Computanews 155

computanews
155
February 2010

People & Projects -
Let’s Get Together
Project management methodologies abound, but the people side is just as
important as the processes. Aba Maison, Information Systems Team leader at Lasa,
reports back from a recent NetSquared Net Tuesday event which looked at some
tips and tools for working successfully with people on projects, and takes a brief
look at some online project management tools that can help.

T here are several project
management methodologies and
processes, for example PRINCE2,
• Planning
• Managing intellectual property (IP)
• Skills development (e.g. to use the
in this issue
People & Projects
which is widely used in the public tools) pages 1, 4-6
sector. For a more in depth look at • Meeting facilitation
project management methodologies • Agenda planning Look back in tech
see the knowledgebase article • Minute taking page 2
Project Management Which
Method? (www.ictknowledgebase.org. ...are at least as important to the Tips #155 - using
uk/projectmanagementmethods) or success of a project as project project management
download the full Lasa Computanews management processes. tools page 6
Project Management Guide (www.lasa.
org.uk/publications/computanews-guides/). Building Bridges to ICT
Problems that can arise on Excellence update -
Whilst project management processes projects and collaborations page 7
can undoubtedly be useful in keeping
on top of projects, it’s important not Because projects involve working with Data Protection new
to get bogged down with them. For other people you’ll need to anticipate guidance and book
the best chance of success, ensure that and have a plan for resolving issues that review - pages 8-10
project management techniques are can arise. Being well prepared can help
used appropriately and adapt them mitigate issues including: answr project
to your particular purpose. Always pages 11-13
remember why you are doing the • Scope or mission creep – when the
project! project starts go grow beyond its Managing Technology
original conception book review
Remember that skills including: pages 13-14
• Communications cont’d on page 4

155
issue
december 2008

Contribute
Disagree with an article?
look back in tech
Believe there’s an issue we
should be looking at? The editors of Computanews still not managing their ICT successfully.
Know of an initiative we take an ever so slightly tongue Perhaps this will be the year that the
should mention? in cheek look at what’s likely latter changes – with the growth of
We welcome all feedback about to happen in the ICT world this online services for organisational
Computanews so if we’ve missed
something out send us your year. databases, creating and storing office
thoughts or news, or submit an documents, backing up and running
article for inclusion in a future issue. It’s that time of year again. And, various security systems perhaps we
amazingly, it’s 10 years on from when can forget all that. Er, probably not
we all celebrated the turn of the actually. Many smaller organisations
Subscribe century (even though it was a year are still battling with keeping their
If you would like to subscribe to early) and when most folk in IT membership and client records on
your own copy of were tearing out their hair over the outdated and unsuitable data systems,
Computanews and other Lasa
publications:
millennium bug. Remember that? documents are still scattered across
Planes were going to drop out of the a number of PCs and laptops which
www.lasa.org.uk/lasa/mailing-lists/ sky, the world would stop turning and makes backing up virtually impossible
the economy would go pear shaped. and networks are prone to viruses or
Well, it took eight years for the latter malware.
computanews to happen but otherwise we managed
is produced by Lasa to survive. The ICT-savvy forecasters and gurus
Editorial & Production:
are predicting all sorts of nifty gadgets
Miles Maier & Ian Runeckles So this is a time for looking forward coming to market this year such as
Cartoons:
– what are we expecting to happen tablets (which appeared originally
Phil Evans in the ICT world this year? Before about five or more years ago and which
we go there, we’ve been looking back no one took any notice of), fancier
at January 2000’s Computanews 105 electronic book readers (so we can
to see what was happening then and carry 300 books around with us) and
what they thought might be happening mobile video streaming devices.
Universal House now. We reported that ICL’s Chris
88–94 Wentworth Street
London E1 7SA
Yapp started his presentation at Organisations will use more services
December1999’s IT think tank with the in the “cloud” so we can be connected
Editorial: comment that “In the year 2010, every to our documents and data at all
Tel: 020 7426 4473
Email: computanews@lasa.org.uk lamp post will be on the internet” times, whether we like it or not, and
– well, that hasn’t happened quite more devices (possibly including those
• yet (although we’re not exactly sure lampposts) will be internet connected.
what he meant, to be honest). Other
Other Lasa resources:
articles showed how to use Outlook Social activism will “explode” across the
www.lasa.org.uk 2000 address books for mail merging, web with the increasing use of social
http://ukriders.lasa.org.uk
managers were stating that they found networking tools for fundraising and
IT difficult, CPAG had issued their involvement whilst geolocation will hit
www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk
welfare benefits CD-ROM after a five the big time (so that not only will we
www.suppliersdirectory.org.uk year gestation period (just in time to know that someone is having a coffee
see everything move onto the web…) via their Twitter account but exactly
http://ictchampion.lasa.org.uk
and the CABnet 2000 programme was what table in Starbucks they are sitting
Lasa has been providing the widening the use of ICT at CABs. at). Google may or may not release
voluntary and community sector
with high quality and impartial
its operating system and bring out its
ICT advice since 1984. Fast forward 10 years and we see a Android phone to compete with the
vastly different and yet in many ways iPhone. And Microsoft will release
familiar scene. Apart from lampposts, Office 2010 – perhaps we’ll be able to
pretty well everything else is on the get that Outlook mail merge working.
This work is licensed under a web but we still have problems mail
Creative Commons Attribution-non-
commercial-NoDerivs 3.0 License merging and many organisations are cont’d on page 7
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/
by-nc/3.0/
2

