Day 6 – TC520 Technical Communication Systems: Understanding and Improving the Role of Information & Communication Systems (ICS) in Humanitarian Relief Systems (HRS) Professor Mark Haselkorn 14E Loew Hall html Office Hours: Tues/Thurs 10–11 AM and by appointment TC 520 Class Notes 2/8—Haselkorn Winter 2005

Overview for Today Work on report in project teams Overview of the paper and three topic areas Common themes across all three topic areas Sub-topics and organization Project management plan Team activity Report out TC 520 Class Notes 2/8—Haselkorn Winter 2005

Questions What is the purpose of our presentation and paper? What are the common themes and conclusions that carry across all three topic areas? What are the topics and sub-topics in support of those themes? How will the paper be organized? How will the teams and overall project be managed? Who is responsible for what? How will we use the BB? TC 520 Class Notes 2/1—Haselkorn Winter 2005

Upcoming Assignments 2/15 Present progress reports and incorporate feedback 2/22 Team activities and progress 3/1 Pull it all together, go over presentations, give feedback, and give time for final preparations 3/8 Presentations 3/14 Papers due TC 520 Class Notes 2/8—Haselkorn Winter 2005

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to point the humanitarian relief sector towards a strategy of policy, action and funding that will enable relief organizations to better learn from past disaster response efforts and to take better advantage of those lessons. This strategy is discussed in three interrelated areas: (1) within NGOs and other relief agencies (intra-agency), (2) across NGOs and other relief agencies (inter-agency), and (3) interactions between humanitarian systems and their environments (e.g. political, cultural, geographical, sector). Our goal is to support the development of a human and technology infrastructure that enables relief workers to not only conduct their complex work this time, but do it better the next. TC 520 Class Notes 2/8—Haselkorn Winter 2005

Inter-agency Intra-agency Inter-agency Environments TC 520 Class Notes 2/8—Haselkorn Winter 2005

Intra-agency (within NGOs and other relief agencies) UN example h/KenyaPresentation.ppthttp://depts.washington.edu/iphr/Researc h/KenyaPresentation.ppt –Centralization vs. Localization Central guidance vs. local diversity Impact on ICS –Short-term vs. Long-term Strategies Project funding vs. common infrastructure Impact on ICS TC 520 Class Notes 2/8—Haselkorn Winter 2005

Inter-agency (across NGOs and other relief agencies) UN/NGO example Cooperation vs. Competition Efficiencies vs. Independence Agency specializations and cultures TC 520 Class Notes 2/8—Haselkorn Winter 2005

Interactions between humanitarian systems and their environments (e.g. political, cultural, geographical, sector) Regulations Sovereignty & political agendas War (land mines) Logistical barriers Appropriateness for culture NGO sector trends –Demand for greater accountability –Need for greater security TC 520 Class Notes 2/8—Haselkorn Winter 2005

Overall Themes/Tensions for the Paper 2/8 Information ecology Increased central coordination (intra & inter), efficiency, standards, common advocacy, accountability, assessment, lessons learned, knowledge management Long-term, proactive strategy, create infrastructure Lack of technology infrastructure Diversity, flexibility, individual volunteer motivation, non-profit, individual expertise and experience Short-term, rapid response TC 520 Class Notes 2/8—Haselkorn Winter 2005

Common Conclusions about Humanitarian Relief Systems Need ICS focused not on technology but on how people use information to accomplish their goals. This can help HROs overcome communication and logistical barriers. Need for increased central coordination (without sacrificing what motivates individual volunteers and non-profit organizations) Need for standards (within diversity) Need for proactive strategy (in support of reactive operations/emergency response— flexible but not ad hoc) TC 520 Class Notes 2/8—Haselkorn Winter 2005

More conclusions Need for better advocacy Need for better accountability and assessment Need for knowledge management and dissemination of lessons learned—moving from being primarily a “doing” organization to equally being a “knowledge” organization TC 520 Class Notes 2/8—Haselkorn Winter 2005