On-Line ResourcesOn-Line Resources

&&

Building Community Partnerships Building Community Partnerships

for Developmentfor DevelopmentSome Canadian Experiences Some Canadian Experiences

mantova, italy mantova, italy 23/6/9923/6/99

Dr. Michael Gurstein, DirectorDr. Michael Gurstein, Director

Centre for Community and Enterprise Networking (C\CEN)

University College of Cape Breton,

Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada

mgurst@ccen.uccb.ns.ca10/2/99

BackgroundBackground

Canada one of the most connected countriesCanada one of the most connected countries telephonetelephone cablecable InternetInternet

widespread in home computer ownershipwidespread in home computer ownership concernsconcerns

accessaccess competitivenesscompetitiveness excluded populations--rural, poor, aboriginalsexcluded populations--rural, poor, aboriginals

Policy Framework:Policy Framework:“Connecting Canadians”

Federal Dept. of IndustryFederal Dept. of Industry Community Access Program (CAP)--rural and urbanCommunity Access Program (CAP)--rural and urban Volnet ProgramVolnet Program Smart Communities ProgramSmart Communities Program

Human Resource Development CanadaHuman Resource Development Canada Community Learning NetworksCommunity Learning Networks

Canadian Heritage--concerned with contentCanadian Heritage--concerned with content Health Canada Health Canada Others--CIDA, IDRC, Others--CIDA, IDRC,

Community Access Program (CAP)Community Access Program (CAP)

funds for local communities for I-net accessfunds for local communities for I-net access 3000 across Canada, 100 in Nova Scotia3000 across Canada, 100 in Nova Scotia Y2K--5000 rural and remote + 5000 urbanY2K--5000 rural and remote + 5000 urban $30,000 grants--initially for POP access now for $30,000 grants--initially for POP access now for

developing “community” accessdeveloping “community” access partner with local organizations eg. economic partner with local organizations eg. economic

development organizations--key role of librariesdevelopment organizations--key role of libraries so what happens next…?so what happens next…? Http://www.cap.nb.caHttp://www.cap.nb.ca

VolnetVolnet

Grants to voluntary organizationsGrants to voluntary organizations

for training, connectivity, hardwarefor training, connectivity, hardware

Hub modelHub model

http://www.volnet.cahttp://www.volnet.ca

Smart CommunitiesSmart Communities

Twelve to be chosenTwelve to be chosen $5,000,000 each over three years$5,000,000 each over three years Two rounds--initial then funding for second roundTwo rounds--initial then funding for second round Community “partnerships”Community “partnerships” Need support of key community institutions--librariesNeed support of key community institutions--libraries Http://www.sc.caHttp://www.sc.ca

Role of LibrariesRole of Libraries

an “enabler”an “enabler”doing old things in new waysdoing old things in new wayslinks to the worldlinks to the worldlinks to one’s neighbourslinks to one’s neighbours

a “resource”a “resource”doing new thingsdoing new thingsfor knowledge workfor knowledge workfor remote workfor remote work

Community Enterprise NetworksCommunity Enterprise Networks CAP site based (telecentres, CCC’s, etc.)CAP site based (telecentres, CCC’s, etc.) in rural or small communitiesin rural or small communities institutional link--school, YMCA, collegeinstitutional link--school, YMCA, college computer access, Internet access, training, software computer access, Internet access, training, software

support, e-mail, telework sitessupport, e-mail, telework sites general business servicesgeneral business services students for training and developmentstudents for training and development job creation funds for interim staffingjob creation funds for interim staffing self sufficiency/sustainability through sale of self sufficiency/sustainability through sale of

services, training, fees--e-mail, use of softwareservices, training, fees--e-mail, use of software

Centre for Community & Enterprise Centre for Community & Enterprise Networking (C\CEN)Networking (C\CEN)

University College of Cape Breton basedUniversity College of Cape Breton based R & D and enterprise incubationR & D and enterprise incubation linking to CEN’s for R&D and incubationlinking to CEN’s for R&D and incubation training programstraining programs linkages--provincial, national, globallinkages--provincial, national, global pilots, evaluation, proposal/project developmentpilots, evaluation, proposal/project development

WiNS, small business support, “Healthnet”WiNS, small business support, “Healthnet” http://ccen.uccb.ns.cahttp://ccen.uccb.ns.ca

