SIFT - Social Impact from Technology

A Strategy Development Methodology for significant Social Impact from Technology

We need an easy to follow methodology that goes deep into the core of Human needs and the potential of ICT to address them, guiding stakeholders step by step through the process of building ICT Strategies for Human Development.

One that seeks to close the existing gap between stakeholders, developers, management and the people they are meant to serve by providing stakeholders tools and skills to contribute to or lead the process of developing IT Strategies and by providing consultants and technicians a basic insight into Human Development and a methodology to generate relevant social impact from their work.

This process would generate a common language for better communication, building a common vision and active participation in the design, development and deployment process of initiatives and strategies.

Stakeholders, developers and project management can all be guided then through a clearly identifiable, progressive and incremental process to build together their own strategies and solutions through their active and equal participation:

• initial definition of the issues to be addressed.

• observation of the eco-system and identification of stakeholders and their existing and potential relationships.
• identification of environment, resources and actions.
• model building.
• roadmap definition and conventional strategic planning with a twist.
• definition and selection of technologies.
• prototype building, pilot testing, and feedback collection.
• matching social expectations with technological development and social impact with technological deliverance.
• engagement and participation strategies.
• shared vision and room for diversity and creativity.