In October 2006 we used the net:gain methodology to review our strategy for the delivery of our online services. The outcome was scarey! We had a lot of work to do. We realised that we had to completely re-engineer our systems so that we could operate online in the same way that we operate offline. Offline we support local action by adding value to what is already going on. But online we expected everyone to come to us for support. We needed to change this. We needed to add value to what was going on locally or within existing online communities.
So, we came up with the plan with 4 threads of activity - see image - click on it to enlarge. The first 2 threads were quick wins. Thread 1 was about getting our open access services (Inforurale and xPRESS Digest) onto the next generation of technology so that others could pull the information they need into their existing websites. Thread 2 focussed on moving our own corporate websites on to 'Web 2.0' platforms so that we could also pull the content of Inforurale an xPRESS onto our own sites. We also wanted to move the control of website content from our IT Team and put into the hands of the 'owners' of each website. This thread went hand in hand with the development of a new Communications Strategy which I am happy to post if people are interested.
Thread 3 was more difficult as it relates to services were we need to know the identification of the user. However, this is now largely complete and our new Experts Online service was launched in late October 2007.
This consultation/co-creation activity relates to Thread 3 and is about pulling together services and providing facilities to enable collaboration between all those involved in rural regeneration in the UK. However, we expect to utilise the lessons we learn here for other online collaborative communities.
ruralnet|online feed