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3

cont’d from page 1 project team –
in order to succeed
• Forced changes in project teams need to
direction have a balance
• Managing different expectations of people with
amongst project stakeholders different skills and
• Communication and getting roles. The Belbin
responses model suggests
• Creative vs technical people teams work best
managing projects with a mixture
• Flexibility (or lack thereof) of people with
within current processes action oriented,
• “Forced” collaboration – people oriented,
organisations or departments and thought
that may not be a natural oriented roles.
fit being thrown together More information
by funders or other project on this is available
sponsors in the Mindtools.
• Managing up and out – you com article on Belbin’s team – identify early on what
won’t always have direct roles (www.mindtools.com/pages/ processes will be put in place.
management control over the article/newLDR_83.htm) and on Communicate with the right
other partners in the project Belbin.com (www.belbin.com/) people at the right time.
• Concerns about intellectual • Identifying strengths of Remember to document the
property / sharing ideas partners and playing to project – especially decisions.
them – some partners may • Letting go of control –
be better at providing more you might just need to close
Preparing for and avoiding creative than technical input, or your eyes and trust…
potential problems have the right sort of contacts • Scheduling – As well
to move your project forward as creating timelines and
There are various strategies and for example. Involve them in milestones for completion of
techniques that can be used to the right parts of the project! project tasks, remember that
avoid problems. Two useful tools • Resources – identify these, not everyone involved in the
are a collaboration toolkit including how much time you project needs to be involved at
and stakeholder mapping: are willing able to put into the all stages of the project. Bring
project the right people in at the right
Collaboration toolkit • Values / vision / dream time.
– “future mapping” exercise –
Alison Coward of Bracket (http:// what will a successful project Stakeholder Mapping Tool
bracketprojects.co.uk) suggests a outcome look like?
collaboration toolkit that involves • Benchmarking – how will Rachael West of Left Brain Right
thinking about factors including: you know when the project is Brain advocates using stakeholder
“finished” and whether or not mapping to inform your
• Me to we – remember you it has been a success communications plan on a project
are working with other people, • Clarity about sharing or collaboration.
plan ahead and think holistically ideas / ownership – from
• Self analysis – Identify what the outset be open about The tool involves listing all the
you want to achieve personally discussing, considering, and stakeholders in a project, what you
and organisationally from the agreeing who “owns” an need from them, and what they
project and where you need idea and how any intellectual need from you. Depending on
help. Scope out and identify property will be assigned. your situation, you might want to
the skills and roles needed for Contracts or written use the tool on your own, or as
project tasks agreements may be necessary an exercise with members of the
• Having a balanced • Effective communication project team.

4

An example (below - stakeholders and requirements shown are not exhaustive) might be for a community
organisation currently running a range of activities that is planning a new ICT project offering internet training.
By mapping stakeholders, it’s possible to see in this example what elements and features the website might need
to have, and ensure that it meets the needs of all the potential stakeholders.

