December 12, 2007Bruce L. Geisert

Goals and ObjectivesReview Current IT Priorities and Projects

Feedback and observations from Workshops

Planning Process and steps

Citi Project as Example

Next steps for team;

Overall Approach TodayNeeds Assessment/Gap Analysis 

Audience and member needs rather than features

Start building an IT Features/Functionality overview

Start to build a roadmap of critical features

Project Priorities & StatusHAMED

Citi Project

Gates Project

Other upcoming activities?

Commonalities and Needs FocusWhat is common between the projects for IT

What is special for each project

What can SEEP already provide

Survey CommentsLibrary Documents (*******Calendar of Events (*****Data tools (*****Share Experiences (*****Organization Database (*****Examples of Best Practices (****Event Notices (****Technical Courses (****Finding/Communicating with others (****Discussion Groups (****Login as needed (****Monthly Newsletter (***Raw data for my Area (***Working Group updates (***Take Courses on‐line (**Login when events are planned (**Changes in technology (*

Observations from Working GroupsValue Chains for each group (Life Cycle of Activities)Who is Doing what (People, projects and activities)Documentation of Guidelines/Frameworks/Standards;Examples of Reporting and IndicatorsField Focused Case Studies/Good PracticesSocial Networking Access for Working GroupPartnerships, shared learning and collaborationAudiences:  Information users/Information Creators & Sharers;

DiscussionTop Constraints for Members to do their jobs?

SEEP Areas of Value Added & Expertise?

List of Top IT Services SEEP can provide (Not just features and functions);

IT Strategy PlanningPlanning StepsActivity Framework/DefinitionsPrioritization and RoadmapImplementation Planning

Goals for Planning:Audience Needs, not just something to implement;Team Discussion on Plans and PrioritiesPrioritization of Features and Resource Allocation

Cost to implement and recurring costs for features (TCO)Evaluation of options to meet needs

Alternatives to building from scratch;Market plans and feature availability;

Planning Steps (General)Needs Assessment/Project PlansAudience/Activity Definition 

Break Down by AudiencePrimary activitiesBenefitsInitial Review / Prioritization of IdeasPhase I and Phase II plans;

Possible Features and Functions Use Cases for FeaturesRough outline of RequirementsSWAG for Features (Overall staff, resource and financial estimate)

Implementation time‐lines and possible schedules

Specific Implementation StepsImplementation TimelinesRFP For implementation;Requirements and Specifications

Detailed RequirementsDraft Wireframes

Audience FeedbackUsability Testing

CodingDetailed designs;Implementation and QA testing;Launch Planning;

Audience Feedback and revision plans for Phase II 

DiscussionWhere are the different projects at in these stepsConsolidate planning for activitiesPriorities?In the pipeline activities;

Break ‐‐ Next:  Citi Foundation Example

Needs Assessment/Project PlansBecome influential and capable representatives of the local microfinance sector, including the development of strong ties with relevant government and regulatory agencies, mainstream financial sector, and other relevant stakeholders at the national or regional level.Provide demand driven services to member MFIs, so that these MFIs may be better equipped to provide high‐quality financial services to their clients.Develop industry institutions and processes such as credit bureaus, investment funds, best practices, and performance monitoring and reporting. Help stimulate additional progress in other microfinance networks and contribute to international innovations in the field through peer learning and sharing.

Audience/Activity Definition Break Down by Audience

SEEP will work intensively with 12 selected national and regional microfinance networks for 3 years to implement specialized technical assistance and capacity building activities. 

Primary activitiesNetwork Capacity AssessmentsMicrofinance Industry Assessments (national or regional)Citigroup Advisory BoardsStrategic and Business Plan DevelopmentSpecialized Technical Assistance and Capacity Building ActivitiesPeer and Industry Learning Core Support Grants

BenefitsParticipant networks will undergo two capacity assessments using SEEP’s NCAT (Network Capacity Assessment Tool), at the beginning and end of the three‐year grant period.  This diagnostic tool provides a framework for assessing networks’ operations using performance indicators extracted from SEEP’s success strategies and from factors that have contributed to other networks’ success. 

