World Summit on the Information Society

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World Summit on the Information Society

Phase 3 – Seattle, 2007

Guidelines & Participant Directory

Overview & Issues

Meeting Group Descriptions

Section Group Sessions

Issue Group Sessions

Plenary Sessions

Open Sessions

Meeting Schedule

Tasks and Deadlines

Participant Worksheet

Research notes (complete before 2/16):

Individual/Organizational Responses to Issue Planning Questions (complete before 2/16):

Section Group meeting dates/ times/locations:

Notes on Section Group’s Preliminary Joint Responses to Issue Planning Questions:

Notes on Section Group’s strategy, goals, and proposal ideas for discussions within Issue Group and in relation to IO actors:

Designated speaker for Section Group’s opening statement:

Text of Opening Statement:

Designated speaker for Section Group’s segment of Issue Group’s final presentation:

Designated moderator for Issue Group discussions:

Designated timekeeper:

Designated notetaker:

Notes on Issue Group discussions:

Issue Group Presentation

Final Report Guide

Participants

International Organizations

Nigeria (AA) Government

Nigeria (AB) Businesses

Nigeria (AC) NGOs

Nigeria/Africa (AD) Regional Orgs

Egypt (AA) Businesses

Egypt (AB) Government

Egypt (AC) NGOs

Egypt/Middle East (AD) Regional Orgs

Dominican Republic (AD) Government

Dominican Republic (AB) NGOs

Dominican Republic/Caribbean (AA) Regional Orgs

Dominican Republic (AC) Businesses

Argentina (AC) Government

Argentina (AD) NGOs

Argentina/South America (AA) Regional Orgs

Argentina (AB) Businesses

Malaysia (AA) Government

Malaysia/Asia (AB) Regional Orgs

Malaysia (AC) Businesses

Malaysia (AD) NGOs

Cambodia (AA) NGOs

Cambodia (AD) Businesses

Cambodia/Asia (AC) Regional Organizations

Cambodia (AB) Government

Overview & Issues

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is organized by the United Nations and the International Telecommunications Union. See for background, aims, summaries of Phase 1 and Phase 2, and key documents/declarations created during Phase 1 & Phase 2. For an overview of the types of actors involved in WSIS, see In this exercise, most participants will represent either a national government organization, a nongovernmental organization (NGO), a national or multinational business, or a regional organization (comprised of governmental, business, and/or NGO entities). A select few will assume roles as representatives of organizations with global reach (referred to in this exercise as International Organizations, or IOs), and funds to contribute to efforts they deem worthy. These organizations include:

-Gates Foundation

-International Federation of Library Associations

-UNESCO

-World Health Organization

-World Trade Organization

The countries that are participating in this exercise are Nigeria, Egypt, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Actors associated with each country articulate their positions on shared concerns. Each actor also seeks to establish a common agenda and action plan with other actors of the same type from its own country and other countries, and other types of actors associated with its own country.

Each of the participating countries has a particular issue that is of central concern for this exercise. The focal issue for each is:

-Nigeria: Improving health care through ICTs

-Egypt: Improving education through ICTs

-Argentina: Catalyzing economic development through ICTs

-Dominican Republic: Improving education through ICTs

-Cambodia: Improving health care through ICTs

-Malaysia: Catalyzing economic development through ICTs

All actors other than those representing IOs are tasked with assessing the status of their respective country’s focal issue, and addressing the following issue planning questions through their discussions and negotiations with each other:

1. What is the current state of affairs for this issue in this country?
2. What is needed?
3. What are realistic 5-year goals?
4. What will be required to achieve these goals?
5. How will progress toward these goals be funded, and by whom?
6. How will progress toward these goals be coordinated between actors?
7. How will activity toward these goals involve any international organizations (i.e. which international organization(s) will commit what amount of funds, and with what requirements/constraints?)
8. How will progress toward these goals be monitored and documented, and by whom?
9. If these goals are achieved what will be the outcomes or consequences for each actor?
10. If these goals are not achieved, what will be the outcomes or consequences for each actor?

Individual actor assignments will be distributed in sections on Friday, 2/9, and preliminary planning and scheduling will begin that day. Actors representing International Organizations (IOs) will receive customized instructions.

