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7. Information Dissemination / Organisation and Management/
Monitoring and Evaluation
7.1 Information Dissemination – Dr Byron Mook
The focus of this presentation was on the need:
• To identify users and how to reach them in order to disseminate information. Users
identified included producers (farmers), communicators (extension staff), funders,
policy makers, and colleagues.
• The means to reach them included training, publications, computers, phones, mass
media (radio, TV), local media.
• The issues of what to invest in were addressed and these included new structures,
new procedures, and new people as these would impact new ways of accessing and
distributing information (organisation & management).
• In dealing with dissemination of information, it was noted that copyright and
intellectual issues needed be taken into account: “Fair use” i.e. how much of a work
was being copied, the economic impact on the copyright holder, nature of use, and
type of work being copied.
• It is expected that publishers, users, custodians of information produced should
police “fair use”.
7.2 Organisation and Management – Information Management in your Organisation;
New Partnerships; People – Mr. Peter Walton
The focus of this presentation was on information management activities and resources
needed. Activities included acquisitions, production, storage and retrieval of content and
dissemination. Resources needed included policies, an effective organisational structure and
procedures, alliances, people and technology.
Examples of information management issues that managers need to address included:
• Statistics for managing and dissemination of information; use of extension services
including electronic media to improve access.
• The need to set priorities on investment options e.g. in people and skills, clearly
defined job descriptions which must continuously be assessed; organisational
structures which need to be changed from time to time.
• Procedures to meet company’s objectives and coordinated for dissemination of all
types of information products and services.
• Organisational capacity to cope with the management of various activities.
• Collaborative ventures and partnerships.
• Development of a well coordinated information unit containing all information –
related staff and activities.
7.3 Evaluating Information Programmes – Dr Byron Mook
The presentation identified two levels:
• Organisational level, and
• Programme levels, both of which needed to be evaluated.
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