Comments on: Beware of Geeks bearing Gifts http://www.humanitarian.info/2007/10/12/beware-of-geeks-bearing-gifts/ because information can save lives Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:15:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: humanitarian.info » ICT4Peace in the news http://www.humanitarian.info/2007/10/12/beware-of-geeks-bearing-gifts/comment-page-1/#comment-124550 humanitarian.info » ICT4Peace in the news Sat, 05 Jan 2008 15:02:22 +0000 http://www.humanitarian.info/2007/10/12/beware-of-geeks-bearing-gifts/#comment-124550 [...] - the “if you build it, they will come” principle (which has its limits, but is a good starting point). However then the article goes into areas which I really, really disagree with. “The IT [...] [...] – the “if you build it, they will come” principle (which has its limits, but is a good starting point). However then the article goes into areas which I really, really disagree with. “The IT [...]

]]> By: Matt Bannerman http://www.humanitarian.info/2007/10/12/beware-of-geeks-bearing-gifts/comment-page-1/#comment-92986 Matt Bannerman Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:45:11 +0000 http://www.humanitarian.info/2007/10/12/beware-of-geeks-bearing-gifts/#comment-92986 Clearly a collection of IT proverbs is in development: how about 'Look before you geek' as a contribution? Too many IT projects in our sector forge ahead with only the most cursory scan of the existing landscape... Paul is too modest to mention his excellent assessment of the use of ICTs in emergency reponse, carried out in 2005/6 for the Emergency Capacity Building Project, which deals with many of these issues in depth: (http://www.ecbproject.org/publications_4.htm) Our more recent experience with ICTs in emergency capacity building suggests a couple of generalizations: 1. Where we have had success, it has been through a multi-disciplinary project team including both IT specialists and program people, involved from the get-go. Sometimes painful to watch: always worth it in the long run. 2. Related to this, our experience suggests that at least 50% of the budget and effort involved in an 'IT project' needs to be directed away from the computers and towards 'soft' activities such as facilitation, communication and internal marketing, if any return is to be realised on your IT investment. Clearly a collection of IT proverbs is in development: how about ‘Look before you geek’ as a contribution? Too many IT projects in our sector forge ahead with only the most cursory scan of the existing landscape…

Paul is too modest to mention his excellent assessment of the use of ICTs in emergency reponse, carried out in 2005/6 for the Emergency Capacity Building Project, which deals with many of these issues in depth: (http://www.ecbproject.org/publications_4.htm)

Our more recent experience with ICTs in emergency capacity building suggests a couple of generalizations:
1. Where we have had success, it has been through a multi-disciplinary project team including both IT specialists and program people, involved from the get-go. Sometimes painful to watch: always worth it in the long run.
2. Related to this, our experience suggests that at least 50% of the budget and effort involved in an ‘IT project’ needs to be directed away from the computers and towards ‘soft’ activities such as facilitation, communication and internal marketing, if any return is to be realised on your IT investment.

]]> By: Michael Howden http://www.humanitarian.info/2007/10/12/beware-of-geeks-bearing-gifts/comment-page-1/#comment-92282 Michael Howden Tue, 23 Oct 2007 18:09:41 +0000 http://www.humanitarian.info/2007/10/12/beware-of-geeks-bearing-gifts/#comment-92282 Having had some experience in “getting†Having had some experience in “gettingâ€

]]> By: Gavin Treadgold http://www.humanitarian.info/2007/10/12/beware-of-geeks-bearing-gifts/comment-page-1/#comment-91692 Gavin Treadgold Mon, 22 Oct 2007 08:32:43 +0000 http://www.humanitarian.info/2007/10/12/beware-of-geeks-bearing-gifts/#comment-91692 Hi Paul, I've made a few comments supporting and discussing yours, and adding a couple more on my blog. http://www.rediguana.co.nz/gav/2007/10/22/encouraging-non-geek-use-of-information-technology/ Hi Paul, I’ve made a few comments supporting and discussing yours, and adding a couple more on my blog.