Stakeholders What you need from them What they need from you

Trainees Money (if offering paid-for service) Quality / effective training
Information on their training needs Information
Current level of skill Value for money
Relationship / referrals to other potential Support during and after training
service users Timeliness
Feedback on service

Funders Money to fund the project Grant applications
Monitoring guidelines Project plan
Grants officer Monitoring data
Clarity of expectations Reputation / kudos “feel good factor”
Ongoing associated with supporting project
Acknowledgement / credit
Confidence
Assurance / accountability

Supporters/Members Subscriptions News updates
Feedback on organisation’s activities Sense of involvement

Trustees Strategic guidance Project plan overview
Appropriate level of governance Project updates

Organisation staff Trainers to run the project Engagement in the project
Support staff for management, publicity, Information
administration Resources and training
Salary!

ICT staff Hardware and software resources to carry Requirements brief
out project Timetable
Management of ICT resources

Online tools for managing
• Google apps (www.google. and project-management.
projects com/apps/) – document • Bubbl.us (http://bubbl.us) –
There are dozens of useful (and collaboration / sharing / free brainstorming tool
often free) online tools for calendaring and more • Twiddla (www.twiddla.com) –
planning, managing or collaborating • Googlesites (www.google. free whiteboarding tool
on projects. It’s important to use com/sites/help/intl/en/overview. • Shozu (www.shozu.com) –
the right tool for the job, justify html) – free websites and wikis Image sharing
the benefits of the tool(s) you • Mindmeister (www. • Shout ‘em (www.shoutem.
wish to use and get buy-in from mindmeister.com/) – free web- com) and Yammer (www.
the project team. Alison Coward based collaborative mind yammer.com/) – tools for
suggests some of the following: mapping tool for brainstorming creating your own public

5

Tips154 using project
cont’d from page 5

• or private micro blogging
community (like twitter) to
share files, photos, links and management tools
more
• Basecamp (http://basecamphq.
com/) and Huddle (www.huddle. With collaborative projects becoming more common, the
net) – more “traditional”
use of online tools to assist the management is becoming
project management suites
offering file sharing, task more common. We offer up some tips which might help
assignment and more. the smooth running of the project.
Registered charities can
access donated licenses for
Huddle through the CTX 1. Appoint one person to be the workspace manager. This may or may
(charity technology exchange) not be the overall project manager.
programme (www.ctxchange.
org). 2. Think about what tool is appropriate for your project. If the
workspace manager is familiar with Basecamp, then maybe that’s the
Knowledgebase system to use.

• Online Collaboration Tools 3. Work out and agree protocols for how you’re going to use the tool.
(www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/
onlinecollaboration) 4. If the tool includes features that aren’t useful or appropriate, don’t
• Work Smarter, Quicker, and feel you have to use them.
Cheaper with Online Tools
(www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/ 5. When users are signed up to the system, allow them to introduce
worksmarter) themselves and their roles in the project. If there’s a user profile
• Web Office Tools – The Virtual area, get them to update it with pertinent information relative to the
Office (www.ictknowledgebase. project – yes, it’s great that they have 10 cats but…
org.uk/virtualoffice)
6. Don’t assume that everyone needs to be involved in everything.
About this article Collaboration is great, but it doesn’t mean that every cook has to
take turns in stirring the broth.
This article was adapted from the
Knowledgebase article Project 7. Have an FAQ document or pointers to tutorials somewhere obvious
Management – the people side! on the site.
www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/
projectmanagementpeopleside and 8. If possible, have an induction session with the project participants on
is based on presentations and use of the workspace. This may be possible online.
experiences from the November
2009 NetSquared Net Tuesday 9. Discuss and agree protocols for signing work off
meetup. Thanks to NetSquared’s
Amy Sample Ward, session 10. ave a plan for following up on late tasks.
H
facilitators Alison Coward of
Bracket (http://bracketprojects.co.uk) 11. ry to contain essential project management discussion within
T
and Rachael West of Left Brain the workspace, rather than allowing external email in addition, for
Right Brain (http://rachaelwest. example.
wordpress.com/), and all the London
NetSquared Community (http:// 12. ead Idealware’s Six Views of Project Management Software
R
netsquared.meetup.com/31/) www.idealware.org/articles/fgt_project_management.php
members for these insights.

