In The Pursuit of Transparency & Better Communication

architecture for humanity

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HIGHLIGHTs: AIA CONVENTION

In the Pursuit of Transparency & Better Communication The New York Chapter is the largest Architecture for humanity chapter with over one thousand volunteers. With a board of directors and project coordinators, dozens of projects, and an army of volunteers tackling different tasks for our chapter, we’re having a hard time keeping track of, well, everything...

By Rachel Straobinsky Basecamp - a management tool Eager to know what was going on, who was doing what, and how we could communicate and collaborate better, we began using Basecamp, a cloudbased project management software. The board decided to invest funds in this tool as an experiment to improve efficiency. What started out as a trial has evolved into our communication system for the entire chapter.

format. Basecamp also has task lists, calendars, etc., which are categorized by project to help us stay organized and connected to one another. Regular volunteers view only the projects they’re involved in, while directors can access every project on the account.

Basecamp has definitely changed the way we operate as a chapter. Our work has become much more streamlined and transparent. The directors can easily track everything ArchiHere’s how it works tecture for Humanity New York does. We still use other tools to aid us with file and contact Within the platform we organize ourselves management, as based on projects, and invite Basecamp has definitely changed the way we oper- well as the Open team members ate as a chapter. Our work has become much more Architecture Network. But in terms accordingly. All of streamlined and transparent. of a communicaour communication and project management tool, Basecamp tion then goes through Basecamp. The prohas brought our operations to the next level, gram can link to individual email accounts, so ultimately allowing us to do what we want to that team members can forward/reply to all do most – provide humanitarian design serposts directly from their preferred platform. vices to our local area.

They can also post comments and documents for review, and Basecamp will send an email to each individual either daily or weekly to let you know all of the recent activity in digest

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Why we use basecamp 1. Transparency

MESSAGING CALENDAR

It helps us know what’s going on with any project at any given time – active or archived.

2. Communication It allows everyone to be on the same platform.

3. Team Building It puts a face to a name. Everyone has a profile on the site. We have so many active volunteers that we’re grateful for, and we want to know who they are and have relationships with them.

BASECAMP

FILE SHARING

4. Collaboration Teams have the opportunity to post updates, ask questions, upload documents for review, etc., and team members and directors can review, comment, and have a dialogue about it without having to meet face to face..

5. Accountability When we assign tasks, everyone on the team sees the tasklist. It provides an added layer of accountability for all, so that we remember that our contribution to the team impacts the project as well as one another.

TIME TRACKING

ABOUT BASECAMP Basecamp is a webbased projectmanagement tool, launched in 2004 by 37signals. The program has an easy to use interface with multiple functions that enable user groups stay connected throughout a project. The tool costs from $20/month (ability to manage 10 projects at a time) $ 150/month (unlimited projects).

Visit basecamp for free trial.

About the author: Rachel straobinsky Rachel Starobinsky is a Design Strategist in New York City. She received her BFA in Interior Design from NY School of Interior Design and her MPS in Design Management from Pratt Institute.

A believer that design can impact people’s lives in amazing ways, it has been very important for her to give back to her community through Architecture for Humanity. She started out as a volunteer and is currently the Managing Director for the New York chapter.

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