Collaborative Online Projects

1. Collaborative Online Projects Exploring ‘constellation’ style partnerships. Mark Surman – Commons Group Fiona MacCool – Meta Strategies

2. Collaborative Online ProjectsWelcome Explore the idea of collaborative online projects … … by looking at the constellation model of collaboration and information sharing.

3. Partnerships Why do them? What works? What doesn’t?

4. PartnershipYour experience? • Who has participated in an information based partnerships? • Who has benefited from their partnerships? • Who has had challenges or bad experiences?

5. Bad reasons Funder driven For appearances Legacy partnership Adversity Good reasons Common issue Share resources Pool information Broader reach Access for clients Political impact PartnershipWhy?

6. Branding Sustainability Control (Info) ownership Compatibility Size / resources Info overload Time PartnershipChallenges

7. PartnershipConstellation Model Fluid, flat partnership where orgs take different roles depending on situation. Info network where orgs share content without loosing brand or ownership.

13. Branding Sustainability Control (Info) ownership Compatibility Size / resources Info overload Time Multi-branded Resource sharing Flat structure Retain ownership Opt in / opt out Works big + small Filtering Share the load Constellation ModelAddressing Challenges

14. ACTEW Case Study Community learning network content constellation

15. Our Community Partners The "Content-Sharing Constellation for the Employment and Training Sector" is an informal content partnership related to the employment and training sector. The six agencies include: • Advocates for Community-Based Training and Education for Women (ACTEW) • The Possibilities Project – Community Information Toronto • Social and Enterprise Development Innovations (SEDI) CapacityNet • Community Social Planning Council of Toronto (CSPC-T), • Ontario Association of Youth Employment Centres • iCoach

16. Constellation members use database-driven "shared-application" tools to post news, events, and job listings to our web sites, and also allow sharing of the database so that any "posting" to one of our sites is automatically shared with the web sites of other Constellation members as well. This content-sharing relationship has allowed each of our organizations to distribute high-quality information to our memberships and target audiences, reduce duplication, benefit from combined staff effort and expand the range of information that we can provide. In addition, the Content-Sharing Constellation facilitates the online promotional efforts of dozens of non-profit agencies to a much wider audience than could be reached through our individual sites. Constellation Objectives

17. Background • Starting Small and Letting it Grow • Beta Test and then test some more • Outreach and growth based on measurable successful track record • Finding funding and securing partnerships for sustainability and growth

18. Project Goals The ACTEW Community Learning Network will be an online information-sharing conduit for the employment and training sector. The goal of the project is to formalize, expand, and further enhance the informal content-sharing model begun by participating agencies of the "Content-Sharing Constellation."

19. To establish a coordinated network of community-based agencies that will engage in sharing of web-based information and resources for the community-based employment and training sector. To facilitate a community-driven approach to content development from a variety of stakeholders in the employment and training sector. To provide high-quality information and resources that are timely, accessible, and relevant for a full spectrum of community-based employment and training programs and services. To develop an interactive self-publishing database-driven tool that will enable a number of web sites to automatically share their online content. Project Objectives

21. Content-Sharing Constellation Model ACTEW iCoach MNSJ Poss OCASI OAYEC SEDI Publish Content Publish Content Publish Content Publish Content Publish Content Publish Content Publish Content Edit & Cross-Publish Constellation Holding Bins Delete

22. Action Apps Content Manager

23. Action Apps Content Form

24. Site content in action

25. Site content in action

26. CPCHE Case Study Children’s environmental health constellation.

27. CPCHE Case StudyThe Vision The Canadian Partnership for Children's Health and Environment (CPCHE) is an affiliation of ten national, provincial and local organizations who share a commitment to improving children’s environmental health in Canada. 

28. Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment Canadian Child Care Federation Canadian Environmental Law Association Canadian Institute for Child Health Toronto Public Health Learning Disabilities Association of Canada Ontario College of Family Physicians Ontario Public Health Association Pollution Probe South Riverdale Community Health Centre CPCHE Case StudyThe Partners

29. CPCHE Case StudyThe Partnership • Collaborative research • Social marketing • Community engagement • Policy reform • Information sharing • All done using constellation model

30. CPCHE Case StudyInfo Sharing Network • Content shared between all partners • Aggregated on central portal • Partners can also use on their own sites • Using common software for info exchange

31. CPCHE Case StudyWhy Share? • More audience • More content • Less work • Broaden scope • Mutual self interest

32. [screen cap: pkrn library index with item that is on CPCHE]

33. [screen cap: full text of PKRN library item that is also on CPCHE]

34. [screen cap: CPCHE library page with item that is also on PKRN]

35. [screen cap: CELA press release on CELA site]

36. [screen cap: CPCHE library page with item that is also on PKRN]

37. [screen cap: full text of CPCHE library item is also on PKRN]

38. [screen cap: full text of PKRN library item that is also on CPCHE]

39. [screen cap: AA item manager with same item listed in it - PKRN]

40. [screen cap: AA edit item with same item from PKRN]

41. CPCHE Case StudySo what? • 10 groups actively sharing information • Massive new Canadian CEH resource Clear case being made on CEH issues • Creation of a credible voice • Established political clout • … couldn’t have done it alone

42. CPCHE Case StudyKey ingredients • Vision. Integrity. Trust. • Picking partners well. • Patience – partnership takes time. • Constant attention and commitment. • Sharing the wealth. • Partnership development process. • Staff not housed in partner org.

43. Lessons? What do ACTEW and CPCHE tell us?

44. All partnerships … Shared vision Transparency Trust Communication Clear roles Constellations … Information pools Multi-branded Opt in / opt out Flat structure Fluid leadership LessonsPrinciples

45. LessonsDoes this work for I+R? Break out … • How might the constellation model be helpful in an I+R context? • What are the most useful elements and principles? • What would need to be added? What is missing?

46. LessonsCritical to Success • Common problem • Motivation to act • All the right players • Virtual work skills • Communication • Clarity of roles • Clear information ownership

47. LessonsOnline Work Culture • Timely • Constructive • Good culture of using e-mail • Collaborative writing skill • ‘Ping’ level feedback

48. Collaborative Online Partnerships Mark Surman – mark@commonsgroup.com Fiona MacCool – fiona@metastrategies.com