6

cont’d from page 2 voluntary sector ICT community Whatever happens, we wish
can continue to help organisations all Computanews readers
So our hope is that during make the right decisions on and contributors a happy and
2010 through using information using scarce time and money to successful new year.
resources and forums such as create a safe and secure working
the Knowledgebase, the Suppliers environment which serves the Ian Runeckles & Miles Maier
Directory, the ICT Champions, needs of our members and clients. Computanews, Lasa
Circuit Riders and the UKRiders
list (oh, and Computanews!), the

Building Bridges to ICT Excellence

L asa is working with the
City Bridge Trust (www.
bridgehousegrants.org.uk), Wates
staff member to oversee and take
responsibility for ICT.
• Where to buy discounted
software

Foundation (www.watesfoundation. We have also worked closely To access the service or for
org.uk) and the Cripplegate with a recycling agency to assess more information see www.lasa.
Foundation (www.cripplegate.org) their ICT infrastructure and help org.uk/circuitriders or contact Ian
to offer support and advice on all plan a database development. Goodman at Lasa on 020 7426
aspects of ICT through its three- The input of the project helped 4473 email igoodman@lasa.org.uk
year Building Bridges project. reassure the organisations fears
Lasa’s Ian Goodman updates us on about the implications of moving Even if organisations don’t
the project. to an online database. By working qualify for this project there’s
with the Building Bridges project a vast range of free ICT advice
In the first year of the project we the organisation was able to and resources over at Lasa’s
have worked with a number of plan their required networking ICT Knowledgebase (www.
organisations across London on a developments and be sure that ictknowledgebase.org.uk) and
wide range of issues, including: their new database would function Suppliers Directory (www.
without any problems. suppliersdirectory.org.uk).
• Helping organisations find an
ICT support company As well as working directly with The project builds on Lasa’s
• Advising on planning an groups funded by the City Bridge successful Circuit Rider project,
organisation’s database Trust, Wates and Cripplegate funded by The City Bridge
• Carrying out ICT Foundations, the project is able to Trust and the Big Lottery, which
Healthchecks offer signposting to organisations ran between 2005 and 2007.
• Developing ICT policies considering application to these Project evaluations can be
bodies, such as: downloaded from http://ukriders.
Specific examples of the work we lasa.org.uk/publications/ where
have undertaken include helping • Where to find ICT support you can also find a link to the
an advice organisation who were companies Trust’s overview of building ICT
relocating, to work through a • Making good use of social capacity in London’s Third Sector
number of ICT recommendations media organisations through Circuit
which resulted in a smooth office Riding.
move. We also assisted them • How much to spend on buying
with the recruitment of a new new computers

7

Data Protection:
Clearer guidance and
tougher enforcement
on Data Protection
T he Information Commissioner
regenerated in June 2009,
when Christopher Graham
comparing good and bad practice.
In clear and non-technical language
it covers the statements you need
Protecting your mobile
data
took over from Richard Thomas. to make and the options you
Perhaps by coincidence, recent need to offer, as well as discussing If your mobile phone, laptop or
developments suggest that situations when you don’t have to USB stick should fall into the
since then the priorities of the give people a choice. wrong hands, have you thought
Information Commissioner’s about how to prevent access
Office have shifted slightly away Anyone who collects information to the data and minimise the
from Freedom of Information from individuals, for any purpose, is potential harm?
and privacy, in favour of day to strongly recommended to get hold
day Data Protection. Paul Ticher, of this short and accessible Code You should think about methods
author of the recently published of Practice and read it thoroughly. such as:
Data Protection for voluntary
organisations reviewed in this Understanding Data • If possible, avoiding the
Computanews, looks at what’s new. Protection necessity for information
to be on physical media
How to be fair You probably have loads of by giving authorised users
reference material on your shelf secure remote access to
When an organisation asks you to already about the Data Protection your system instead
provide them with your personal Act and what it means. If not, the
information, how do you decide first thing you should get hold of • Insisting that people who
whether you trust them enough is the Information Commissioner’s are authorised to take data
to give it? How do you decide new Guide to Data Protection out of your building for any
what information to give, and what (see ‘Source material’ below), a reason use equipment or
to withhold? You would probably 92-page plain English explanation media provided, or at least
want to know what they are going of the basics. It’s not specifically checked, by the organisation
to do with the information, and written for the voluntary sector
how much choice you have. If (unlike Paul’s Data Protection for • Strong passwords on laptops
they’ve done their job properly voluntary organisations – Ed.) but
you will be in a position to make it has the significant advantage of • Encrypting media whenever
clear decisions. being free. possible
No organisation now has any
excuse for failing to do this Fancy being fined • PIN access to memory sticks
properly. The Privacy Notices £500,000?
Code of Practice which came out • Remote wipe to delete all
in 2009 (see ‘Source material’ The Criminal Justice and data on phones and PDAs if
below) sets out good practice Immigration Act 2008 gave the they are lost
and – more usefully – gives a Information Commissioner
whole series of worked examples, new powers to impose punitive monetary penalties for data

