Roger_jg 1184137092|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
Despite a vast array of problems, generic solutions exist and thanks to the internet are widely available. Many issues already have solutions and a common problem I experienced as an online volunteer was to avoid re-inventing the wheel.
Let say a community is having a problem of water sanitation. One of the first task necessary to tackle the community's problem is to survey the various WatSan methods available. Since I know nothing next to nothing about WatSan i will have to spend some time looking first at what water sanitation means then at the available methods currently used.
But somewhere else, another volunteer of the same OVO is working on a similar problem and has already gone through this stage. I am therefore re-inventing the wheel.
My point here is twofold:
- I need to invest time in an issue I am not familiar with
- Someone else has already gone through the process and know the answers I am looking for
Solution A:
- Provide knowledge primer
- Connect people or projects related to the same issues
- Organise resources in a knowledge base (HERE is an example on how to do it easily using a Wiki)
Solution B:
- attribute project to people who are knowledgeable in the field
The two solutions are not mutually exclusive but require a different mechanism of project attribution and management.
