A Readiness Tool for Institutions

Before embarking on a potential collaboration using online tools, an assessment should be made of the subjects (people involved in the collaboration), institutional and partner objectives, and the tools being considered. The following offers key questions to consider:

Subjects

• Who is involved at the institution?
• What are their roles and responsibilities?
• What business or community partners are you seeking to involve?
• Where possible, identify these specifically? e.g. organisations, roles.
• Who else has an interest in the collaboration? e.g. who, such as learners or other stakeholders, might benefit?

See also 'engaging stakeholders'

Objectives

• What are the aims of the institution in engaging these partners?
• How do these aims they fit with institutional (or other) strategic goals?
• Why might potential partners be interested in this collaboration?
• How might it meet their strategic goals or other interests?
• What have potential partners and stakeholders said they want from the collaboration, if anything?

See also 'defining requirements' and 'engaging stakeholders'

Tools

• What tool(s) are available for use?
• How comfortable are participants using these tool(s)?
• How effective are the tool(s) for supporting the kinds of collaboration anticipated (e.g. developing documents, open discussion, achieving shared goals)?
• What technical issues, if any, might arise in providing access to these tools from outside the institution?
• What shared tools are available outwith the institutional environment?
• What support is available to partners and at the institution?

See also 'selecting an appropriate tool'