CET+-+Getting+Started



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1.0 Community-Led Initiative Basics
To launch a new initiative in the S&I Framework, first socialize the idea with other framework members to assess the viability of the idea. Upon identifying the scope of the project, engage an S&I Framework Coordinator to gauge resource availability, initiative alignment, and ongoing initiatives in other organizations to determine if S&I is the appropriate place to pursue the goals of the project. The S&I Framework Coordinator will then consult the Steering Committee for a final decision and provide next steps accordingly. If your proposed initiative is approved, please refer to the resources within these pages to establish and maintain your project. //**NOTE: Project goals should leverage participant community expertise rather than align with funding from ONC. Although funding is a possibility, it is __not__ guaranteed.**//

2.0 S&I Framework Wiki
The S&I Framework Wiki is the primary collaboration tool used in the S&I Framework. The Wiki centralizes information such as working documents, meeting schedules, and initiative members, for all initiatives, workgroups, participants, and key events under the S&I Framework. The Wiki provides the following capabilities:


 * **Collaboration:** The Wiki provides a Web 2.0 (read and edit) collaboration platform for users to access common information across initiatives and workgroups. Users are able to leverage their permissions to edit and contribute content to a workgroup’s progress as well as view other participant’s contributions. Further, discussion boards can be used to collect and centralize diverse ideas to create comprehensive solutions to workgroup challenges.
 * **Knowledge Management:** The Wiki is also a repository for documents, PowerPoints, spreadsheets, models, and other files used to drive workgroup goals. Users are able to download, view, edit, and upload files to contribute to the rapid development of workgroup goals.
 * **Logistics and Scheduling:** Each workgroup relies on the Wiki as a scheduling tool that contains the updated times and dates for meetings. The Wiki is updated with all S&I Framework meetings on both the Wiki calendar page as well as each workgroup’s landing page to ensure seamless communication.
 * **News and Updates:** Notifications and healthcare updates are announced on the Wiki as an effective way to deliver news efficiently to a large number of participants.

It is important that workgroup leads become familiar with the capabilities and usability of the Wiki to guide workgroup outputs and goals. For ease of use, a [|Wiki 101 Training PowerPoint] is available, and individual questions as well as group trainings are provided by e-mailing admin@siframework.com.

2.1 Wiki Guidelines
Keeping any Wiki community focused and productively engaged requires all of us to follow some simple rules of etiquette, rules that apply to how we participate in discussions and edit each other’s pages.

These rules include:
 * No posting of off-topic content or links.
 * No deleting the work of others without community discussion.
 * No getting too "personal" towards other contributors in your comments or using profanity.
 * No misrepresenting your own identity or other information in your profile.
 * No engaging in "Wiki wars" where two parties reverse each other’s edits without striving to achieve a neutral point of view or creating separate pages.
 * If conflict arises, discuss details on the discussion pages and follow dispute resolution moderated by the support team.
 * As Wikipedia puts it, “Be bold (but not reckless) with your updating and do not worry about making mistakes. Your efforts do not need to be perfect; prior versions are saved, so no damage is irreparable.”

While there is much that could be written as to how a community might moderate itself, the most important guideline for any participant is still the Golden Rule—treat others the same way you yourself would like to be treated.

3.0 Setting up Your Wiki

 * Create a consistent design for wiki pages across the WG homepages.** A Wiki should utilize consistent formatting and layout across its pages to promote consistency and ease of use. //Existing templates should be leveraged// and reused to facilitate a consistent Wiki design. When creating a new Wiki page, simply select the appropriate template from the dropdown list. Commonly used templates include the **//WG Template//** and the **//Initiative Charter Template//**.



3.1 Embedding a Google Doc
Although it is encouraged to keep the majority of discussions and work efforts on the wiki, at times it may be useful to embed a Google Doc into a wiki page for easier collaboration on a shared document. This technique may be used to display a list of workgroup members (example) or a working document (example). There are a number of options when doing this (especially pertaining to viewing/editing access), so it is best to contact admin@siframework.org for assistance.

