Welcome to the iTaNGO Communities of Practice (CoP) platform – an online tool to help you collaborate and organise around information and communication technology agendas in the community sector.
iTaNGO is a project presented by the Victorian Department of Human Services, the Victorian Department of Planning and Community Development and Infoxchange Australia to give Victorian community sector organisations the knowledge and resources to get the most out of their information communication technology (ICT) setup.
This CoPs site is designed to assist this by allowing you to setup your own group, discuss problems, solutions and ideas with other people in the not-for-profit and community space.
You will need to register before you can view the discussions and activities within the site. This takes just 2 minutes, then you can browse the site and join a regional or interest group.
iTaNGO core Communities of Practice
Ask the Community
All members of the iTaNGO network are part of this group, which is the first port of call for questions relating to information and communication technology (ICT). Participants can ask questions of each other and solve problems together. This is the place to raise issues and ask questions that do not fit into the specific-interest CoP groups.
Becoming stable and secure
Getting your organisations ICT structure stable and secure is vital to ensure that the technology is working for you, not against you. This CoP is a forum for groups and organisations currently ‘fighting’ their ICT system, to share and develop strategies to create the base to ICT transformation.
What’s new? What’s out there?
Stay on top of the fast-paced technology world! Understand the latest platforms, cloud-based applications and new technologies. Tell others what you are doing and how it is working for your organisation.
Social Media
Social Media is the big buzz. This CoP will discuss the effective use of social media including Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Google Plus. The discussion could cover areas such as marketing, policy and legal (duty of care) issues. Opportunities will also be available to share how other organisations are successfully using social media.
ICT and Case Management
Multiple data entry, non-integrated systems, lack of data for business analysis are issues facing many organisations. This CoP will identify and resolve concerns about ICT and case management solutions. Share your experiences and frustrations and work towards ensuring easier compliance, more streamlined reporting systems, better case data handling and increased efficiency and effectiveness in both voluntary and mandatory ICT use in case management.
Knowledge Management
The ability to effectively store, organise and retrieve organisational policies, reports, HR documents, contracts, templates and other critical ‘softcopy’ information is vital for all organisations today. This CoP will allow the exploration of the various knowledge management tools and systems available to organisations and allow determination of best-practice approaches for community-sector organisations. Software systems, personal and organisational systems, databases, servers, documentation of staff knowledge, staff/client relationship and project management tools, methods of version control and staff sharing are among the areas for consideration.
Training
ICT is not just about technology; it’s about the people using it. This CoP is designed to assist organisations understand and develop the skills staff members need to operate the ICT systems and software available in in the workplace today. How to implement a staff-training needs assessment, a staff skills audit and staff training plans are among the issues of concern. Staff training options for community organisations, local providers of training and electronically available programs are further matters for discussion.
Innovation and Excellence
This CoP is designed to explore new technologies and innovative approaches to ICT use from Australia and around the world to see how such practices can be applied to local community organisations. Relevant subjects include how technology is being used and how it can be developed to transform the work of service provision. Work could include collecting case studies from the non-profit, government and commercial sectors to provide inspiration for participant organisations in how ICT can enhance their work and provide tools for their clients and their sector.
What are Communities of Practice?
Communities of Practice (CoP) are groups of people who share a passion around a certain area and want to work together collaboratively to learn how to do it better. They are based around a particular domain of shared interest.
In the context of the iTaNGO project, the communities of practice will be focused around the domain of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
CoPs are organic groups who self-manage and drive their own learning through: interaction; action learning and research; collaborative projects and shared practice.
How do they work?
- The key to successful CoPs is getting people participating, engaging and talking about the use of ICT within the context of the sector.
- Each community of practice is different, by the very nature of the concept. They are designed to meet the needs of the members, by the members themselves. Some may be more an online community, developing their shared interest mainly through online discussion and learning. Others may be more focused on face-to-face meetings to share practice and address their goals.
- Each CoP in the iTaNGO project will be supported with a technology platform that will allow all members to participate in online discussion. It will also enable the different iTaNGO CoPs to collaborate together if appropriate and increase the opportunity for learning within the sector.
- Areas of focus within the domain of ICT are identified by the CoP members to be of interest to the group. The group then commits to engage in collective learning about the area. This can create a range of outcomes for the group.
- Some elements are defined by iTaNGO project requirements. This is discussed in a later section.
Benefits
- People with shared interest are able to collectively learn and address key issues within the ICT domain
- Creates an environment of sharing practice, cross-pollination and enabling in the area of ICT across the sector
- Provides opportunity for support for organisations in an area often seen as isolated, complex and difficult – ICT
- Introduces collaborative processes to encourage the free flow of ideas and exchange of information
- Captures and diffuses new knowledge and information
- Connects people together
- Explores new possibilities, solves challenging problems and creates opportunities
iTaNGO Project Requirements and Supports
- In conjunction with the iTaNGO team, a volunteer lead agency and coordinator will be identified to bring together people interested in creating the CoP. This process will occur during the iTaNGO workshops.
- An initial meeting of the CoP will be facilitated by an iTaNGO team member. This session will set purpose, goals and vision for the community and define the activities, technologies, group processes and roles that will support the group’s work.
- A technology platform has been created for the iTaNGO CoPs. This collaborative Web 2.0 tool allows CoPs to interact and engage with each other in an online environment to ensure learning is optimized.
- Participation and presentation at a Case Study Forum to be held in late March 2012.
