This clickable diagram takes you through our route map for starting up a community technology project. Each box links to a page with a further description of that stage of the journey. However, we recognise that processes are seldom so tody, so here below are some of the tools you can mix-and-match as necessary.

Community audit
Your area may already have many of the resources you will need for your initiative. Here's a short checklist plus a longer tech audit categorising different resources.

Identifying interests
In the early stages of the development process identify the key interests who will need to be involved. Here's a checklist.

Understanding needs
An early step in setting up on online community or centre is to address the 'why' question... or put it another way, what are the needs or problems in the community that the new facility would address? Here's ways of working with a group.

Building blocks
Many 'building blocks' - some tech, many not - go into developing an online network. Terry Grunwald offers a checklist of some you may need.

Planning sheet
The planning sheet helps identify issues likely to arise during the different stages of developing an initiative.

Business plan
Any substantial initiative should have a business plan for its longer-term sustainability. We offer links to guidelines. We are also developing a spreadsheet-based workshop exercise to help group test out assumptions in their business plan

Delivery workshops
Many initiatives will depend upon the commitment of a number of partners... but how do you get them to deliver? Here's how to run a workshop to achieve that.

Drivers for projects
Our development process suggests that you first prioritise projects or activities, and then seek project champions or 'drivers' who will work with a group - or 'teamlet' - to take the project forward. Here's how to recruit drivers.

Summary of planning tools
Instructions for using the projects game, priorities and planning sheets together

Priorities sheet
An action planning sheet to chart timescale against priorities, for use with the projects game - see below.

Roles game
Participants take on some of the roles necessary to implement an initiative. Drew Mackie explains how to run a role playing event.

Think about futures
In this fast moving field we have to design for the future not just play 'catch up' with last years ideas and technology. How can we drive by the headlights and not the rear window? Here's some ideas.

Prioritising exercise
This exercise enable a group to determine which activities they should concentrate on in terms of both importance and timescale. It can be used as part of the projects game.

Teamlets
Instead of setting up conventional committees during the development process, form small working teams each with a 'driver'.