Meeting Group Descriptions

Section Group Sessions

Goal: To share information gathered from research into the assigned issue and to generate ideas, goals, and strategies based on interests (both shared general actor type interests and particular actor/organization interests) for entering Issue Group sessions.

Issue Group Sessions

Goal: To generate a common plan for addressing the issue planning questions concerning the focal issue for each country.

Issue Groups:

1. Improving health care in Nigeria through ICTs

-Nigeria Government

-Nigeria Nongovernmental Organizations

-Nigeria/Africa Regional Organizations

-Nigeria Businesses

-Whichever individuals from International Organizations are persuaded to participate

1. Improving health care in Cambodia through ICTs

-Cambodia Government

-Cambodia Nongovernmental Organizations

-Cambodia/Asia Regional Organizations

-Cambodia Businesses

-Whichever individuals from International Organizations are persuaded to participate

1. Improving educationin Egyptthrough ICTs

-Egypt Businesses

-Egypt Government

-Egypt Nongovernmental Organizations

-Egypt/Middle East Regional Organizations

-Whichever individuals from International Organizations are persuaded to participate

1. Improving education in the Dominican Republicthrough ICTs

-Dominican Republic Businesses

-Dominican Republic Government

-Dominican Republic Nongovernmental Organizations

-Dominican Republic/Caribbean Regional Organizations

-Whichever individuals from International Organizations are persuaded to participate

1. Economic development in Argentinathrough ICTs

-Argentina Businesses

-Argentina Government

-Argentina Nongovernmental Organizations

-Argentina/South America Regional Organizations

-Whichever individuals from International Organizations are persuaded to participate

1. Economic development in Malaysiathrough ICTs

-Malaysia Businesses

-Malaysia Government

-Malaysia Nongovernmental Organizations

-Malaysia/Asia Regional Organizations

-Whichever individuals from International Organizations are persuaded to participate

Plenary Sessions

All participants are expected to attend plenary sessions.

Open Sessions

Open discussions between any members of any groups. International Organization actors should use these sessions to determine which Issue Groups need their attention and are worth their time. All other Section Group members should use this time to build alliances with like-minded actors and recruit International Organization actors to their Issue Group meetings.

Meeting Schedule

Friday, 2/9 / <Section time> / Section Group Session: Research & strategy discussions in Section Group. / COM 104
Friday, 2/16 / <Section time> / Section Group Session: Research & strategy discussions in Section Group. / Locations determined by groups.
Weds, 2/21 / 2:30 / Plenary Session: Welcome & Overview / COM 120
2:40 / Opening statements by IOs (2 minutes per IO) / COM 120
2:55 / What are the Issues?Opening statements by Section Groups (1 minute per group) / COM 120
Friday, 2/23 / <Section time> / Finalize section group strategy (10 min) / COM 104
Monday 2/26 / 1:30 / Plenary Session; Announcements / COM 120
1:40 / Issue Group Session / IGs 1-3 in COM 126; IGs 4-6 in COM 104
2:30 / Open Discussion / COM 120
(snacks & materials)
2:45 / Issue Group Session / IGs 1-3 in COM 126; IGs 4-6 in COM 104
3:10 / Section Group Strategy Session / COM 120
Weds 2/28 / 1:30 / Plenary Session; Announcements / COM 120
1:40 / Feedback from IOs / COM 120
1:50 / Issue Group Session / IGs 1-3 in COM 126; IGs 4-6 in COM 104
2:30 / Open Discussion /Section Group Strategy Session / COM 120
(snacks & materials)
2:45 / Issue Group Session / IGs 1-3 in COM 126; IGs 4-6 in COM 104
Monday, 3/5 / 1:30 / Plenary Session Intro to Issue Group presentations (15 min. per Issue Group + 2 min. transition between groups) / COM 120
1:35 / Healthcare/Cambodia
1:52 / Healthcare/Nigeria
2:09 / Education/DR
2:26 / Education/Egypt
2:43 / Econ Dev/Argentina
3:00 / Econ Dev/Malaysia
3:15 / Closing comments
Friday, 3/9 / Individual WSIS report due in section

