Can enough of the people targeted access this as a resource online - these would be the people would need it most.

How different is this from what’s already out there, we should tailor it to Northern Ireland e.g. using simple case studies.

Pen picture of what a basic office will need would be useful, including sources of cost effective resources.

Information must be independent.

Advice on simple solutions e.g. using FOSS will get organisations to a useful starting point

Objective 2

The directory contributors should be interviewed, not just going on reviews, as these can be abused - opinion was divided on this, some felt that it would be difficult for the ICT Consortium to ‘endorse’ contributors in any way.

It would be useful to find a list of suppliers who you could contact on the phone to get further feedback.

It would be useful to supplement this with a paper based catalogue, for those that don’t automatically look to the web.

Objective 3

Feelings were that this would work well and would be a useful resource which would work with your organisation, rather that doing a quick sell. The benefits of working within the sector and in touch with the needs of the sector would be crucial. Expertise would develop as the type of work provided is repeated with different organisations, e.g. ensuring that organisations get free broadband upgrades. This would help with the removal of duplication and wastage of time and resources.

A benefit of this would be that the people involved ‘belong’ to the groups involved. They could also be tailored to the groups specialisms.

The empowerment idea is key to the success and makes this very different.

There should be a means by which the e riders are monitored so that they continually adhere to the ethos

Issues which are being explored in England are e.g. certification of Circuit Riders, branding of those involved, and private companies using the opportunity as an additional means to sell their services.

Objective 4

It would be crucial to ensure that funders, larger steering groups, government bodies etc. are educated as to the goals and ethos of the strategy, particularly that IT is not just about buying equipment. These events and articles would help to get the benefits across to stakeholders.

Events would be useful as long as you can hook into people’s interest and show an immediate practical benefit to them.

Objective 5

The bite sized online training modules are very useful to get people interested by sorting what they would like an instant fix for. There is a large learning curve for people to get to Web 2.0 literacy, never mind Web 1.0. The web 2.0 education would need to be done at all ability levels across the sector, not just at the higher level.

Sensitivity must also be exercised when ‘pushing’ the ICT developments to organisations, to make sure you’re not scaremongering them into buying into this, or saying that this is the only right way. Instead it should be sold to them as one way of doing it with these benefits, and this is how you do it.

Objective 2: Providing an ICT supplier directory is a positive step forward. Opportunities to negotiate preferential rates as a group will be benefitial. Care needs to be taken re the customer reviews on the ICT supplier directory. No anonymous postings.

Objective 3: Great idea! Fine detail around quality, cost, management etc need to be worked out. Also awareness raising around what a circut rider is. Think the word strategic is important here - a circut rider is more than a “fixer”

Objective 4: Need also to raise awareness of ICT Consortium’s work and market the resources available. Communication is very important as is sustainability.

Objective 5: Better and more open, transparent dialogue with government bodies, groups etc working on similar issues. Make sure learning reflects what is needed and does’nt reinvent the wheel.

• increase awareness of actual benefits of in practical real world scenarios without jargon or ellaborate terminology- what difference does it make, what does it save in time, money, what potential does it give…linking ICT best practise to practical use on the ground.
• e.g case study - how an org could have saved money or time in using the type of knowledge on offer via ICTCNI network of skills / knowledge

objective one

• for registered users only?
• updates / maintenance

objective two

• put on cost comparisons
• having approved / unapproved people - rating
• quality of listings
• how do you know they are reliable / cheapest / objectivity
• a lot of issues to be clarified

objective three

• very positive feedback to the erider concept
• impartiality needs to be promoted
• could take long time to get supportive network
• who is in pool of eriders (public/private/vol/comm sector - where they derive from)
• who is going to do all this??!! - ICTCNI, NICVA
• sustainability - how orgs can extend the concept beyond lifetime of the pilot
• upskilling should be done quickly

objective four

• usage - transfer of skills - training
• benefits transparent
• be aware of various levels of entry
• don’t assume knowledge
• promotion of ownership of ICT issues by all in an organisation - importance of and catering for collective interest
• ambitious - needs to be connected to other objectives…
• who are the stakeholders
• have 8 events been outlined - what areas?
• if there are 200 interested parties for Qaire - where are they now?!…how to sustain engagement

objective five

• what is web 2.0?!
• what is NI dig inclusion steering group?
• simplify language

Yes

Yes was not a particularly popular answer - although it was felt that funding while it was an issue and could increase use, there needed to be a more strategic approach.

Need for ICT focused funding in NI like in UK like ChangeUP.

Unsure

Need to be sustainable - need for funding

Does the end user actually need ICT? If not then why spend the money in the first place

No

No was certainly the most popular answer, with the vast majority of participants swiftly moving to the rear of the room to argue the need for a more joined up approach.

Training is imperative, and need to recognise the fear of ICT that is still prevalent. ICT moves so quickly that people need help to stay in top.

Need to engage the end user - if there is no will to learn then it is a waste of money.

End users don’t see the benefits of ICT solutions

Organisations purchase kit simply to use up money without building in funding for replacement and repair - better budgeting needs to be built in.

2.00pm – Tea and coffee

2.15pm – Introduction & presentation of research findings

2.30pm – Overview of draft ICT Strategy for Northern Ireland and analysis of the five objectives

3.15pm – Break for tea and coffee

3.30pm – Group feedback and questions

4.15pm – Close

Directions to NICVA

Check this map if you are unsure how to get to NICVA or check these directions for finding us.

Through our own experiences we have found that the deployment of ICT can make a significant difference in supporting and improving service delivery and therefore welcome this initiative.

EGSA will continue to support this work and encourage others to do so to ensure services within the voluntary and community sector are strengthened and expanded through the effective use of ICT.

Eileen Kelly
Director
EGSA – Connecting Adults with Learning

I’d love to see whatever comes out of the ICT strategy take on this sort of role for the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland.

Links to the articles are available on the resources section of this site.

Read about the background to the ICT strategy

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Surveys findings
The findings from the survey include:

• Organisations believe that there is a pressing need for impartial advice on ICT within the sector
• There is an ad-hoc approach to ICT training
• Organisations are relying on companies with a vested interest in certain products to provide ICT support
• Organisations are not using resources on strategic projects outside the normal maintenance of ICT systems
• Organisations experience a lack of consistency from funders in relation to ICT spending
• Less than one in six of small organisations have a specific ICT budget
• Organisations have made the effort to get online, however, they are not fully utilising the potential benefits this can bring

Download the report on the ICT Survey 2006. or read it online on the main blog