In-house development of new website stopped

As already noted in the 2005 annual report, the website was no longer able to address the major growth and even larger ambitions Net4kids had. In order to create a more efficient organisation, while increasing transparency and involvement, the underlying processes and systems must be structurally embedded in the website. The ‘front end’ of the site did not provide a clear overview and target group-specific information. 2006 should have been the year of the new and improved website, one that would solve all of these problems. This did not happen. The no-budget development with a team of volunteers proved too ambitious, despite the professionalism present.

The dilemma we faced in terms of website development reflects the phase Net4kids is currently at. We know what we want, we know what needs to happen, and we know how much it will cost. But in order to limit costs, (complex) open source solutions were used, implemented by a team consisting entirely of professional volunteers who were only available a few hours per week on an irregular basis. Add the relative difficulty of meeting up in person, and simple tasks become large projects. In late 2006, with the delivery of the first part of the website, certain parts of which did not work as intended, the project was stopped. The development of the new website will be outsourced to a commercial party using the original specifications. With the right budget and sufficient ‘continuous’ manpower behind it, the new website will take shape in 2007. The last months of 2006 were spent consolidating those aspects of the new website that are useful to the to be selected web bureau.

The search for a professional party as a strategic partner, a backbone for Net4kids ICT, will continue unabated in 2007. The website and various administrative systems are the beating heart of the Net4kids organisation. The pressure to renew and improve them is significant, something we can no longer achieve using volunteers.

It goes without saying that shelving the website placed a heavy strain on the ICT team, which invested a great deal of time and knowledge for Net4kids. We wish to thank them, and consider their contribution and tireless enthusiasm, which has allowed a great many achievements outside the scope of the website.