Project Workspace. For the Presto4U workspace, the project uses an open source off-the-shelf online platform (Open Atrium) for enabling collaboration, communication and sharing at the Task level, Workpackage level and Project level. Just as with the public project website, the Presto4U internal workspace is hosted through the PrestoCentre website. Access is via a login and password which will enable all Presto4U partner members to collaborate, view and share restricted information and documents. The Presto4U workspace functions as an intranet in a box with a blog, a wiki, a calendar, a to do list, and a dashboard to manage it all. The workspace will be customized over the following months based on the project’s specific needs and requirements. This customization process will also be used to prepare the Communities of Practice workspaces (due PM6) as it is expected that many custom features can be borrowed from the internal workspace. All project information will be located in the workspace including planned events and activities, publications and deliverables. The European Commission staff and project reviewers will also receive access to (part of) the Workspace.
Project Workspace. Initial Plan Year 2: Halfway the first project year we decided to use basecamp for internal project communication: a well-known tool for internal communication. Execution: All project partners used Basecamp for internal communication. Advantage is that everyone can follow the discussion and it is easy to look back in the archive to see previous messages. Evaluation: • People were very happy to use basecamp since they are very familiar with this tool • Basecamp has been used intensively by most project partners for conversations and discussions involving multiple partners. Email has also been used for particular messages. Future perspectives As the project ends there is no need to continue this internal communication platform in the future Initial Plan Year 2: The previous Presto4U Workspace (the online platform Open Atrium used in year 1 before we switched to Basecamp) will continue to be used as the reference place to store all relevant and final documents, like official documents, reports, templates, deliverables and logos. Execution: All documents have been stored in the Document Library including final and official documents. Evaluation: While Basecamp offered a good working environment, it was very good to have a separate Workspace as a document library for all reference material, official documents and approved deliverables. Future perspectives When the project ends there is no need to continue a shared environment for storage and sharing of documents. Initial Plan Year 2: Google Plus will be used by the CoP leaders and the Core expert group to communicate and collaborate together (not to be confused with Basecamp which is for project communication). The various Google Plus platforms would function as a reference point also after the project.
