European Telework Development (ETD)
ETD and Professional Associations
The ETD Initiative believes that professional associations
and their members can gain significant benefits through using telework and
online techniques effectively. This page outlines how ETD seeks to work
with professional associations of all categories and the resultant benefits
that can be obtained.
Professional Associations and Online Benefits
Today, you will find several hundred professional associations who have
their own Web pages. You will find a useful category listing of the various
professions on the Web at the Yahoo Directory web site on
http://www.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture/Organizations/Professional
Professions from accountants to marketers, managers to scientists are
represented, as are local and international associations and women's professional
organisations. To check your own profession, type in your profession's name
on the search engine facility at this
site.
Applying Teletrade and Telecooperation Methods
Professional societies and associations have much to gain from using the
methods of teletrade and telecooperation.
Teletrade methods can bring cost savings, higher levels of services and
closer involvement with your members. Use of telecooperation
methods is particularly helpful if your organisation relies on voluntary
activities by members who are geographically dispersed.
Here are some ways that professional associations can use the Internet to
improve their services and attract new members:
- email can be used to improve the timeliness of communications
with members, particularly if your geographic region covers several countries
- handling enquiries can also be done through an email post box
such as info@profsoc.org.xx (much as we do through eto-info@eto.org.uk)
- discussion lists can be used to improve dialogue with members,
for example getting member inputs for new services
- the World Wide Web can act as your 'shop window' to members
and prospective members; for example for selling publications, accepting
registrations for courses etc.
- Closed user groups on either a Web site or discussion list
can provide a forum for private or restricted discussion, for example those
Adopting Telework
As in the case of enterprises in general, adoption of telework methods can
save costs and bring efficiencies and flexibility. For example, you might
have a smaller head office using flexible working methods and have a more
dispersed work-force. You may contract with telecottages or individual workers
to carry out occasional activities that do not warrant employing full-time
staff.
Your members may also benefit personally from adopting telework in their
profession. Many professions including writers, designers, information specialists,
consultants, are already discovering the benefits of telework in their professional
activities - lower overheads, more market reach, faster turnaround of project
work.
Increasing awareness of the benefits of telework
and their realisation is one of the main aims
of ETD.
How ETD can help Professional Associations
Professional associations and their members can benefits from several ETD
activities.
- Information at the European
Telework Online Website - already some 10,000 visitors a
month use the website to help their decision making about telework, teletrade
and telecooperation.
- ETD's announcement and discussion lists
reach subscribers in 34 countries with news of important developments and
successful initiatives.
- ETD is developing a Europe-wide network
of web sites at which associations will be able to find information
and help in each European language.
- We are working on a Teleworking Handbook, based on a very successful
model created by the UK Telework, Telecentres and Telecottages Association,
and which will become available in multiple languages during 1997.
Participation and keeping in touch
We welcome participation by professional organisations at both the European
and local levels. If you would like to know more about ETD support to and
cooperation with professional associations suppliers please complete the
registration of interest form.
ETD's primary contact for Professional Associations is David Skyrme. If
you want to discuss how your organisation can benefit from working with
ETD contact him by email: david@skyrme.com.
Return to:
ETD: Who can get involved and how will they benefit?
European Telework Development (ETD) Pages
GOALS | BENEFITS
| PARTICIPATION | PRESENTATIONS
European Telework Online
| European Teletrade
Online
ETD
is supported by the European Commission (DGXIII) as part of the Advanced
Communications Technologies and Services (ACTS) programme. ETD's central
web pages are hosted at the European Telework
Online website.
Page address http://www.eto.org.uk/etd/profs/profs01.htm
This page last updated 21 January 1997.
Page owner: david@skyrme.com.
Please send your comments and suggestions about the ETO site and pages to
eto-info@eto.org.uk