Personal computing in community organisations: expertise out of context

The objectives of community-based organisations usually differ significantly from those of more market-driven business and corporate institutions. Recent developments in information technology, such as personal computing, have been largely directed to assist the goals of market-based organisations. Personal computing has had great success in this area, and this success has led to an increasing use of personal computers in community organisations. However, attempts by outside experts to prescribe, or create, uses for computers in community organisations often fail. Four brief case studies, which draw on experiences of the Australian `Neighbourhood House´ movement, are presented. In these case studies problems are observed to have arisen through a lack of attention by expert advisors to the contexts in which Neighbourhood Houses (and similar community organisations) become involved with personal computing. These technical, social, economic and political contexts are examined in some detail