Tasks and Deadlines

Task / Deadline / Format
Identify individual actor stance and concerns related to focal issue and address issue planning questions individually (IO actors may select more than one issue). / Before Section Group meeting on Feb. 16 / Record on worksheet; include in final report
Generate within each Section Group preliminary joint responses to the issue planning questions. / Feb. 16 / On worksheet; include in final report
Develop initial strategy, goals and proposal ideas for issue planning in Section Group; decide which IO actor(s) to recruit; designate one speaker per Section Group for opening statements. / Feb. 16 / On worksheet; include in final report
Prepare joint opening statement for each Section Group (IO actors prepare individual opening statements). / Feb. 21 / Record opening statement on worksheet to include in final report;Present 1 min. max per Section Group; 2 min. max per IO (ungraded)
Appoint 1 moderator, 1 note-taker, and 1 timekeeper, within each Issue Group. / Feb. 26 / On worksheet; include in final report.
Reflect on results of first round of talks; re-think priorities & alliances. / Feb. 26 / Keep personal notes to incorporate in final report
Reflect on second round of talks; consider compromise strategies individually and with Section Group / Feb. 28 / Keep personal notes to incorporate in final report
Finalize Issue Group action plan; designate one lead presenter plus one presenter from each Section Group, decide how who will prepare which parts of the presentation. / Feb. 28 / For March 5 presentation
Prepare presentation of Issue Group action plan / Feb.28-March 4 / For March 5
Present Issue Group action plan / March 5 / Present, 15 min. per Issue Group (~2-3 min. per Section Group) (10 pts)
Write final report / March 9 / Submit final report in section (60 pts)

Participant Worksheet

To contribute well to Section Group discussions, please come to the Section Group meetings your group organizes on February 16 prepared to share your background research on your organization’s stance toward and concerns regarding the WSIS and the focal issue you’ve been assigned, and to discuss your organization’s responses to the issue planning questions listed previously in this conference guide. Record your research notes and issue planning responses on the following pages (handwriting or typing is ok); use additional pages as necessary.

Research notes (complete before 2/16):

(Each IO representative should record his/her organization’s initial interest in, hopes for, and concerns aboutthe WSIS, and previous activity regarding at least one of the focal issues).

Individual/Organizational Responses to Issue Planning Questions (complete before 2/16):

Section Group meeting dates/ times/locations:

Notes on Section Group’s Preliminary Joint Responses to Issue Planning Questions:

(Each IO representative should record his/her organization’s initial interest in, hopes for, and concerns aboutthe prospects of working with, influencing, and potentially funding at least two of the Issue Groups):

Notes on Section Group’s strategy, goals, and proposal ideas for discussions within Issue Group and in relation to IO actors:

(IO actors should record their individual and/or joint strategies, goals and proposal ideas in relation to at least two Issue Groups):

Designated speaker for Section Group’s opening statement:

(Each IO actor makes his/her own opening statement)

Text of Opening Statement:

The opening statement must be a concise and well-worded introduction of the Section Group and its joint stance on the focal issue. The designated speaker for the Section Group will have one minute to read the group’s opening statement. (Each IO actor will have two minutes to read his/her opening statement.)

Designated speaker for Section Group’s segment of Issue Group’s final presentation:

Designated moderator for Issue Group discussions:

This individual is responsible for facilitating discussions to ensure that all Section Groups have the opportunity to participate, and that joint decisions are reached in response to the issue action plan.

Designated timekeeper:

This individual supports the moderator by keeping the Issue Group discussions within the timeframe allotted for each round of discussion.

Designated notetaker:

This individual is only responsible to record the decisions reached by the Issue Group, to be used in the final presentation. Each participant is responsible for his/her own notes about the Issue Group discussion process.

Notes on Issue Group discussions:

Record your observations on each round of the Issue Group discussions; include the date and start time of each round of discussion in your observations. IOs should also identify which Issue Group discussion each set of observations pertains to, since they may move between groups.

Issue Group Presentation

The Section Groups and IOs affiliated with each Issue Group will present the Issue Group’s jointly created issue action plan in class on March 5. Each Issue Group will have a maximum of 15 minutes to present. Within this timeframe, one representative from each Section Group must be allotted 2-3 minutes to present part of the action plan. Each Issue Group may determine whether any associated IOs may speak during the final presentation.

