I’ve always thought that one of the risks of Web 2 (how I hate that term) to existing membership organisations is the ease of bootstrapping new communities and groups.
In particular I’m thinking of Facebook groups and Pledgebank. Does anyone have any stories about harnessing these two?
Hi Dave It was unfortunately the last meeting of the panel which was formed for the ICT Foresight project. Funded by the ICT Hub and initially also by the Vodafone UK Foundation, the panel have collaborated on four ICT Foresight reports (two published and two on their way) but as with everything, the funding has come to an end so we’re winding down. However, a really strong and committed network of people have emerged and we’re thinking about ways of carrying on the work in some other form and working together in different ways.
On another point, what do you mean by bootstrapping???
PS Meant to say that its not the last in our series of seminars. The next one looks at the future of citizenship in January and then we’re exploring migration in March.
I understand bootstrap to mean set up and grow an organisation without using large amounts of external help or going through traditional institutions.
For example, the Open Rights Group first raised income through PledgeBank, rather than applying to traditional external funds. Of course, one of the reasons that worked for them is that their natually supporter base is technically-literate.
Ah yes, I use the open rights group as an example of the long tail working, and pledgebank as a type of new online organisation dedicated to bringing together these new groups/communities of interest. It’s true that their natural supporter base is likely to be experimenting with the new sites, but presumably it will broaden out over time.
My personal opinion is that there is much more to do around thinking about ICT will change the sector. I find it quite disappointing that so much discussion tends to be around back-office support or, where it is about the wider environment, how we can use websites to get people to click to give.
The focus needs to broaden so that we think about how ICT is changing the institutions and communities around us: this then leads to a focus on what the sector can strategically plan for. The other part of my rant is that we are still hearing all the time that the cost of kit is a huge barrier. It’s not, or it is if you have a PC-centric view of the world.
I would love to see someone produce a vision of what their organisation would look like in 5 years time if it responded to some of the ways in which people are now using new technologies to communicate and collaborate!
Dave
textgoeshereIt sounds like a fascinating seminar. Is Paul right in saying it’s the last one? Shame!
I’ve always thought that one of the risks of Web 2 (how I hate that term) to existing membership organisations is the ease of bootstrapping new communities and groups.
In particular I’m thinking of Facebook groups and Pledgebank. Does anyone have any stories about harnessing these two?
Megan
Third Sector ForesightHi Dave
It was unfortunately the last meeting of the panel which was formed for the ICT Foresight project. Funded by the ICT Hub and initially also by the Vodafone UK Foundation, the panel have collaborated on four ICT Foresight reports (two published and two on their way) but as with everything, the funding has come to an end so we’re winding down. However, a really strong and committed network of people have emerged and we’re thinking about ways of carrying on the work in some other form and working together in different ways.
On another point, what do you mean by bootstrapping???
Megan
Third Sector ForesightPS Meant to say that its not the last in our series of seminars. The next one looks at the future of citizenship in January and then we’re exploring migration in March.
Dave
textgoeshereI understand bootstrap to mean set up and grow an organisation without using large amounts of external help or going through traditional institutions.
For example, the Open Rights Group first raised income through PledgeBank, rather than applying to traditional external funds. Of course, one of the reasons that worked for them is that their natually supporter base is technically-literate.
Megan
Third Sector ForesightAh yes, I use the open rights group as an example of the long tail working, and pledgebank as a type of new online organisation dedicated to bringing together these new groups/communities of interest. It’s true that their natural supporter base is likely to be experimenting with the new sites, but presumably it will broaden out over time.
Karl
Third Sector ForesightMy personal opinion is that there is much more to do around thinking about ICT will change the sector. I find it quite disappointing that so much discussion tends to be around back-office support or, where it is about the wider environment, how we can use websites to get people to click to give.
The focus needs to broaden so that we think about how ICT is changing the institutions and communities around us: this then leads to a focus on what the sector can strategically plan for. The other part of my rant is that we are still hearing all the time that the cost of kit is a huge barrier. It’s not, or it is if you have a PC-centric view of the world.
I would love to see someone produce a vision of what their organisation would look like in 5 years time if it responded to some of the ways in which people are now using new technologies to communicate and collaborate!
Simon
Hi Karl
Just seen this after writing this:
Email’s broke and it ain’t worth fixing
OK – it’s not a whole vision but I think we are getting there.
I think we now need to revisit the processes we are wanting to encourage and refine . . . more later!
Natalie
Third Sector ForesightThe report for this seminar is available to read online or download as a PDF here