Our Values

 

We are committed to creating a values-driven work culture at PeaceTech Lab. The values we have outlined below are intended to create a foundation for the way we work with each other and our external partners. They also have an aspirational quality to them. Some are difficult to attain or quantify, but we believe that all of them are worth pursuing, both as individuals and as a team.

Share your time, knowledge, and lessons learned.

Be generous with your talents and experience, and make them a common resource. We want everyone to benefit from your being part of the team. By the same token, don’t be afraid to ask others for help when you need it.

R-e-s-p-e-c-t.

Respect for the dignity of every individual must form the basis for all of our interpersonal interactions, whether they are fellow staff or people outside our organization. The spirit of sharing, collaboration, creativity, and fun can only come as a result of respect for each other.

Actions speak louder than words.

We want to make the Lab an action-oriented place where we prioritize tangible results over abstract ideas. We want to be a doing organization, not just a thinking one.

Be honest about what you know and what you can do.

Our knowledge and capabilities, both as individuals and as an organization, have their limits. At times, our skills might not be appropriate to the problem at hand. At times, we might not have the capacity to do the things being asked of us. Regardless of the scenario, be honest about what we bring to the table. Ultimately, this will give the Lab a reputation for integrity and excellence.

Take initiative and be accountable.

We want to foster a sense of personal ownership and investment in the Lab’s collective success. So tackle a problem or pursue an idea, keeping in mind that your time is a precious resource. Make sure that you spend it on activities that serve our mission and further our interests.

Create common ownership around decisions that affect the big picture.
Some of the decisions we take as individuals can have implications for the long-term or strategic direction of the Lab. So make sure to build consensus around those decisions with your superiors, subordinates, and colleagues. This will help us create a sense of collective investment in and clarity around the vision of the Lab as it evolves over time.

Never forget who you're working for: individuals and communities affected by conflict.
In everything we do, we must be focused on the welfare, safety, and capacity of people in conflict zones. They are our primary customer, and all of our work must be aimed at making a positive difference in their lives.

Try new things. Learn from experience.

We want the Lab to be a hub of innovation, so we encourage new ideas, entrepreneurialism, and risk-taking. We also want to make sure that every opportunity for innovation, whether successful or not, is also an opportunity for learning and improvement.

Pursue diversity of thought, opinion, expertise, and people.

We believe that true innovation happens when different viewpoints intersect. This requires that we actively pursue diverse perspectives from people who don’t think like us, look like us, or have the same life experiences as us.

Take your work seriously, but not yourself.

We want the Lab to be a fun place to work. The work we do can sometimes be heavy, but let’s keep our workplace interactions light.

Always ask why.

We must be driven by facts and data when we make our decisions, large or small. We want all of our activities to be intentional, based on a clear understanding of both the problem at hand and the solutions we’re applying.

Empower others to make decisions and grow as individuals.

We want the Lab to be a place where people experience personal and professional growth, whether they are staff or external partners. We also want to create a space where all staff, regardless of their position, feel empowered to make decisions and pursue ideas that serve our mission.