Software Evaluation: Writeboard the International

Software Evaluation: Writeboard

The International Disaster Management (IDM) as a nonprofit disaster relief organization requires the identification, evaluation and implementation of a communication platform that will best address and respond to the administrative and functional needs of the organization, its partners and clients. The communication tool Writeboard is being considered and evaluated based on specific requirements critical to the efficiency of IDM as an organization specializing on disaster and relief management.

Citing the tsunami disaster that affected Asian countries in 2004, the case emphasized the importance of the following factors in developing efficiency within the organization, including its clients and partners. The first role that an effective communication tool will bring to the organization is a faster way to mitigating, if not entirely avoiding, the risks that results from disasters. Another prerequisite for this communication tool is to not only allow communication to happen at a fast rate, but messages communicated must also be checked for credibility and flagged based on importance. This is an important feature that the tool must have, as the tool's role in the organization would be defeated if it does not ensure that communicators will be able to deliver their messages simply, clearly and efficiently.

IDM will use these criteria as basis in determining the suitability and functionality of Writeboard as a communication platform for its members globally. Writeboard is considered the best candidate among existing communication tools in the software market because of its simple features and direct delivery of IDM's stated prerequisites. Writeboard's most important feature is its running record or 'real time' updating of messages from anyone in the organization. That is, the program allows members of the organization to provide their inputs in messages, which provides them with a complete and clearer 'picture' about an ongoing issue, how this issue is being resolved by the organization, and whose inputs can be considered as shown in the file edits. This is a critical feature of the tool that best suits IDM, as Writeboard enables its users to maximize the use of technology to deliver messages efficiently without compromising the credibility and accuracy of messages being transmitted to other members of the organization.

Clear messages delivered through a simple channel or platform such as the Writeboard will help members save time from understanding a specific disaster or relief management issue, enabling them to respond to the issue faster and more effectively. Its text-only feature enables users to communicate and send messages through a simple platform, eliminating clutter and unnecessary "noise" that could compromise the message being sent and cause misunderstanding or miscommunication in the course of the message transmission.