This routemap is an idealised process developed by the Making the Net Work team who undertook research into housing associations and ICTs for Joseph Rowntree Foundation. It has been used extensively in regeneration and community technology programmes with the planning 'game' >

The process

The routemap represents a process of getting started on a programme, planning and visioning what's needed, developing detailed plans for projects and the overall programme, and carrying this out. These steps are also covered as checklists in the planning framework >.

The core activities for the purpose of this guide are workshops using the planning game and other techniques for collaborative decision-making. The steps are, in more detail:

Start

The programme may be started for a variety of reasons - a strong internal champion, prospect of funding, Government policy. At the outset it will need:

• someone to manage the development process, supported by a small group
• a first vision of what's needed (e.g. improved services, action on social inclusion, support for residents) reflecting potential benefits
• resources for the development process, and some prospect of resources to implement

Review lessons elsewhere

See the stories and resources sections of this site, and links from there to see what others in the field have been doing. See also project ideas here >.

Engage key stakeholders

Who is going to be important in making this programme work, internally and externally? Get in touch to find what they are looking for, what they might offer, and possibly invite them to a workshop. Initial networking is important to build relationships and avoid 'not invented here'.

Audit, needs, resources

There is probably more happening than you know about, both with your organisation and among other groups. Research will help you avoid re-inventing the wheel, and also identify potential collaborators.

Also look at any needs already expressed by residents and others, through surveys, workshops, newsletters, complaints.

What are the potential sources of funding, help in kind and support for your programme?

Focus of benefits

At this stage you should be able to define the focus of benefit more clearly. Who is the initiative for? What is the main benefit you are aiming to deliver? Information, communication, collaboration, increased visibility, greater effectiveness? The group planning the programme could run a session to clarify these issues and plan workshops with other interests. More >

Game workshop

The main technique developed and tested for this guide was a workshop 'game' also featured in Making the Net work for residents and their landlords. We have developed more complete instructions, and additional guidance on planning the workshop.

The essence of the game is:

• Participants at a workshop describe the key issues that they are facing and the improvements they are seeking.

• They work in groups to revue a menu of project idea on cards that could address these issues. Each project card also indicates resource implications

• The groups then decide priorities and sequencing of the projects in order to create an action plan.

• They review the resources and collaboration needed.

Participants at the workshop may be recruited from earlier networking. Their workshop discussion should validate and/or expand upon issues identified during research. The project ideas for cards can be developed at the 'focus of benefits' session.

It may be appropriate to run separate workshops with different interest groups, and bring them together to create a shared vision of what is needed. More on the game workshop >

Project plans

The game workshop discussion should help identify projects for further development. See also project ideas. These may range from infrastructure through access, to development of content. You will need to develop each of these in more detail, looking at funding and skills needed, and where these might come from.

Development and sustainability plans

The game workshop should also help with the sequence of projects and other activities, and an overall indication of resources and collaborations needed. From this you'll need to develop a more detailed step-by-step plan, also a sustainability or business plan for the programme. This should also cover management and governance: staff and decision-making. Who will 'own' the programme? See checklists in the planning framework >.

Collaborations and funding

If the planned projects extend beyond putting existing services online it is likely that a housing association will need to collaborate with other partners and seek external funding. These collaborations may be developed on a one-by-one basis - or it may be beneficial to run a workshop with potential partners to confirm a shared vision and work out who does what.

Implementation. Monitor, evaluate.

We said at the beginning this routemap is idealised, and you will be diving between planning and doing.You'll probably have started on some projects by this time. Hopefully you'll also have developed some criteria to judge how far you on track, so you can see if you are delivering the benefits originally planned.