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Assessment of the needs of Bulgarian civil society organisations for network activities in Internet
26/09/2004 <>
BlueLink carried out this survey within the project “Opening BlueLink: Strategic electronic communication for civil society in Bulgaria”, supported by Mott Foundation. The aim of this research work is to define the areas of the expectations and goals, which may be relied on for the realization of a common network for a group of civil society organisations /CSOs/, as well as other areas which should be approached with due care and special efforts.
The survey methodology was based on a questionnaire, offered to 80 of the most active CSOs. The survey was carried out during the period April-June 2003. A total of 24 CSOs responded, while two of the questionnaires were incomplete. These CSOs were considered to represent a core of the envisaged network.
The questionnaire data was analyzed via standard statistical procedures, including cluster analysis.
The analysis revealed the following main facts and tendencies:
1. CSOs attitude towards the use of new information and communication technologies reveals difficulties in creating a cooperative Internet forum. One third of them demonstrate only a consumer orientation. Another third declare readiness for cooperative commitments and the last third may be considered to have a more or less pronounced understanding of modern communications. The CSOs information needs cover a wide spectrum and demonstrate the usefulness of information sharing.
The needs and practical use of new information technologies are related mainly to short term operational work (e-mail, news and bulletin boards and access to information in general, as well as information about future funding, partnerships and legislation). More sophisticated communication forms and uses are not considered as important even strategically.
2. The difficulties in the application of new technologies, faced by the CSOs, are mainly financial, technical and those related to personnel qualification. The underutilization of new technologies as well as the low level of partnerships can be considered as the main obstacle towards the Forum creation, although the considerable CSOs’ potential for public and social influence is a fact.
In conclusion, the survey reveals the lack of essential conditions for intensive and effective networking, which supports the argument for the creation of an Internet Forum, which should facilitate the overcoming of considerable part of CSOs’ communication deficiencies and contribute to the improvement and strategic orientation of their activities.