What is CIMS?

At a simplest level, a shared workspace such as CIMS allows organisations to host their communications networks (discussion lists, sending of electronic newsletters and magazines, email notifications etc) through a shared ICT platform. For instance CIMS will include initiatives like the Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations' dicussion lists and those run by Community and Public Health (CAPH) Online Groups.

Some of the many benefits of having a shared workspace:

• lower ICT costs for community organisations
• greater connectedness between networks
• extending the reach of existing networks
• sharing of information and skill across the sector
• encouraging strategic communications across the sector

The CIMS platform is intended as a sector owned and sector managed shared workspace and communications hub to ensure confidence and broad engagement from the sector. It seeks to redress some of the ICT disparities and confidence gaps that exist owing to a lack of readily available funds for sector organisations to invest in upskilling and ICT infrastructures and also streamline the way sector information is shared across networks, curtting down on problems like multilple mailings and unsolicited mail.

It is intended that organisations running their communications network through CIMS would incur little or no cost through economies of scale, sponsorship and other means. Ongoing development of the platform will also ensure that CIMS always reflects the community and voluntary sectors' needs, varying degrees of ICT skills, and the need to centrally administer national, regional and local communication networks.

Underpinning the CIMS project is its vision to promote, support and develop a platform that typical community and voluntary organisations will trust, be confident in its use, and re-use for their own purposes at little or no cost whilst retaining ownership and control over a staged development of a platform designed for and by the sector.

Who's involved?

Since November 2006, the concept for the CIMS platform has been presented to over 30 organisations on 8 separate occasions and a formal presentation was given to key national networking organisations on 29 March 2007 to seek their interest and engagement with the project. The support shown has been very encouraging throughout, and a number of national organisations and individuals have comitted their involvement and / or support for the project:

• New Zealand Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations
• ANGOA (Association of NGOs in Aotearoa)
• Volunteering NZ
• NZ COSS (NZ Council of Social Services)
• Philanthropy New Zealand
• Centre for Social Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation (SHORE)
• NZAAHD (NZ Association of Adolescent Health & Development)
• UNITEC Not-for-profit Management Programme
• Whitireia UPLIFT programme
• Centre for Social Reseach and Evaluation (MSD)
• Evolving Enterprise – Jan Symington

What's happening now?

A comprehensive application was submitted to the Digital Strategy's Community Partnership Fund for funding for the project on 4 May 2007. The result of the application is expected in July 2007.

In the meantime, an Interim Management Group, consisting of project partners and supporters, has been convened to see CIMS through its development  stages with the expectation that an operational pilot platform would be up and running before the end of the year. The Interim Management Group will also oversee the establishment of a permanent Governnance Group, formulation of a Technical Specification and appointment of a Solution Provider (contractor to build the platform).

How can you get invovled?

The CIMS project will continue its programme of sector engagement and consultations to seek broader engagement from the sector throughout the next two years. Organisations can get involved once the platform is operational by running their ICT networks through it, and individuals would be able to subscribe to public discussion lists, newsletters and magazines available on these networks through a universal mail centre.

We are interested in gaining as broad a range of engagement at many levels with CIMS. If you would like discuss the project, want more information or would like to see a demonstration of how you or your organisation may use the platform please email us on comms@nzfvwo.org.nz.