Collaboration with technology ... and the needs for stewards

Paul Henderson and friends at ruralnet|uk have now reported on their year-long I-See-T project to explore the use of new technologies in the voluntary and community sector. I'm comforted to see it chimes in with a lot of the points Beth Kanter and I will be making at our workshop on Monday ... and in doing so offers a detailed account on the project blog of how the information  and insights were gathered. I really like the way that the blog provides opportunities for people to comment on different sections. Why couldn't Digital Dialogues do the same?
The project looked at:

• What do we mean by ICT for collaboration (blog, wikis, shared database, forums, extranets, diaries etc?)
• Why is ICT not used for collaboration?
• What are the barriers to ICT use for collaboration?
• How can we overcome those barriers?

The project looked at blogs, wikis and other new tools as well as email and forums. Their findings from research, workshops, visits and case studies were:

• With high-speed broadband connections, relatively cheap hardware and minimal software required, it is possible to collaborate using ICT more easily then ever and it is happening in the VCS
• Finding the right tool for the right job requires an awareness of what is available and a way of evaluating the tool and seeing how it fits into an organisation's (ICT) strategy;  these areas are both lacking in the VCS
• The application of some ICT tools can be misunderstood and the rapid change in types of new tools can be a barrier to uptake
• Although the tools may be free or low-cost, significant investment in time and animation of other users are still needed to make effective use of ICT for collaboration
• Case studies, examples, demonstrations and games all help overcome initial fears and lack of knowledge of users in the VCS
• Individual, organisational and technical factors influence collaboration using ICT

Nancy Write remarks

As I read the findings, the first thing that strikes me is that this report talks about the need for technology stewardship. Who are the people in your community or organization who have an interest in and sufficient technology skills to help you scan, select, implement technology and, very importantly, steward technology in use? This is the intersection between technology and practice which feels so natural for early adopters, but may be a barrier for the rest of us. (This is echoed in their comment about the challenges of rapid change.) Choice alone is overwhelming, and practices are not always obvious. In fact, people are inventing great new practices every day, but their spread seems slow.

Second, is their noting the "significant investment in time and animation." This is a direct follow-on to the stewardship of technology practices, into the stewardship of group processes. This is not to diminish the power of self organization. What I notice online is that self organization of talking has firmly taken root. Self organization of action is lagging far behind. Now animation or facilitation is NOT the only reason. But I think it is part of the mix.

I know we'll be exploring that on Monday.

Comments

[Christopher D. Sessums]

While I admire the scope of your project, I have two quick, albeit loaded, questions:

Do you think the project covered too many applications rather than focusing on one or two specific cases and uses?

Am also curious to know if you thought about measuring the impact and sustainability of your project?

I am working on a project somewhat similar in nature, i.e., teachers separated geographically, and am happy I stumbled across your work here.

Please drop me a line if you'd like.

-Chris