Editing User Ecosystems

This is a starter page from Jean that I we can customize for SF-in-progress use. See Jeans original at https://github.com/sfbrigade/sf-openreferral/wiki/About-the-Project/_edit
##About the Project

This page explains what the current service ecosystems are and where our efforts are focused within them.

##Local Target Relationships

The graphic above illustrates the main user groups who will come into contact with Open Referral, and their primary relationships to one another. For now, we are targeting the relationship between service providers and systems administrators, putting our product in the center of this ecosystem. Service Providers and Systems Administrators are our primary users. Each group's role is detailed below.

Help Seeker
Individual/group from the community at large in need of services
May be in crisis or have an urgent need

Service Provider
Provides services to help seekers
Individual/group who consults data and makes analog notes
Duties may also include Researcher and/or Systems Administrator roles

Database/Systems Administrator
Maintains database and/or contract managements systems
Grants Manager with reporting requirements as part of their grant
People who produce guides books, web, etc. of services (city and non-profit)
People with pre-existing database systems
Civic hack devs (proto-power users)

Researcher
People who collect and analyze data on social services to understand the health of a community
Anyone who wants to use aggregated service directory data, in synthesis with other kinds of data, for the purpose of understanding community health and other trends (funders, policymakers, planners, community leaders, etc.)

##Broad Level Target Relationships

This chart illustrates the relationships between key groups and where we as civic hackers fit into the picture. The primary goal of civic hacking is to make government more efficient so that it serves the people better. By setting an example for the public, civic hackers encourage citizens to take a more active role in participating in their governments. A high level of citizen engagement improves government effectiveness, thus improving quality of life for everyone.

In addition, civic hackers see an opportunity to set an example for the larger open source community on how to engage with others outside of their circles. There is tremendous potential for revolutionary innovation to be developed with and driven by the open source ethos. However, until the broader open source community begins to engage others in a positive way, this potential will at best go unrealized.