After the initial dates were overrun. Then silence.

Communication would help. This caused 3 participants to start a feedback&support thread.

Exactly. All contest organized by UK team are always extremely delayed. For example last year, Summer of Sensors was scheduled to summer but after several delays in all phases, It concluded late in January.... ( Received Summer of Sensors Grand Prize Reward). Similarly next design challege, At the Core design challenge, was originaly scheduled to start about two weeks before christmass, so I originaly thought that board come before chrismas and I would be able to spend christmas holiday by playing with kit. But unluckily the kit arrived with 2 and half month delay at the begining of March.

Personaly I think you should discuss this topic with the internal Element14 team and schedule contests with time alocated for all administrative tasks. For example exhibitions and business travels are usualy sheduled long time before. If you know that you would be unable to select participant because you will be two weaks on business travel, then you can simple extend application deadline by two weaks. Unluckily I have no idea how to resolve two months busy delays.

For example mentioned contenst have in the brief descritpion wirtten following: "To celebrate Earth Day (22nd April 2023), we invite you to ....". How you can celebrate day dated in April if you are unable to start before August?

Due to this, I missed some roadtest application receiving no feedback or any announcements. I thought that soon roadtesters will be announced for the one I applied for and it took arround 2 months from the official announcement date. 

So waiting for that, I did not apply to other roadtests I was interested as a second choice. (Anyways doing more than one roadtest at the same time is not recommended and I agree it is right thing)

But a communication will help at least for key dates and roadtests that require preparation or contains some expensive products.

Hi Folks

Thank you so much for your questions. 
You are all very right and I will make sure I communicate the situation a little clearer.  

I will be updating the timing to this challenge shortly due to an issue with preparing the kits for challengers, it would be bad to announce challengers without having the kits ready for them to ship.  

I will make a challenger announcement along with an adjustment to the dates as soon as possible. 

I did not realize folks would be putting off other activities in anticipation of being accepted. 

Thank you for your patience. 

Phil 

Hey misaz ,

There are a couple of assumptions made here that I feel need addressing in particular, and while I do not directly manage Design Challenges I do work with those that do. Particularly this statement:

rscasny said:

#3 -- Our managers often are on business travel, giving presentations, attending trade shows and, yes, promoting the design challenge projects our participants have submitted. Sometimes business travel is out of their control, thus, a delay can occur

I'm not sure where this explanation is sourced from, but I'd like to be clear that I'm not a manager, e14phil also is not a manager, and we definitely don't do a lot of (if any, in the majority of cases) business travel. I think the last business travel I did was a last-minute, two-three day trip to Brighton for an SEO conference.

I feel this has given a false impression that we prioritise business 'jollies' over resolving Community activities, and that's not the case.

So what is typically the reason?

While e14phil can explain directly the delay reasons in this particular design challenge, and I won't necessarily speak for them, the reason can be the suppliers/manufacturers we work with, and it can be the online stores with regards to the 'kit' available for the challenge and where that comes from.

e14phil said:

I will be updating the timing to this challenge shortly due to an issue with preparing the kits for challengers, it would be bad to announce challengers without having the kits ready for them to ship.  

If we don't have it available from the online stores, we have to get it from the supplier and vice versa, and often we cannot. Sometimes you cannot account for these delays because the supplier/manufacturer takes their time in deciding what they want to represent in the kit, it's their products, they're agreeing to be a part of the design challenge, and they want control over which products are used and talked about, and in what way.

Combine this with timezones, because as you say, some of the team are in the UK, some are in the USA, and delays in communication can compound this further.

When it's a design challenge that we have more direct control over the stock and what's part of the kit, and we're not beholden to a third party, then things go a lot faster. Some design challenges also use our "own brand" kit, such as Avnet hardware, and that's also easier to acquire.

What this says to me, is that there should be a 'backup' or 'fallback' kit that can get the entrants started while any delays happen, so that something happens, but that's not my decision and people entering the challenge may be looking forward to working with the advertised kits.

Could we be more transparent and communicate better? Always.

Thank you to everyone for holding the team accountable.

Thanks for clarifications, e14phil cstanton . Mine was not a design challenge but during the roadtest, I experienced a very late response.

We completely understand, e14phil. As community members, we are thrilled to take part in new challenges and road tests. However, we are aware that organizing a contest requires significant effort. From bringing in new sponsors and planning the timeframe to managing calls, messages, emails, and the community forum, evaluating applicants, and representing the company/sponsors, it's undoubtedly a demanding task. We genuinely appreciate your dedication to growing the community.

While we acknowledge the minor issues that can be addressed by both the team and the participants, there's no pressure. Take your time, and we will always be here to support the community. Together, we can make it even better.

I believe it's perfectly fine to say "But you said next week/next month, where is it?" and to be frustrated with that, we 'get' it, and thanks for your understanding.

RoadTests and Design Challenges are the two that can annoyingly rely on similar factors that block progress.

RoadTests and Design Challenges are the two that can annoyingly rely on similar factors that block progress.