Ict@innovation: Free your IT Business in Africa/6-Assignments

= Assignments and Answers = TASK

It is required that you design a national roll plan. The content of the plan should include:


 * strategies and ideas on how to achieve this plan
 * how you intend to get your participants
 * qualifying participants assessment criteria
 * duration of the program
 * cost of training or participation fee
 * number of trainers needed and their cost
 * number of modules to be included in your training
 * any sponsorship opportunities
 * how you intend to sustain further trainings

Discuss the Case study based on the core questions discussed under FLOSS training business opportunities.

Rules: Please state (3 maximum) points briefly how you would have approached the same training opportunities and any two training opportunities you would like to explore as a group of trainers.

Some examples from participants

1Objectives and vision statement

The basic objectives of the national roll-out training are:


 * To raise FOSS awareness in the Tanzanian Community
 * To develop sustainable FOSS-based IT business
 * To strengthen FOSS communities in Tanzania

The vision is to builds capacities in African small and medium IT enterprises to make FOSS based business. It aims to encourage the growth of African IT industries.

2Participants

As the objective of the training is focusing on FOSS business models, the training will call for participants from IT companies wishing to diversify their business, start-up IT entrepreneurs, local FOSS communities, educators and graduates in IT related subjects as well as other participants interested in FOSS business models in Tanzania.

A call for participants will therefore be advertised through different marketing strategies. Different media through which this course can get very good publicity in Tanzania, are: the newspapers, e-mail to target groups and other prospective IT companies. Other strategies will be development of promotional materials such as posters and place them in high traffic areas.

The Training will be delivered in a Workshop style to allow maximum interaction and discussions. The target is to train 20 participants each quarter (three months) and therefore about 80 participants per year. Initial trainings will be concentrated in regional towns and cities where IT infrastructure is well established

It is expected that all participants will be selected from those who have at least knowledge of basic computers, experience in FOSS or potential FOSS collaborator to allow uniform workshop interactions.

3.Output

The target is to achieve the set objectives; so we can expect the Training outcome to be:


 * 1) Awareness on FOSS causes more people to demand for FOSS applications and solutions and as such provide opportunities for any FOSS businesses to flourish
 * 2) Growth of a FOSS Community, which comes with it, more FOSS minds, students, trainers, and advocacy and so on.
 * 3) With these and more benefits, it is possible to plan an annual FOSS event, such as FOSS Clinics, Free FOSS Training, FOSS certification and so on.

4The Training Content

The training shall consider the local conditions and environment. It will comprise three modules, namely Module 1, Module 2 and any one of the other modules as listed below:


 * Module 1: Introduction to emerging FOSS business models
 * Module 2: African business models: Case studies
 * Module 3: Communicating FOSS
 * Module 4: Introduction to General business skills
 * Module 5: FOSS specific business knowledge and skills
 * Module 6: FOSS Training
 * Module 7: E-learning Platform

The selection of the modules will depend on the mission of the target groups and their levels of understanding. The content materials will be availed to the participants at least one week before the workshop.

5Resource persons (Trainers)

As a FOSS ToT member I will be the principal trainer. Supporting trainers will be sourced from within FOSS related institutions and FOSS - ToT Alumni. Shortfall of trainers will be requested from InWent and FOSSFA. Qualified trainers will need to have knowledge of FOSS, proven training Experience and proven excellence in their field of profession

6Time Schedules and Venues

A workshop session will be done for a period of 5 days (not less than 40 hours). This time is just long enough for participants to understand the materials content and practices of the FOSS modules without being bored.

Information on the workshop venue, schedules for starting and end times and dates for the workshop sessions will be set and communicated to participants at least four weeks in advance. Arrangements for hotel accommodation will arranged for participants in need. The workshop organization will establish a support through help desk for post training questions, accommodations reservations, training registrations etc.

7Fees and Costs

Participants shall contribute an TSH. xxx for the workshop. Trainers would be paid TSH xxx per day.

8Sponsorship & Marketing

InWent and FOSSFA have promised funding and support, It is possible to look for Local Support for this Training workshop, especially from Companies and institutions that will likely benefit from adding their name and profile to such an event. So a workshop prospectus together with a call for support and sponsorship would go a long way in acquiring some support. This needs to be done in time.

9Media

Media Coverage is crucial for such a workshop and this would help to inform a larger group of people about the Workshop. A Newspaper article, a phone in Radio announcement, a community announcement could all add to the buzz.

10 Course ware evaluation

Evaluation forms for the course ware and trainers will be prepared and availed to the participants after every module. At closing of the workshop there will be general discussion on the evaluation results and process to ways for improvement. This will also give opportunity to discuss issues that are of interest or were omitted for future improvements.

11Budget

Aflent’s national roll out plan will focus on providing training initially to university students, BEE entrepreneurs and other established black businesses in South Africa. The aim is to empower these groups with FLOSS for two major reasons:


 * Impart skills to use FLOSS applications to enable and capacitate internal business processes in order to gain competitive advantage
 * To train the groups on how to move into FLOSS-based businesses (FLOSS consultancy and training)

Strategies

The key to achieving successful trainings lie in the ability to attract attention of participants, offering a highly accredited and internationally recognised African FOSS Business Model course establish and maintain continuous online learning and networking platform for trainees. The trainings will take the form of a strategy-driven process.


 * Conduct a preliminary FLOSS workshop to market the concept and the training.
 * Pitch for short course raining deals with local institutions and universities.
 * Clear the issue of certification and accreditation of the course.
 * Develop a solid sustainability model.

Getting participants

Participants will be sourced from the corporate industry, universities, NGOs and the public sector including technologists in government departments.


 * Marketing the FOSS concept
 * Marketing the FOSS training
 * Networking with colleagues, former workmates and clients interested in Open

Participants’ assessment criteria


 * 1) Attitude
 * 2) Eagerness to learn
 * 3) Reasons why participants want to get the training
 * 4) Skills


 * A qualification in IT and/ or business
 * Training skills
 * Previous advocacy work
 * Knowledge
 * Basic understanding of FOSS and/or IT’s role in business

Duration of the program

2 weeks for 2 months

Cost of training or participation fee

Trainers needed and their cost

As a certified trainer I will choose a number of modules 2 and 4. The remainder of the modules will be delivered by local and regional trainers subject to their availability. In total four trainers are required for the course. Cost of the trainers will be determined by FOSSFA and InWent.

Estimated rate per trainer per module will be obtained from the FOSSFA/InWent.

Modules to be included in your training

Provisionally all modules are to be included:


 * 1) Introduction to emerging FLOSS Business Models
 * 2) African Business Models Case Studies
 * 3) Communicating FLOSS
 * 4) Business Skills
 * 5) FLOSS Business Knowledge and Skills
 * 6) FLOSS Training Business

Sponsorship


 * Established FLOSS companies (Sun Microsystems)
 * First National Bank
 * IT companies
 * Government departments (DST, SITA, Local Councils)

Sustainability Model

The training will be offered as a short course through The Business Place and Monash and North West University.