Great analogy Doc, I believe we have a quick-wins operational answer (ICT Board) to the strategy question (Master Plan). The thread by Fatma also reminds us of the need to work with what we have to "get it done"...or as Prof. Nyong'o would put it, chew as we walk up the stairs ;-) Wainaina - original message - Subject: Re: [kictanet] Fw: Re: [NewVisionKenya] Voiceless'Knowl edge Workers' From: Shem Ochuodho <shemochuodho@yahoo.com> Date: 12/06/2008 14:26 Bw Wainana, I remember something like 'failing to plan, is planning to fail'. That does not mean there are no 'quick-wins' which can be implemented even as the plan is being drawn. As my software technology professor/teacher used to say: 'don't do it right the first time, but do it'. But of course he pre-supposed that if it was a large-scale software being developed, a prior 'plan' even to 'do it first time' had been drawn. Rgrds, Shem --- On Thu, 6/12/08, wainaina.mungai@gmail.com <wainaina.mungai@gmail.com> wrote: From: wainaina.mungai@gmail.com <wainaina.mungai@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] {Disarmed} Fw: Re: [NewVisionKenya] Voiceless'Knowl edge Workers' To: shemochuodho@yahoo.com Cc: kictanet@kictanet.or.ke Date: Thursday, June 12, 2008, 3:56 AM Shem, can we have an over-arching coordinated approach to implementation without first taking a break to Master Plan? Could we change things mid-way implementation instead of going back to the planning stage again? Kenya has been planning and analysing for so long that many of us just want to see action. Paul, why wouldn't the ICT Board act as a coordination centre or a central reference point for ICT projects in Kenya? As you market ICTs, let all ICT projects (by Civil society, Private sector, government, PPP etc) be documented, easily accessed and referenced so that we encourage partnerships or complementary projects. I believe this would allow us to focus on Action/Implementation and let "The Kenyan Approach" be a learning-by-doing model. For instance, www.BungeSMS.com would be happy to find more partners from a central projects database of ICT/mgovernment projects. We are talking to a few and would be glad to complement others with a similar vision. All this can be done - in practice - rather than as per a generic umbrella plan. Regards Wainaina - original message - Subject: Re: [kictanet] {Disarmed} Fw: Re: [NewVisionKenya] Voiceless'Knowledge Workers' From: Shem Ochuodho <shemochuodho@yahoo.com> Date: 11/06/2008 21:33 Hi Paul, Please don't repeat the same mistake that was made with Vision 2030. From experience, involve 'people' (otherwise called 'stakeholders') from day 1. When Rwanda's first plan (NICI I: 2000-2005) was drawn, that mistake was made. NICI II (2006-2010) was prepared differently. Rather than assemble a few experts and prepare a draft, work with the stakeholders to develop the draft. You can still have a few experts to 'guide' or 'inform' the process, but for heaven's sake please let the process be stakeholder-owned from day one. As for the 'marketing' element, my understanding was that the person concerned did not mean to imply that it is not important - but that it should not be the core function. Best rgrds, Shem __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com