http://www.worldbank.org/devforum/

Shobha Kumar, Jeeyeon Seo

WBI Multimedia Center

Introduction to

E-discussions, Virtual Communities of Practice, and Online Consultations

E-discussions:

a limited time activity,

multi-way discussions/dialog on a specific topic,

contributors interact with one another and the moderators.

Communities of Practice:

an ongoing virtual community of interest informally bound together by shared expertise,

contributors interact with one another and the moderators.

Consultations:

a limited time activity,

comments and critique invited on prepared material.

Source: http://globstat.unctad.org/html/index.html

Source: The Wireless Internet Opportunity for Developing Countries, 2003

Wide spread internet connection but Bandwidth issues still there

What is DevForum?

• The Bank’s main space for e-discussions and consultations since 1998 (also support communities of practice).

• Promotes and stimulates public debate

• Facilitates multi-directional knowledge-sharing and learning on key development issues

• Currently managed by the Multimedia center of the World Bank Institute

Evolution of technical Platform

Majordomo Lyris Lyris + customized web interface

Mailing List Off-the-shelf products

Maintained by ISG

Maintained by Bellanet

1998-2000 2000-2004 2004-current

• Mailing List Off-the-shelf products • Registration• Calendar• File uploading functions

What is DGroups?

• A joint initiative sponsored by 8 different development organizations, Bellanet, DFID, Hivos, ICA, IICD, OneWorld, UNAIDS, and World Bank.

• An aggregation of online groups working in the development sector on various issues

• The DGroups server is maintained by Bellanet, a small NGO connected to CIDA, located in Ottawa.

Why the mailing list is so special?

• Use email as the core of its technical operations

• Help your target audience with low bandwidth connections, make it easier for their voices to be heard

DevForum Homepage (www.worldbank.org/devforum)

Sample

Sample

How does it work?

• Email & web-based discussions• Mostly open to the public and moderated• Focused on a particular subject• Limited in duration• Archived on the web for future reference• Complies with the Bank’s accessibility

audit of its electronic and information technology environment

• Sponsored by the Bank and/or partner organizations

Send an email

Technical Admin.

Content Moderator

Features

• share different types of resource files• access subscriber activity reports• access to convenient member profile

forms• access message sending statistics• add list members easily• use a built-in group calendar

How can I use DevForum for my work?

• complementing their learning and knowledge sharing activities, VCs, f2f meetings, annual conferences

• enhancing the impact of their programs through sustained knowledge-sharing

• using an online tool for working groups and task teams

• soliciting comments and critique on prepared materials

For Bank staff and its partners interested in:

How can I use DevForum for my work?(contd.)

• sustaining an ongoing virtual community of interest

• collaborating with partners and stakeholders in planning for events

• conducting needs assessment for planned activities

• initiating and sustaining outreach activities (newsletters mailings, announcements)

More than 500 discussions involving 100,00 + participants

Strategic Approaches/Applications

• E-discussion: Corporate Social Responsibility http://dgroups.org/groups/worldbank/CSR-Competitiveness/

495 members, 287 messages, 8 resources

• Community of Practice: Off-the-Shelf Initiative http://www.dgroups.org/groups/worldbank/off-the-shelf/

73 members, 130 messages, 18 resources

• Consultation: WDR Initial Draft 2006http://www.dgroups.org/groups/worldbank/WDR2006/

571 members, 107 messages, 3 resources

Contact

Shobha Kumar, skumar1@worldbank.org

X87021

Jeeyeon Seo, jseo@worldbank.org

X30188

For specific assistance and advise on how to set up your discussion, contact:

Key steps and generic timeline for organizing a discussion

• 3-4 weeks : set the topic for discussion, contact the DevForum team, plan and design, set the objectives and clear indicators of success, allocate resources, define roles and responsibilities, select and recruit partners (if needed)

• 2 weeks: publicize, hire content moderators

Before launch:

Key steps (contd)

Launching the Discussion: Post introductory message, set direction, approve members, post responses from members

During the Discussion: post messages daily, guide participation, guide quality and tone, synthesize the discussion weekly/daily.

Key Steps (contd)

• Concluding the Discussion: post participant survey (if needed), or seek informal participant feedback,summarize the discussion, formally close the discussion.

• Follow-up to Discussion: Review participant feedback, integrate the conclusions/discussion feedback in the final product/activity/document etc.

Next Steps: Fill out the form

A discussion space will be created for you within a week.

Download a form at: http://info.worldbank.org/etools/library/viewlatest.asp?160805