4.0 Pre-Discovery
Pre-Discovery is a critical phase for all S&I Framework Initiatives, but this phase will be especially important for Community-Led Initiatives. During this time, many key activities to the Initiative’s success will take place which includes engaging key stakeholders with subject matter expertise for their active participation, as well as developing the Initiative Charter. The diagram below highlights some components of the Pre-Discovery phase:



4.1 Developing an Initiative Charter
An Initiative Charter provides key information related to the Initiative. Below is an example of a typical Initiative charter (PowerPoint version is available in **Appendix** ).



As shown in the figure above, the Initiative Charter typically includes:
 * **Challenge Statement:** A statement of how a standards and interoperability challenge currently limits the achievement of a national health goal
 * **Scope Statement**: A statement of the overarching issues that the Initiative aims to address. This should include the issues that will be tackled as well as known issues that will **not** be tackled by this Initiative
 * **Value Statement:** provides the high level description of the value and/or benefit of this Use Case to the healthcare community
 * **Target Outcomes:** Indicates the value the Initiative will create, in specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound terms
 * **Timeline:** The timeline will provide some boundaries and help to set a target for the workgroup. Historically, timelines have been tailored in order to meet key national deadlines such as those for recommendations for Stage 2 Meaningful Use. Note: the timeline should also include the timeline for the Call for Participation
 * **Expected Deliverables:** Depending on the issue the Initiative is addressing and/or the nature of the content associated with the effort, the end products of each workgroup will not always be the same. It is up to the community members to determine what the workgroup should strive to produce.
 * **Potential Risks:** Addressing these items up front will help prompt discussion amongst workgroup members who may suspect that these risks will be a hindrance to the Initiative
 * **Key Standards and Stakeholders**: Identifying these components may help attract the right demographic to future workgroup sessions

All updates to the Initiative Charter will be reviewed and accepted by the S&I Steering Team or, for Community-Led Initiatives, by the Initiative Community of Interest.

4.2 Project Plan
Developing a comprehensive project plan prior to engaging community stakeholders is essential in stimulating participant interest by proactively providing the initiative’s scope, timeline, and key activities. The project plan should be re-evaluated during each subsequent phase to reflect the initiative’s progress. During re-evaluation, the project plan can also be modified to reflect changes in scope, schedule, or other variances. Changes should be confirmed with the workgroup members to maintain alignment with their needs and priorities.

4.3 Informational Interviews
Targeting individuals who have relevant subject matter expertise is very important during Pre-Discovery. A beneficial exercise is to identify participants within organizations that you believe would benefit from the outputs of this workgroup and request for a meeting to discuss their perspective on some key concepts relevant to the Pre-Discovery activities (these people will most probably align with those stakeholders identified in the charter). Work with your previously identified committed members to come up with relevant questions that will help to further refine the scope in the charter.

In the past, S&I Framework support leads have asked questions related to the following topics: //Tip: Use an Excel spreadsheet in order to organize the individuals with whom you schedule meetings (see below for screenshot and the ** Appendix ** for the document).//
 * Opinion on Charter materials
 * Feasibility of Proposed Timeline
 * Definitions of Key Terms
 * Stakeholders
 * Relevant Technology/Architecture
 * Standards and Adoption Rates
 * Policy Issues



4.4 Call for Participation
A call for participation occurs at the end of Pre-Discovery, kicks off the Discovery phase and is meant to inform the larger population of this new work effort and attract members to join. The Initiative Charter will define a timeline for a Call for Participation. This Call must be provided on the S&I Framework Wiki, blog, mailing list, or other appropriate public forum.

The Call MUST:
 * Provide or link to the initiative charter
 * Define the participation response deadline
 * Define the process for supplying Statements of Commitment

Within the timeline for the Call for Participation, prospective Initiative Members may supply Statements of Commitment which are approved by the S&I Steering Team.

The [|DSP Call for Participation] is included here in the Appendix as a reference.

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