Papers & Presentations
Casting The Net: The Roles Of Community Based E-Commerce Organizations
Michael Beacom, Secretary, Electronic Commerce Association of Central Victoria
A brief outline of the origins, development, challenges and achievements of The Electronic Commerce Association of Central Victoria Inc. during 1999. Outline of the various issues that confront similar, community based organizations including building trust, developing and communicating a strategy, developing networks, community capacity building, asset mapping, developing research and publication as a tool to foster member interaction, seeking financial support, changing culture and re-inventing community and democracy at the local level and developing the Knowledge Supply Chain (KSC). Brief comment on the need for urgency in undertaking these activities.
Biography
Michael Beacom has been a teacher and educator over the past 23 years working in the secondary, TAFE and university systems, as well as delivering on-site workplace training, for example Coliban Water and Empire Rubber. Over nine years at TAFE, Michael taught in a wide range of business related programs, vocational courses and adult VCE. During four years at LaTrobe University, Bendigo, Michael was Lecturer in Human Resource Management, Industrial Relations, Communications and Training and Development. He has taught in Hong Kong, Singapore and Cairo, Egypt. More recently, Michael was involved in the researching, writing and production of a pilot study of Electronic Commerce in Central Victoria the first study undertaken in the region. He is currently Secretary of The Electronic Commerce Association of Central Victoria, a non-for-profit, community based organization, which resulted from the launch of the pilot study. He is currently planning and implementing a Commonwealth government funded study, "Building Skills and Employment through Information Technology in Central Victoria".