Possible IT Activities SEEP will share with networks its new tool, the QCAT (Quarterly Capacity Assessment Tool), to improve learning and evaluation through frequent member feedback.The Advisory Boards will be updated periodically on the program’s progress, and will be available to provide strategic advice and input throughout the program.SEEP will leverage its power to facilitate collaboration by incorporating systematic peer learning into the Network Strengthening Program, adding value to networks’ individual technical assistance and encouraging networks to maintain consistent progress on their milestones.  By bringing participant networks together,

Other IT ActivitiesPeer learning will also increase the potential impact of this project beyond the participating networks.  These networks can share their lessons learned, successes, and challenges with all microfinance networks worldwide. SEEP will support the development of at least three learning products during the course of the project to add to SEEP Networks series of technical notes, case studies, training courses, or other tools and materials that will ensure important discoveries are shared on a broader industry basis. While networks will provide formal annual reports to SEEP and CitiFoundation (see Monitoring and Evaluation section), more frequent communication with SEEP and with their peers will help networks to stay ‘on track’ with their stated goals and activities.  Frequent communication and updates via a dedicated web space will also help the participant networks to learn from one another as they read about each others’ successes and challenges, and identify good matches for exchange visits or more in‐depth, one‐on‐one communication.  The Citigroup Advisory Boards will also be able to use this space to compare notes with each other.

Organizing Activities/FeaturesActivity Audience Functions Features Scope

NCAT

QCAT

Advisory Board

Peer Learning

Technical Assistance

Learning Material Development

Communications

Functionality MatrixImportant Nice to Have

Easy

Difficult

DiscussionQuestions/Comments

Some Samples for Next Steps

Client CommunityRoadmap

Community TraitsTargetclient community

Community traits Typical needs Proposed Solution Features and tools

Size Life Span Solution area Need

High level decision-makers and planners

Small(<100 members)

Short-Moderate(tied to specific deliverables)

Collaborating at a distance over the production of specific deliverables, including policies, designs and action plansSharing an organized common repository for filing and retrieving documents and other assets

Knowledge managementTraining Advisory and brokerage servicesCommunication Collaboration

HighLow-ModerateLow-ModerateLow-moderateModerate-high

Document repository, content management system, discussion forum, calendar, Distribution list, team work rooms

Program and project staff Small-moderate(<200)

Moderate(tied to program/project life)

Improving information flow (including administration-related) in-country and cross-country between and among program and project staffLeveraging expertise at the program hub, country and regional levelsImproving knowledge sharing between and among scattered program and project staffStrengthening interpersonal relations between and among staff

Knowledge managementTraining Advisory and brokerage servicesCommunicationCollaboratione-learning

HighModerateModerate-HighModerate-HighHighLow-Moderate

Document repository, content management system, calendar, access to third party e-courses, discussion forum, e-conferencing, surveys and polls, project databases, video conferencing, team work rooms

Sample RoadmapCurrent Features

Feature Description

Connect and Collaborate Allows members to search for other members with similar interests

Professional Development Tutorials: Appreciative inquiry, Active Learning, Searching the web (Limited online courses)

Resources and Tools Tools for educators including: Free software, links to other interesting systems for educators, only-line translation links

Libraries Search for Documents by selectable categories; search for documents by subjects, My documents returns documents matching profile criteria;

Features in DevelopmentFeature Description

On-Line Journals feature to allow members to create on-line journals and conference reports

Newsletter Subscriptions Allow members and guests to subscribe to receive and Partner newsletters on-line

Member Blogs Member BLOGS Donations Page Text page for donations

Next StepsWill Send IT Activity Outline for each staff member to fill out for their project area (SEEP)

Initial Features/Functional Chart based on discussion (Bruce)

Initial Roadmap of Features/Functions (Bruce)

Draft Survey for members on needs;