Posts Tagged ‘Open-Source’

• Open Source vs Open Architecture

  Date: 2009.12.03 | Category: In the News, Technology | Response: 0

  

  There is a lot of debate in the technology space about what the best solutions are for nonprofit and charitable organizations. Viagra for women Viagra sale Purchase viagra The power of volunteers contributing to the Linux, SugarCRM or Mozilla open-source community are clear examples of great, low cost tools available to broad public, providing high value to its user base. Levitra prix pharmacie In many ways, the values in the open-source community are 100% aligned with ours.

  However, in our office we make technology decisions based on how well technologies can talk to one another. This is our first and foremost consideration. Viagra bestellung We consider integration across all  office productivity needs and relationship/program management requirements.

  The second consideration made when adopting a new tool is how easy is it for our team to make changes as we fine tune our programming. Levitra pas cher We don’t want to code ourselves into a box.

  Other considerations include cost (comparing off-the-shelf products versus web-based services), and how much external consulting resources are needed for specific or custom configurations.

  These consideration points are critical because want to support hundreds more local artists. Thousands more Charities. Kauf von viagra Tens of thousands new citizens who want to be engaged. Purchase viagra online Levitra contraindicaciones

  To accomplish this, our small team must select technology tools that best enable our people to connect with our content. Levitra achat We are calling it an Open Architecture approach. Viagra alternatives If our email isn’t connected to our CRM – it’s no good. Online levitra Pastillas levitra If our CRM isn’t connected to our FTP file sharing system, no good. If our FTP doesn’t allow easy access to new users, no good. We need these tools to be deeply integrated and accessible. Viagra sin receta

  As I described in a recent post, we use Box.net for our FTP File sharing needs and EchoSign for our e-signature services. Levitra pill These two services plug into Salesforce. com very nicely. Viagra levitra Over the counter viagra Most of Salesforce.com’s third party apps can be installed within h ours by Prospecto levitra our team of non-technical people. Our modest integration got us into the Power of Us Appy Awards at Dreamforce 2009. Brand viagra It was a great honour. Kaufen viagra Cheap viagra online

  There is much more to come in the discussion of Open Architecture, and exciting new projects ahead.

• Thoughts on the “Good Enough” Revolution

  Date: 2009.09.09 | Category: Organizational Pilates, Technology | Response: 0

  I recently came across an interesting article by Robert Capps in Wired titled Online levitra : When Cheap and Simple is Just Fine".” href=”http://www.wired.com/gadgets/miscellaneous/magazine/17-09/ff_goodenough” target=”_blank”>”The Good Enough Revolution: When Cheap and Simple is Just Fine”. As an organization that makes a strong effort to stay on top of the latest technology trends and tools, this article made me stop and think about our current uses of hardware and the requirements we have to operate efficiently. Brand viagra Purchase viagra Prospecto levitra

  As the article describes, products like the Flip Camera have “stunned the industry”, offering “cheap, fast and simple tools” that are extremely popular. The article points to several examples of customers moving towards easy-to-use tools that offer most (if not the majority) of the functionailty we need at a price that cannot be ignored (as is the case of cloud computing, where many software tools are free).

  Capps outlines three elements that participants of the “Good Enough Revolution” are focused on; ease of use, continuous availability, and low price. Cheap viagra online As he explains, “Thanks to the speed and connectivity of the digital age, we’ve stopped fussing over pixel counts, sample rates, and feature lists”. These elements resonate with what we’re building as a non-profit organization, and our goals to be an open-source organization (where our volunteers, staff, stakeholders and fans can participate and collaborate).

  As tech tools continue to become the method for which we produce great work (instead of becoming the work itself), do we need flashy options and endless capabilities (and lengthy trainin Levitra prix pharmacie g courses?) or do we need software that allows us to create, produce and remix awesome work without huge start-up times (and costs). I vote for the latter. Viagra sin receta Purchase viagra online As Shel Holtz has said in regards to social media, “It’s not about the tool, it’s about the conversation”.