8

security breaches. When these “blacklist” of construction workers.
come into force on 6 April 2010
the Commissioner will be able Charities of any size will still pay
to order organisations to pay up the lower fee, currently £35 a
to £500,000 for serious breaches year, but there is a new higher
of the Data Protection Act. The tier annual registration (or
penalties are intended to act as a Notification) fee of £500. It applies
deterrent, and the Commissioner to organisations with over 250
will take into account factors staff or a turnover of more than
such as the seriousness of the £25.9 million.
breach, and the extent to which
the organisation had taken steps The European Union is reviewing
to prevent it (see ‘Source material’ its electronic marketing rules.
below). There are also indications They may be toughened up, though
that the government might there is also some pressure for The Guide to Data Protection
introduce jail terms for people charities to be exempt. www.ico.gov.uk/tools_and_resources/
who trade illegally in personal data document_library/data_protection.
- the present maximum penalty is a To watch out for: the Scottish aspx
fine. You have been warned! government intends to extend
Freedom of Information to some Information Commissioner’s
Do you encrypt your private organisations that are guidance about the issue of
portable media? carrying out public functions. monetary penalties prepared and
There are no plans at present for issued under section 55C (1) of
Several organisations have recently anything similar in England and the Data Protection Act 1998
been taken to task for losing Wales. www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/
portable media containing data library/data_protection/detailed_
that was not encrypted even, in Source material specialist_guides/ico_guidance_
one case, when a laptop was stolen monetary_penalties.pdf
from a locked room. The seventh The organisation of the
Data Protection Principle says Information Commissioner’s Knowledgebase
that you must take ‘appropriate’ web site makes it difficult
security measures, but accepted to give snappy links. All the Introduction To The Data
practice on what counts as documents mentioned above are Protection Act
appropriate seems to be evolving in the document library on the www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/
in the light of high-profile data Information Commissioner’s web dataprotectionactintroduction
losses. site (www.ico.gov.uk). There is a link
to this on the right-hand side of Data Protection Policies
Anything that could easily leave the home page, under ‘Information www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/
your premises with data on it is for organisations’. Note that items dataprotectionpolicies
a risk. Laptops are obviously a in the library are indexed by the
tempting target for theft, while full title (even if the first word is Data Protection And Web Based
memory sticks are easily lost, and ‘the’) and that there are several Applications www.ictknowledgebase.
other devices – such as phones, fairly arbitrary sections. org.uk/dataprotectionandweb
PDAs or cameras – have more and
more capacity to store data. The full titles and links are also About the author
given below:
Other developments Paul Ticher is a freelance trainer,
Privacy Notices Code of Practice consultant and author, covering
There have been several high www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/ many aspects of information
profile enforcement actions library/data_protection/detailed_ management, ICT, Data Protection
against blatant breaches of the specialist_guides/privacy_notices_ and risk management. paul@
Data Protection Act, including that cop_final.pdf paulticher.com
against Ian Kerr for maintaining a

9

Data Protection for voluntary
organisations

By Paul Ticher

Published Directory of Social Change
2009 £18.95 + £2.75 P&P

I f you’ve ever been to a voluntary
sector seminar or workshop
on data protection, either it will
background to
the law, initial
chapters look at
have been led by Paul Ticher or how to approach
his name or publications will data protection
have been mentioned sometime compliance,
during the event. Members of the role and
the UKRiders list have benefited responsibilities
enormously from Paul’s input on of the Data
data projection queries and issues. Controller,
what personal
This is the third edition of the data actually is
book which originally appeared in and who the
2000 when the Data Protection data subjects
Act of 1998 (which replaced are. There
the earlier 1984 law) was finally then follows
enacted. In Paul’s words, this detailed examination of each of the key points covered at the
edition “includes additional of the eight Data Protection start of each chapter. There’s a
and revised material based on Principles which is the core of useful summary of the key points
experience with the Act during the book. A separate chapter at the end of each chapter and
the five years since the second looks at confidentiality which, as examples throughout in the form
edition… takes account of new Paul explains, overlaps with data of possible situations and also
and updated guidance from the protection but does not cover typical questions that organisations
Information Commissioner, key exactly the same material. Further raise about data protection.
cases… policy development and chapters cover email and the web,
other legislation…” providing data subjects (the person All in all, this is an essential
you are holding data on) with publication for medium to large
The book is a medium format information, the aforementioned voluntary sector organisations and
paperback of just over 200 pages notification, enforcement, auditing should be in the reference libraries
broken down into 24 chapters and and policy development and, last of all second tier and development
four appendices. If you thought but not least by any means, staff support organisations.
that data protection was just a training and good practice. There
case of registering with – sorry, follows a resource list and the Data Protection for Voluntary
notifying, showing my age there appendices covering incorporation Organisations is available from
- the Information Commissioner and charitable status, processing www.dsc.org.uk/Publications/Law
once a year and not handing out sensitive data, references, police
your mailing database to all and and CRB checks and using
sundry then you’re somewhat photographs.
short of the mark!
The book is well laid out, with a
After an introduction giving brief introduction and overview

