Determination of Priorities: The project's priorities were identified through meetings of
the Board of Cooperative Life and the implementation of an online survey for member
organizations. It was determined that the first objective of the project would be to design
and implement an online directory of cooperative organizations. Separately, the Board
also determined that a priority for the organization would be to create a source of
revenue: an online community product that could be offered to our membership for a fee.
Online Directory: An online products committee was formed, consisting of Lynn
Benander, Noémi Giszpenc, Paul Fitzpatrick, and two other technical consultants, Tom
Murray and Daniel Keshet. The committee was to direct, monitor, and implement the
creation of the two priority products, an online directory and online community software.
Noémi Giszpenc and Paul Fitzpatrick were primarily responsible for developing the
directory, while Tom Murray and Daniel Keshet were primarily responsible for the
community software. The group examined a number of other websites to help determine
valuable features and potential complementarities with existing tools (see Table 2 below).
Lynn Benander coordinated the monitoring of the projects through monthly conference
calls. She is currently leading exploration of ways to make the two products work
together in ways that enhance both Cooperative Life's mission and its revenue-generating
capacity.
Table 2: Websites of Interest
Website: General Description
website in many cities across the world. What works
about craigslist is
for the directory and the
postings. It focuses on a few,
simple, limited functions,
allows easy public usage, and
has a community feel to it.
Marketplace®, enabling trade on a local, national and
international basis. With a diverse and passionate
community of individuals and small businesses, eBay
offers an online platform where millions of items are
traded each day." (eBay 2004)
inspiration, because it allows
people in disparate and
sometimes remote locations to
make mutually beneficial
transactions.
Breakfast Web Server." A search engine for bed and
breakfasts in Canada. (BBCanada.com 2004)
user friendly and concise, and
its map section is very good.