What is it?

The Virtual Networking Research Project at the Waikato Management School is dedicated to the investigation of communication in the virtual world and committed to research optimising sustainability factors of collaboration in a variety of online business communities (www.mngt.waikato.ac.nz/virtualnetworking). It aims to capitalize on local and global networks in order to foster New Zealand international collaborative research and development efforts. The Virtual Networking Project is both a) an active process intended to create wealth and exchange knowledge and b) a research project intended to generate understanding of best practices for online collaboration.

The project is directed by Annick Janson and sponsored by Waikato University Management School. It was born from the realisation that New Zealand must make an unprecedented effort to capitalise on its global networks to reap the potential benefits of the Knowledge Wave. The Virtual Networking project is the first of its kind, aiming to link New Zealand with a web of global connections to pursue common goals of economic growth and Research and Development. We are building a virtual community prototype and, through action research, monitoring the activities stemming from the online network, evaluating its results, and continually developing its usefulness in attaining its goals of wealth creation and knowledge exchange. The Innovators' Online Network (ION) that developed out of this project is "a synergistic community of individuals and their professional networks which streamlines access to people, knowledge, and capital, accelerating New Zealand's entrepreneurs and innovators towards business success." ION hosts a number of online discussion fora aimed at New Zealand innovators and entrepreneurs at www.ion.net.nz.

Progress to Date

• Phase 1: Project Plan formulated and alliances with other organisations being formed. This is to guarantee that we are aligned with other organisations and working together toward complementing each other's work in the networking area.



• Phase 2: Virtual Networking initial core group was established (over 50 interviews conducted throughout the country) to lay the foundations for the structural basis of the online environment and plan cluster modules around areas such as business expertise, iwi affiliation and academic excellence.



• Phase 3: Pilot online group resumed initial activities and formed the nationwide Innovators' Online Network (ION). Join us at www.ion.net.nz/forums to discuss issues of innovation and growth in New Zealand! ION will also host guest online discussion events such as its inaugural national online forum following the release of the New Zealand Bartercard GEM (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor) that outlines New Zealand's top world ranking in terms of entrepreneurial activity.

Next Steps

• Phase 4: Grow the network, to ensure sustainability. Develop the online forum for participants to exchange ideas and build projects. This online environment will concentrate on at least four streams: a product, a line of business, a region and an international forum. ION aims to act as a catalyst (relatively independent yet well-connected and informed) for improvement in the financing and innovation and growth sector.

Contacts for further information:

Annick Janson
Project leader - Virtual Networking Project
Management Communications, Waikato Management School
Hamilton, New Zealand
Direct Number: (+64) 21 151 0834
annick@waikato.ac.nz

Paul Spence
ION eForum and Projects Facilitator
contact@genius.net.nz
http://www.genius.net.nz/