10

The
answrs
to your
technology
questns
W e’ve been hearing on
the grapevine about a
new information resource for
Allen Gunn, Aspiration
(AG) - Aspiration works to
help NGOs (Non Governmental
the same. Our Social Source
Commons platform (www.
socialsourcecommons.org) is an
non-profit technologists called Organisations) make more effective inventory of NGO-related
Answr (Aggregated Nonprofit use of technology, and to get software, rendered in a social
SoftWare Resources) which is better software tools created network model where users of the
being developed in the US by to meet their needs. We work site can share their favourite tools,
Aspiration. Lasa staff have attended across the range of stakeholders in and see what other NGO techies
the excellent open source Penguin NGO technology, talking to both are using and what they think about
Days and project management (so-called) end users as well as those tools. And Answr, which we’ll
events which Aspiration have software developers, and with the explain in a minute, is the latest
facilitated and which were not always-under-appreciated techies offering in that effort.
only inspirational and informative who toil in between those two
but huge fun (if you’ve been to extremes. And yes, we absolutely love to host
any of the recent Circuit Rider NGO technology events all around
Conferences you’ll have a rough In terms of end users, we focus the globe (http://aspirationtech.org/
idea of how they work). So we on helping NGO staff develop events/history).
were keen to find out about it and sustainable technology processes.
talked to Allen Gunn (aka Gunner) We have an “eAdvocacy Capacity IR – You mentioned software
who is Aspiration’s Executive Building Program”, where we coach developers earlier, what have you
Director… NGOs on how to design and been doing with them?
maintain online communication
Ian Runeckles, Lasa (IR) - Hi strategies and campaigns. We do AG - We provide strategic
Gunner, thanks for agreeing to talk training and mentoring in tech consulting, both on product design
to Computanews about Aspiration’s strategy, and offer coaching services as well as community processes.
latest project. Before we get into where teach NGOs how to take We’re currently working with
Answr, what other projects and control of their technology destiny. great projects like FrontlineSMS
events has Aspiration been involved (http://frontlinesms.com/) and the
in? For the IT crowd, we focus on Open Simulation Platform (http://
knowledge sharing and capturing opensimplatform.org/), helping those

