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Norman Khine edited this page Apr 18, 2013 · 7 revisions

An Overview of the Zeitgeist Global Connect Project

##Introduction

Zeitgeist Global Connect is a new web platform being developed to harness the potential power of our distributed activist community by enabling communication and collaboration as a connected network of chapters, teams and individuals, in accordance with the aims and principles of the Zeitgeist Movement.

In particular, it will provide a single, comprehensive solution for each chapter and project team to create and administer their own web portal; to channel the skills, experience and commitment of members toward effectively coordinated projects, whether local, regional or global; whilst at the same time establishing more effective global connections with the rest of the Movement.

The platform’s functionality is focused on the needs of the ZM, as articulated through extensive consultation with the Global Development Team under the name of the Phoenix Project.

##Our goals

The global website of the Zeitgeist Movement fulfills the function of orienting newcomers to the ZM and delivering the information and ideas upon which the Movement is based. It is complemented by the other partner websites, each with a specific focus:

The focus for Zeitgeist Global Connect is to allow activists to come together and collaborate on projects. We envisage a global hub where project teams and members can find each other, according to needs and available skills, where chapters and teams have the necessary tools to manage and promote ongoing activities, and where people can access pertinent and customized information, based upon both geographic location and chapter membership, and upon their interest in teams, projects, events and other chapters.

As a global website for Zeitgeist Movement activists, the platform needs to:

  • Allow new members to orient themselves easily within the ZM in regards to chapters, projects and teams, and to provide clear paths to increased awareness, involvement, activism and collaboration.

  • Enable active members to communicate globally.

  • Provide an environment for members to focus appropriately, effectively and productively on the Movement's goals and strategies.

  • Stimulate projects and collaborations among members, chapters and teams globally.

  • Permit global coordination of our activities.

  • Be a credible presence on the internet and help build links with other credible, compatible and parallel organizations and movements.

  • Unify the ZM and embody the unity of the global human family and our mutual interconnection, regardless of national or other boundaries.

New and existing ZM chapters require a web presence which can be created, run, customized and improved easily. One important feature is to provide the resources to create and maintain such a presence without the need for additional server resources, domain name registration or other technical facilities. ZGC will provide these features in a robust way, using proven tools that allow for local management and adaptation to local circumstances. Chapter and team coordinators will have an appropriate level of access to management features. It is not proposed that there be any compulsion: those chapters which already have, or are able to create, online facilities are free to do so, within the general chapter guidelines already available (see references below).

Equally important is to facilitate international teams and projects, and to enable intercommunication between chapters, teams and projects. Medium-term ZM aspirations, such as implementing a resource bank, think tank or solutions project, could have their inception under this provision.

Members will have the ability to customize the features on their personal homepage, to facilitate more effective access to relevant news, information and tools.

##Implementation

We have compiled the initial set of features by considering what is currently being used by chapters and teams, and what you need in order to administer your internal operations more effectively in future. This compilation began with consultation of many members via the global forum, wiki, TeamSpeak and Open Atrium platforms.

Consideration of the design and interface of the global website will follow from the functions required of it by the ZM. Effective practice in website application separates form from functionality, with the form arising from the functionality, as described here: "Model–view–controller (MVC) is a software architecture, currently considered an architectural pattern used in software engineering. The pattern isolates "domain logic" (the application logic for the user) from the user interface (input and presentation), permitting independent development, testing and maintenance of each (separation of concerns)".

Blade Templating Engine forms the starting point on which to build the ZGC platform.

ZGC will be implemented in clear steps. Our first goal is to release version 1.0 as soon as possible, so that we can start migrating chapters over to the new system. We want to receive feedback on how the system is performing, and then implement changes and improvements progressively and rapidly with upgrades.

A high priority for the project is to attract long-term volunteers to administer, moderate, maintain and continue developing the website. We envisage a team being formed to embody the principles of a learning organization, as defined by Peter Senge:

  • Systems thinking
  • Personal mastery
  • Mental modeling
  • Shared vision
  • Team learning
  • Personal agency and
  • Shared leadership.

##References

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