Full Circle Associates

From David Wilcox: Designing for Civil Society: Building a network online: where to start? David wrote:

A development worker responsible for building a regional network of people involved in local social, economic and environmental projects (known as regeneration in the UK) got in touch today to explore ideas for using online tools. The network already has a content management system for its website, but needs day-to-day interaction and buzz.
A few years back I would have bubbled with enthusiasm for various possibilities.
Instead I found myself saying 'well, there are a lot of things that you can try but you'll probably find they don't work very well...' Fortunately she was fairly well-versed in the field, and had a strong sense that the hype was fading, so it was a useful conversation. Here's some bits of it, and other things I thought of later."

David quotes a number of useful things -- so check it out. But the tip off lesson for me is the line that the "network already has a content management system." This sets the technological tone. What about the human process tone? Why do we often start with technology? Why don't we start by identifying the types of activities that support networks and groups, then work back to the ways to help support those activities. Go to the heart first.