  In evaluating new technical tools for our organization, I am faced with questions like “will our users pick up and start using the tool without much training Viagra for women ? Is it accessible and in the cloud Viagra bestellung ? Is it collaborativ Viagra alternatives e? I look for tools that can complete the task (ideally quicker and easier than desktop software), that don’t demand a huge learning curve, and at times, ones that have a “cool factor”.

  Maybe more importantly, the Good Enough Revolution is successful because it allows organizations to get started in using the tools now, and then adapt Pastillas levitra and grow in the future. Levitra pas cher  Picking up the “Good Enough” tools and running without a strategy isn’t the rea son why they are Levitra pill so popular.  In fact, using too many tools without a plan is a surefire way to confusion, disorganization and duplicated processes. Levitra contraindicaciones  Instead, organizations should look to “Good Enough” tools as a way to excute strategies and projects without commitments to expensive software, training and extended planning. Over the counter viagra  Get going, experiment and adapt.

  It’s interesting that Capps writes, “As more and more industries move their business online, they too will find success in Good Enough tools that focus on maximizing accessibility. Kaufen viagra It’s a reflection of our new value system. Viagra levitra Viagra sale We’ve changed.”  At Framework, it is clear that our values lie with accessibility and open-source. Levitra achat  What do you think about the Good Enough Revolution? Are there some features that the “quick and easy” tools can’ t provide for you Kauf von viagra ?

• Open Source Learning

  Date: 2009.08.26 | Category: Technology | Response: 0

  Reading Anya Kamentz article “Who needs Harvard” (Fast Company, September 2009) has ignited thoughts on how we learn and the type of education opportunities available in an age of technology and innovation.

  The article suggests education should no longer be a closed society accessible by the elite and wealthy.  Technology has enabled sharing of information across timezones and provided opportunities to obtain knowledge without having Over the counter viagra to sit in a classroom. Viagra for women Kamentz cites the “edu-punk” identity; a growing movement of high tech do-it-yourself educ Levitra achat ation models. This article provides detailed information about the challenges with adopting a new post-secondary education model and examples of those who have found success. Take a moment to check it out. Viagra alternatives

  When we look at new funding models, communication methods and employment opportunities that technology has enabled, it’ s time to Viagra sale start thinking about education, how we learn and the choices available for what Viagra levitra we learn.

  Rethinking education goes beyond bringing technology into the classroom – since as Kamentz points out, the Gen Y’ers have already done that.  It’s about rethinking how we learn, accessibility and the types of content being provided. In an online world that caters to personalization and hyper-specialized content, it makes sense for students to dictate and remix programs to suit their specific interests, skill sets and career objectives. Levitra pas cher

  “Technology has changed the productivity equation of every industry except education”.

  The article highlights several institutions who are working towards accreditation and who have formed programs with low operating costs – some utilizing volunteer professors and free to view course-ware online. Pastillas levitra  There are also sources like Academic Earth - which offers lots of free online content from leading Universities. Viagra sin receta Viagra bestellung These new education models relate closely to open-source and crowd-sourcing values that we promote as a non-profit organization. Online levitra Prospecto levitra Kaufen viagra Learning and education can be reshaped by technology and by people who acknowledge that open-source learning is the key to moving higher education into the 21st century. Kauf von viagra Levitra prix pharmacie

  It also makes sense that we take a closer look at the programs offered in post-secondary educations and match those skill sets with Cheap viagra online those needed in the non-profit sector. Levitra pill Brand viagra Levitra contraindicaciones The Course Research project completed by my colleagues and Framework volunteers takes an interesting look at the course offerings related to the non-profit sector and the professionalization of non-profits.  If we are to move forw Purchase viagra online ard in creating good, building change agents and recruiting top talent to this industry, we must take a look at what is being taught about the non-profit sector.

  The article is a great read and really got me thinking about the relationship between technology, open-source platforms and education, as well as tied together the work Framework has done with the Course Research project.  What do you think, and what are different ways that you have self-taught Purchase viagra ?