Wire Nova Scotia: WiNS//NetCorpsWire Nova Scotia: WiNS//NetCorps

70 young people with a “virtual organization”70 young people with a “virtual organization” Internet support, training, administrationInternet support, training, administration outcomesoutcomes

4000 people/250 businesses Inet trained4000 people/250 businesses Inet trained careers, experiencecareers, experience enterprises--tech support, e-conferencing, Virtual Centre for enterprises--tech support, e-conferencing, Virtual Centre for

CB MusicCB Music university/college credituniversity/college credit

NetCorps--pilot for IDRC & Govt. of CanadaNetCorps--pilot for IDRC & Govt. of Canada I-net support for Angonet--NGO access in AngolaI-net support for Angonet--NGO access in Angola two young unemployed Cape Bretoners trained in UNIX, two young unemployed Cape Bretoners trained in UNIX,

GIS--offered jobs, remote tech supportGIS--offered jobs, remote tech support

Sharing, Extracting, Re-using KnowledgeSharing, Extracting, Re-using Knowledge

by-product of virtual management system by-product of virtual management system collaborative/virtual structures--transparent, explicit, lateralcollaborative/virtual structures--transparent, explicit, lateral base for developing, sharing, distributing knowledge for technical base for developing, sharing, distributing knowledge for technical

support, common solutions for their work, enterprise approachessupport, common solutions for their work, enterprise approaches

toolstools e-mail, listserves, web-board, chat--organized to an explicit plane-mail, listserves, web-board, chat--organized to an explicit plan human facilitation of electronic multi-logueshuman facilitation of electronic multi-logues

outcomesoutcomes very low cost successful remote managementvery low cost successful remote management explicit, visible, accessible re-usable knowledge base for on-going explicit, visible, accessible re-usable knowledge base for on-going

activities (logs)--semi-automatic report generationactivities (logs)--semi-automatic report generation rapid distribution of successes, mistakes/correctionsrapid distribution of successes, mistakes/corrections lateral communication, sharing of knowledge, trustlateral communication, sharing of knowledge, trust

Some QuestionsSome Questions

Infrastructure?Infrastructure? are the lessons transferable?are the lessons transferable?

lagging regions in leading economieslagging regions in leading economies knowing what/knowing howknowing what/knowing how

long term sustainability?long term sustainability? but “sustainability” is necessary not sufficientbut “sustainability” is necessary not sufficient

can “access” be “indigenized” or will it only be a tool can “access” be “indigenized” or will it only be a tool for the adminstrators not the adminstrated?for the adminstrators not the adminstrated?

Some Lessons Learned?Some Lessons Learned? It’s the technology, stupid…It’s the technology, stupid… language is an opportunity not a risklanguage is an opportunity not a risk giving fishermen the “net”giving fishermen the “net” what works (is sustainable/useful/acceptable) in Tompkins’ what works (is sustainable/useful/acceptable) in Tompkins’

Cove doesn’t necessarily “work” in Timbuctoo or even in Cove doesn’t necessarily “work” in Timbuctoo or even in Tompkins’ HarbourTompkins’ Harbour

many hands make short work--small biz, educatn, health etc.many hands make short work--small biz, educatn, health etc. things don’t just “happen”things don’t just “happen” mediation, mediation, mediationmediation, mediation, mediation information IS power/knowledge IS freedominformation IS power/knowledge IS freedom ““think local, act global”think local, act global” ICT-4-LED@chatsubo.com ICT-4-LED@chatsubo.com

Dr. Michael GursteinDr. Michael Gurstein

ECBC/NSERC/SSHRC Assoc. Chair: Technology ManagementECBC/NSERC/SSHRC Assoc. Chair: Technology Management

Director: Centre for Community & Enterprise NetworkingDirector: Centre for Community & Enterprise Networking

Associate Professor: Organizational ManagementAssociate Professor: Organizational Management

University College of Cape Breton University College of Cape Breton

Sydney, NS, CANADASydney, NS, CANADAmgurst@ccen.uccb.ns.camgurst@ccen.uccb.ns.ca

Centre for Community & Enterprise NetworkingCentre for Community & Enterprise Networking

C\CENC\CEN

““Using Information and Communications Technology Using Information and Communications Technology for Local Economic Development”for Local Economic Development”

http://ccen.uccb.ns.ca