1. Palestinian IT Association of Companies (PITA) - www.pita.ps Promoting Innovation and Entrepreneurship in The Middle East and North Africa: Strategies and Partnerships Casablanca Technopark / World Bank InfoDev : Network Development and Network Management Session X : Network Development and Network Management Laith Kassis 3/Feb/2006 Casablanca, Morocco

2. Palestinian IT Association of Companies (PITA) - www.pita.ps Outline 1. Brief about PITA 2. Types of Networks 3. Strategies for network building 4. Tools for network management

3. Palestinian IT Association of Companies (PITA) - www.pita.ps 1. PITA in Brief Established in 1998 Voluntary membership-based organization General Assembly & Elected BoD 70 companies: Software, Hardware, ISPs, Telecom, Consultancy & Training

4. Palestinian IT Association of Companies (PITA) - www.pita.ps 1. PITA in Brief - cont ’ d Purpose: To represent the collective interest of the private ICT sector in Palestine. Vision: To lead the positioning of the ICT sector as the economic pillar of Palestine. Mission: To promote and defend the private ICT sector through: Advocating for a business-enabling environment through public-private partnerships. Promoting the sector locally and internationally. Developing a pool of professional ICT human resources.

5. Palestinian IT Association of Companies (PITA) - www.pita.ps 2. Types of Networks; Palestine experience Individual Knowledge Networks (Netiquette) ITSIG Forum – email list on IT, local & intl ISOC.PS – membership, global ISOC Palestine Economy Forum – email list on economics, local & international Mobilizing Palestinian Expatriates Information Knowledge Experience Debates News Posts (not ads)

6. Palestinian IT Association of Companies (PITA) - www.pita.ps 2. Types of Networks - cont ’ d ; Palestine experience Business Associations networks LOCAL Industrial Associations (IT, Furniture, Pharmaceuticals, etc) Private Sector (PalTrade, Businessmen Association, private sector associations coordination council) REGIONAL / INTERNATIONAL Arab IT Association of Companies: IJMA3 Global IT Associations of Companies: WITSA National Business Incubation Assoc, US: NBIA Science Parks & Innov Centers Expert Grp: SPICE Alliance of MENA Incubators (AMENAI) !!

7. Palestinian IT Association of Companies (PITA) - www.pita.ps 3. Strategies for Network Building Set Common SMART Objectives – Specific, Measurable, Ambitious, Relevant and Time-bound Establish Clear Benefits From Relationship Maintain Partners Relationships – – Set the rules early – Establish a pool of committed supporters – Show them you care (People and soft skills) – Build a reputation for the network (association) in the community Handle Complaints – Emphasize cooperation

8. Palestinian IT Association of Companies (PITA) - www.pita.ps 3. Strategies for Network Building - cont ’ d Keeping Partners Informed – Communicate –Formal and informal reporting, Newsletters, one-on-one meetings – Learn their contact preferences –Emails, Forums, Fax Maintain Interest – Demonstrating network value by showing positive outputs and adding successes over time Involve Partners – Leveraging their expertise, strengths and influences – 80/20 rule – 80% of the value of partners support comes from 20% of the partners

9. Palestinian IT Association of Companies (PITA) - www.pita.ps 4.Tools for Network Management ICT Tools – email lists, forums, portals, etc. Surveys Conferences Meetings

10. Palestinian IT Association of Companies (PITA) - www.pita.ps Thank You