http://www.rediguana.co.nz/gav/2007/10/22/encouraging-non-geek-use-of-information-technology/

]]> By: Dennis King http://www.humanitarian.info/2007/10/12/beware-of-geeks-bearing-gifts/comment-page-1/#comment-89898 Dennis King Thu, 18 Oct 2007 04:52:34 +0000 http://www.humanitarian.info/2007/10/12/beware-of-geeks-bearing-gifts/#comment-89898 Paul, Sorry to hear that you won't be attending the Symposium and be able to talk with you in person, but glad you are contributing through this blog. You have contributed a lot to the progress in humanitarian information over the last several years. Thanks for your input into the Symposium Google Groups discussion and the issues I raised and I will make sure they are incorporated into the best practices and recommendations. Paul,

Sorry to hear that you won’t be attending the Symposium and be able to talk with you in person, but glad you are contributing through this blog. You have contributed a lot to the progress in humanitarian information over the last several years. Thanks for your input into the Symposium Google Groups discussion and the issues I raised and I will make sure they are incorporated into the best practices and recommendations.

]]> By: Sanjana Hattotuwa http://www.humanitarian.info/2007/10/12/beware-of-geeks-bearing-gifts/comment-page-1/#comment-88297 Sanjana Hattotuwa Sat, 13 Oct 2007 01:42:59 +0000 http://www.humanitarian.info/2007/10/12/beware-of-geeks-bearing-gifts/#comment-88297 One suggestion would to use technology already in the hands of non-geeks, without forcing them to use new technologies, devices or ICT mechanisms. However sophisticated in and of themselves, ICT mechanisms that aren't grounded in local work cultures will run soon become ossified artefacts. I've written extensively on how ICT solutions for humanitarian aid need to be sensitive to, amongst other factors, the local socio-political, cultural, ethnic and religious dynamics: http://ict4peace.wordpress.com/2006/07/03/humanitarian-aid-and-peacebuilding/ http://ict4peace.wordpress.com/2006/04/30/technology-for-humanitarian-aid-6-mantras/ and contributed to a list that a bunch of non-geeks at Strong Angel III (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strong_Angel) came up with: http://ict4peace.wordpress.com/2006/08/24/strong-angel-iii-design-consideration-for-humanitarian-aid-systems/ Online Technology for Social Change: From Struggle to Strategy by dot.Organise is also compelling reading in this regard. Though US-centric, it clearly brings out the challenges of sustainable use of ICTs by "non-geeks", irrespective of how technologically advanced the makers think their ICT solutions to be. See http://ict4peace.wordpress.com/2006/10/17/online-technology-for-social-change-from-struggle-to-strategy/ One suggestion would to use technology already in the hands of non-geeks, without forcing them to use new technologies, devices or ICT mechanisms. However sophisticated in and of themselves, ICT mechanisms that aren’t grounded in local work cultures will run soon become ossified artefacts.

I’ve written extensively on how ICT solutions for humanitarian aid need to be sensitive to, amongst other factors, the local socio-political, cultural, ethnic and religious dynamics:

http://ict4peace.wordpress.com/2006/07/03/humanitarian-aid-and-peacebuilding/
http://ict4peace.wordpress.com/2006/04/30/technology-for-humanitarian-aid-6-mantras/

and contributed to a list that a bunch of non-geeks at Strong Angel III (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strong_Angel) came up with:

http://ict4peace.wordpress.com/2006/08/24/strong-angel-iii-design-consideration-for-humanitarian-aid-systems/

Online Technology for Social Change: From Struggle to Strategy by dot.Organise is also compelling reading in this regard. Though US-centric, it clearly brings out the challenges of sustainable use of ICTs by “non-geeks”, irrespective of how technologically advanced the makers think their ICT solutions to be.

See http://ict4peace.wordpress.com/2006/10/17/online-technology-for-social-change-from-struggle-to-strategy/

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