[Telecentres] RE: [Telecentre's] Basic definitions

[Don Cameron]

>> That few examples of telecentres at the user fee stage have been
described in the literature is perhaps proof that not enough time has
elapsed or that other models need to be constructed to explain and account
for the full spectrum of experiences. On the other hand the reality of many
more failed telecentres underscores the importance of economic viability.
How to achieve this remains a big question.

Hi Florence,

A Telecentre I managed some years ago was very successful in evolving to
'user fee' sustainability - I have an outline of the project available on
the Regional Institute web at:
www.regional.org.au/articles/development/coolah_revitalisation.htm

For an in depth analysis of the project and factors that lead to
sustainability please see the report published by members of the University
of New England Rural Social Science Network (led by Professor Tony Sorenson)
available at:
www.dotars.gov.au/rural/rdp/research_reports/Telling_Coolah_Story.doc

The implications of Fuchs 'three stages of development' (1997) were premised
on developments of the time. Fuchs lacked an ability to assess further
evolutionary developments simply because these were yet to occur. Many would
now argue that Fuchs did not go far enough, and that fourth and fifth stages
of development are expected as communities evolve with Telecentre
initiatives.

I term the fourth stage 'Competitive Creation'. Sustainability by user fees
inherently means a market has been created and wealth is now spent on
Telecentre services (otherwise the Telecentre could not survive on user
fees). Such an environment must lead to competition from within and/or
external to the host community as local entrepreneurs begin to understand
the services being sold by the Telecentre are marketable. It's also worth
noting that competition may not be commercial, it is often Government
providers offering like services now they are proven by the Telecentre to be
in demand.

The fifth evolutionary stage may well be termed "transformation" as the
Telecentre; now operating in a competitive environment either restructures
or reinvents itself, or becomes obsolete as administrators and managers move
forward to develop new initiatives in accord with changed community
requirements. The key to this aspect is acknowledgement that many if not
most Telecentre administrators are innovators who would rather drive a new
initiative than sustain a project where services are increasingly duplicated
at a local level.   

Rgds, Don