>> 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 _______________________________________________ telecentres mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/telecentres To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