Each Issue Group must create an outline of their presentation, and agree on a time schedule for how to best use its 15 minutes. Two copies of this outline must be turned in at the beginning of the presentation (it is not necessary to bring copies for other WSIS participants). This outline of the issue action plan, with whatever additional description/elaboration each participant chooses to add to it, should also be included as an appendix to each participant’s final report. If an Issue Group wishes to use powerpoint slides, the file of slides must be emailed to Prof. Foot by noon on March 5.

The presentation should emphasize the joint decisions reached regarding the issue planning questions. It will not be possible to summarize all of the Issue Group’s deliberations in 15 minutes, so focus on the major points of decision/action.

It is recommended that a member of the Issue Group serve as timekeeper to keep each speaker within his/her allotted time. The 15-minute time limit will be strictly observed. Any Issue Group going over the 15 minutes will be cut off and thus Section Group representatives that have not yet spoken will lose the opportunity to present their segments.

Each participant in an Issue Group will receive a group score for the final presentation. Presentations will be evaluated on the following criteria:

-Substance of issue action plan (5pts)

-Clarity of presentation (3pts)

-Conciseness/Time parameters (2 pts)

Final Report Guide

Format: Typed, double-spaced, 12pt font, 1-inch margins

Suggested length: 5-6 pages (excluding attachments)

Due date: March 9, in section

The audience for this report consists of other members of your organization who could not travel to WSIS and thus are depending on you for information about what transpired and how it will affect your organization. Use the sections below as an outline for your report. The report is worth a total of 60 points. Each section will be evaluated on the basis of its substance and clarity. Be sure to proofread the report for spelling or grammatical errors; such errors may detract from your intended meaning.

Name/Position/Organization/Country

I: Executive Summary (10 pts)

Summarize important aspects of the WSIS Phase 2 meetings in general and the issue action plan arrived at by your Issue Group in particular as they pertain to your specific organization (IOs may describe more than one Issue Group’s action plan). Briefly describe any other peripheral agreements or alliances you made during the WSIS that would be of particular interest to the organization you represent. Include a copy of your Issue Group’s issue action plan outline in the appendix; add whatever notes will be helpful for your organization’s members.

II: Initial Strategy Position and Section Group’s Opening Statement (10 pts)

Describe your personal/organizational goals coming to the WSIS and what specific alternatives you intended to introduce and to which actors/organizations within the Section Group. What did you envision as the best and worse case scenarios for your organization in the outcome of the issue action plan? What was your strategy in relation to other Section Group members (for IOs, what was your strategy in relation to other IOs)? How did you assess the costs/benefits of various options considered by the Section Group? Be sure to include your Section Group’s (or IO’s) opening statement in the appropriate worksheet in the appendix.

III: Issue Group Deliberations (10pts)

Describe your personal/organizational and Section Group goals entering the Issue Group discussions. Based on Section Group strategy sessions, what specific alternatives you intended to introduce and to which actors/organizations within the Issue Group? What was your strategy in relation to other Issue Group members? (For IOs, how did you decide which Issue Group(s) to associate with, and what was your strategy in relation to various Issue Group members?) How did you assess the costs/benefits of various options considered by the Issue Group?

IV. Reflection on the WSIS Proceedings (10 pts)

Recount the process you personally went through as a participant in the WSIS. For example, which actors/organizations seemed to have common interests? Who was the most influential? Which organizations were more difficult to work with and why? When did you have to compromise on your personal/organizational goals and why? Describe who you initiated meetings with during the Open Discussion sessions, who initiated meetings with you, and what you discussed.

V. Evaluation of Issue Action Plan (10 pts)

Evaluate your initial position and strategy in light of the final outcomes in the issue action plan. For example, were your initial proposals realistic? In your opinion, which were the easiest issue planning questions to deal with? Which were the most difficult?

What is your assessment of the action plan that your Issue Group developed? What might have been a better way to go about developing an action plan for this issue? If the action plan is actually enacted, what do you think the consequences will be for development in this area over the next 5 years, and for your organization?