11

platforms to engage and establish mailing lists and other resources resources on relevant web sites,
open source communities that to offer information about NGO blogs and other online venues.
can both expand the reach of technology, but so much of the
the projects and contribute to knowledge that’s shared in those IR - So where did the idea come
the ongoing development of the venues doesn’t get captured in a from in the first place and who’s
software. way that can be maintained and been involved up until now?
accessed over time.
IR – I’m sure I’m not guessing if AG - The idea has many parents.
I say that open standards, open The second challenge the platform We’re grateful to have worked
source, open everything are is addressing is how to better with Idealware, TechSoup,
watchwords at Aspiration, right? leverage the knowledge extant in BCT Partners and many other
social networks like Facebook and great folks in conceptualizing
AG – Absolutely! We now also Twitter. So much great information and developing both the need
oversee the Nonprofit Open flows through Twitter feeds and definition and the initial solution.
Source Initiative (NOSI, www. Facebook conversations, but rarely And the Surdna Foundation has
nosi.net), which works to educate is it captured in a usable format for been very forward-looking in
NGOs about Free and Open posterity. supporting the development of the
Source Software and connect them current platform.
to open source developers who In short, Answr is sort of an
can help address their needs. “FAQ on Steroids”, a place IR – You talked about pulling in
where frequently asked questions knowledge from mailing lists –
We’re also passionate about Open about NGO technology can this is something that has come
Translation (www.aspirationtech. be aggregated. We’re trying to up time and time again about the
org/programs/opentranslation), complement and link to great UKRiders list – in fact, following
which is the use of free and open resources that are already out last year’s Circuit Rider conference
source software to support the there - the Lasa Knowledgebase, we had a debate onlist about what
translation of open content. We’ve TechSoup’s discussion boards, we should do to address this. In
recently published a book in Idealware’s reviews - with a the end, the vocal majority felt that
partnership with FLOSSManuals. platform that’s designed to build the existing list did a good job and
net (http://en.flossmanuals.net/ focused knowledge sets by tapping that we should stay as we were.
opentranslationtools) social networks. I’m wondering whether there’s
documenting the state of the field a possibility of discussion from
in Open Translation and explaining IR – That’s a huge amount UKRiders being integrated into
core concepts. of knowledge to deal with - Answr somehow?
whereabouts are you starting?
There’s plenty more on www. AG – Absolutely, we’d love to
aspirationtech.org, but I bet you AG - The first version of the make that happen. We’re working
didn’t expect me to be so wordy in platform is limited to email-related with early adopters and users of
the first place! topics. We’re trying to develop the platform to define community
community processes for sharing processes that would enable folks
IR – Sounds like you have a lot and managing tech knowledge, to flag great discussions that might
on your plate already. So what’s and then we’ll broaden the focus generate ideas for new question/
Answr all about? to other areas including online answers. Though we’re also
campaigning, web publishing, CRM, working to be respectful of each
AG - The Answr project is security, and beyond. list culture; pulling knowledge out
an attempt to address two of mailing lists has some serious
fundamental challenges in NGO The Answr platform is also etiquette associated with it.
technology. integrated with Social Source
Commons, so that when users are A different answer to your
The first is the capture, or viewing the answers to questions, question is that any data set/
aggregation, of up-to-the-minute they’re also able to see listings of web site that has an interface
knowledge about NGO tech. related tools and platforms. And (“API”) for accessing and searching
There are so many amazing all of that is linked with related relevant content is something

12

we want to integrate into the is still smaller than we would like, Answr and all of Aspiration’s other
platform. The SSC integration is and there are still some usability projects. I hope you’ll let us know
just the first step, we’re hoping to and workflow issues we are how things are going – and also
link questions on Answr with lots working out to make it easier to if there’s any input that would
of directly related knowledge from both find answers and contribute be helpful from Computanews
others sources, including the Lasa knowledge. And then there’s the readers.
Knowledgebase. issue of establishing a believable
ratings system for identifying high- AG – We sure will, and we thank
IR – So, is Answr officially live quality answers. We’re saving the you so much for shining some light
now? “go-live fanfare” for when we think on all the work we’re doing. We
we’ve earned a bit of the same, are quite passionate about building
AG – Yes, and we are slow and we’re so grateful for all the Answr into a resource that really
launching the site, inviting anyone amazing feedback we’ve already help folks do NGO tech better,
who cares to come and look gotten. and we’ll definitely keep you up-
around to have a go and let us to-date as we move this forward.
know what they think, especially IR – Gunner, thanks so much You can visit the Answr project at
about how Twitter is integrated for taking the time to talk to us, http://answr.net
into the process. The content set we wish you all the best with

Managing Technology to Meet Your Mission – A Strategic Guide for NonProfit Leaders

Editors: Holly Ross, Katrin Verclas and Alison Levine

Published Jossey-Bass 2009

Available from amazon.co.uk from around £17

www.meetyourmission.org

T his recently issued 291 page
book from NTEN, the US non
profit technology network, is very
as TechSoup.org

In the first part, the book starts by
It’s not your fault
You are not alone
You can do it
much a set of master classes from looking at how mission shapes an
leading non-profit ICT activists and organisation’s ICT requirements, The book acknowledges a number
commentators. The 11 chapters how change can be managed, of challenges to VCS management.
are arranged in two parts, namely return on investment measured, As regular Computanews readers
Planning and People and The Tools ICT planned, how to recruit and will already be aware the pace
and covers a large amount of retain IT staff, and budget and of change is getting faster; ICT
ground. fund for technology. Part two jargon can be a barrier; choosing
starts with a technology primer the ICT which will help with the
Those readers who have attended and then moves online examining organisation’s mission is hard;
Lasa Circuit Rider conferences stakeholders, communications, failure is scary (because it’s very
will recognise some of the authors fundraising and a look to the easy to fail with ICT projects and
such as Beth Kanter and John future. investment); and that managing the
Kenyon so this will give you an idea change is not easy.
of the level of expertise on offer. The introduction opens with what
The other twelve authors also have might be a haiku but probably isn’t The book notes that three key
long non-profit tech track records – if you are trying to make sense themes emerge from nearly every
with respected organisations such of ICT in your organisation: chapter: look at the mission

