THE QUERY

• Caters to the ‘Knowledge Needs’ of members

• Brings issues on table; Advocacy

• ‘Fulcrum’ or ‘crux’ of Community’s interactions

• Keep energy of community at sustainable level

• Defines the pace of interactions

What will be covered:

• The Query Subject

• Formulating a Query – The Process

• Cross-posting a Query

• ‘Timing’ of a Query

• Posting of a Query (Which one to take up and when)

The Query Subject• Three Query Tracks

– Track A (Quick Turnaround of 6/7 working days)

– Track B (Normal Turnaround of 14/16 working days)

– Track C (Extended Turnaround of 20/22 working days)

• For Track A: [se-decn] Query: URGENT - Reply by 11 November 2006. [subject], from [organization, location] [type]

• For others:– [se-decn] Query: Exposure Visits for Panchayat Members and Representatives,from Future Generations Arunachal, Itanagar (Referrals). Reply by 11 November

• Use technically correct, commonly understood terms (e.g. PRIs for Panchayati Raj Institutions)

• Ask Query Poster about the Turnaround Time

• More than one query poster possible

Formulating A Query – The Process

• Help frame the Query - It should conceal vital information but should reveal some that evokes interest

• One line queries – [Recently I cold not join the discussion due to my overloaded works relating e-Gov in PRIs in this State. However in near future this subject may be discussed.]

• Long Queries – One page long with eleven questions – Design of Panchayat Buildlngs – converted to half page query with 4 clear questions-elicited 29 responses.

• Avoid layered queries – simple, straight and amenable to responses

• Determine subject, query type,

• Circulate within the KM Team for comments, especially about cross posting

Cross Posting a Query

• To get contrasting and complementary perspectives

• Touchstone - Query could have been posted by either community

• Use judiciously so as not to overburden members with too many

emails

• When to cross post and when not to cross post

• Sharing of work between ‘Primary’ and ‘Secondary’ Community

Timing of a Query

• ‘Easy’ vs ‘Difficult’ Queries – easy ones to charge up the members, amenable to quick responses

• Synchronize with an event/occasion or season - (e.g. related to roof water harvesting in summer, onset of monsoon; prior to a workshop on a similar issue)

• Order – Mixing of queries to let maximum members participate

• Time of posting – evening/before the weekend. Try to keep a separate window for posting a query, avoid crowding.

• Urgency factor

Which Queries to take up

• Appeal to a wider membership, amenable to responses

• Mix queries with focus on specific organizations (e.g. government, NGOs

especially at grassroots , donor agencies, researchers and academics)

• Mix ‘easy’ and ’difficult’ queries – e.g. ‘Administrative Reforms in Local

Bodies’ with ‘Resource Mobilization by Local Bodies’

• ‘Field’ and ‘Academic’ types

• Thematic variation

THANK YOU!