13

This probably isn’t a book you’ll
read in one sitting, although it’s
written in a way which isn’t dry
like so many tech manuals or
management books. The fact that
it is American means that the
examples of legislation in the
recruitment section are obviously
for a US audience so less relevant
to the Computanews audience.
Although aimed at those who are
tasked with managing technology
in VCS organisations, anyone
with an interest, professional or
otherwise, in the subject will gain
from the material and resources.
I’d suggest that this book should be
mandatory for circuit riders and
other ICT development workers
and we’ll certainly be including it
as necessary reading as part of the
Lasa ICT Learning Programme.
Highly recommended.

The book’s website www.
meetyourmission.org provides an
overview of the book and the
authors and the Jossey-Bass
site gives access to “premium
first – if that hot looking online Lo and Willow Cook at TechSoup content” at www.josseybass.com/
database tool that everybody is – it’s an excellent overview of go/nten There is also a webinar
talking about won’t help meet hardware, software, networks, that features many of the book’s
your mission, then pass – if it looks security, internet access, websites, authors in conversation with
like it could then you have some support and so on. But I doubt Holly Ross, www.nten.org/events/
serious work to do. Secondly, you’ll find too many PCs on sale webinar/2009/03/31/managing-
people come second – staff, boards now with 256Mb RAM, 1Ghz technology-meet-your-mission-book-
and stakeholders need to buy processor or a 40Gb hard drive release-party
into mission-focused technology that will function adequately with a
and the technology has to be modern operating system.
adequately supported. Finally,
every technology project needs That’s a minor quibble though.
to be evaluated and re-evaluated. There’s much to admire in the
I’d also suggest that planning for book – I liked John Kenyon’s
technology rears its head again and notion of the “clickability” of a
again throughout the book – and website to mimic a conversation
is something that is very often with a potential visitor to the site,
lacking in organisations. Steve Heye’s table for assessing
what stage your technology is
The limitation of any book is that it at and Peter Campbell’s use of a
is of its time. With ICT moving at technology SWOT analysis for the
a rapid pace it can date fast. This introduction of (in the example
is noticeable in the technology given) smartphones.
primer chapter written by Kevin

14

Computanews
Lasa services About Lasa
Established in 1984, Lasa has provided ICT advice to the voluntary sector
for 25 years. Its two main aims are to promote social inclusion through
independent ICT information + advice access to social welfare law, information, advice and guidance; and to
www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk
promote an efficient and effective sector through improving access to
impartial ICT advice and support resources – such as Computanews and
SUPPLIERS the London e-bulletin (www.lasa.org.uk/lasa/mailing-lists)
DIRECTORY
connecting you with trusted technology suppliers Our online ICT Knowledgebase (www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk) is
www.suppliersdirectory.org.uk
a comprehensive source of independent expert ICT advice for VCS
organisations, now containing over 300 articles. The Suppliers Directory
(www.suppliersdirectory.org.uk) connects VCS organisations with
over100 approved suppliers of ICT products and support services across
England. Lasa is also noted for its consultancy work and leadership in
developing the Circuit Rider model of local ICT support. (http://ukriders.
lasa.org.uk/)

advice + information management system
www.lasa.org.uk/aims

Supported by
Big Lottery Fund Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Capacity Builders The Law Society Charity
The City Bridge Trust Legal Services Commission
City Parochial Foundation London Councils
Cripplegate Foundation The London Legal Support Trust
Wates Foundation

Credits
Computanews has been published Lasa, Universal House, 88-94
by Lasa since 1984. Wentworth Street, London E1 7SA

Editor: Ian Runeckles Web: www.lasa.org.uk/ict
Design: Miles Maier Twitter: @lasaict
Cartoons by Phil Evans. Email: computanews@lasa.org.uk
Tel: 020 7426 4496
Registered charity no: 800140

Published: February 2010

Computanews 155

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