CommCare Projects take lots of different shapes and sizes. However, there are some key roles and practices that are associated with successful projects.
Implementating a CommCare project is an exciting and rewarding experience. It can also be a challenging one. So, it's important to prepare: build a solid team, understand the phases of implementation, and know where to access useful resources along the way.
This unit will provide you with a brief overview of each of these areas. By the end of this unit, you will be able to:
- Name and define the main roles in a CommCare project
- Describe the main phases in the deployment of a CommCare project
KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Like most projects, CommCare projects require a team effort to be successful. Everyone must do their part. But what does a CommCare project team look like?
Over time, Dimagi has identified 7 key project roles. In some projects, a single person may have more than one role -- that's okay. What's important is that each team member knows their role and has received the appropriate training and resources to do their part well. Below are the roles and their core responsibilities:
You will notice from this list that each role covers a distinct and important area of responsibility, and that different roles require different levels of project engagement over time. Additionally, depending on your project, certain roles may require technical skills. For example, a M&E officer should have data analysis skills; a Trainer should be comfortable speaking publicly and explaining complex ideas in a simple way. When assigning roles, be sure to consider each person's skills and time availability.
PHASES OF IMPLEMENTATION
CommCare projects vary a lot -- in size, complexity, and geography -- but each one transitions through 4 major phases of implementation. Below are the 4 phases with some examples of what must be accomplished in each phase , though not everything is listed here.
Phase 1: Design and Preparation
- Complete Project Needs Assessment
- Design and scope application
- Determine who will fill each project role
Phase 2: Refinement and Iteration
- Build prototype application based on needs assessment and scoping
- Pilot with users to gather feedback
- Refine application based on user feedback
Phase 3: Training and Deployment
- Prepare all training materials and logistics
- Prepare phones and applications
- Train all users- mobile workers as well as those who will be using CommCareHQ
Phase 4: Maintenance and Monitoring
- Monitor workers' performance
- Address technical issues
- Consider changes to application based on post-deployment feedback
You can find much more detail about CommCare Implementation plans here.
An example of a key step in implementation is developing a user contract with whoever will be using phones in your program. This allows you to discuss and set policies related to what will happen if a phone is broken, lost, or needs additional airtime/balance. You can find lots of example contracts here.
You have completed CommCare Fundamentals. Return to the main page.
Interested in taking the Certification Test for CommCare Fundamentals? See CommCare Fundamentals - Test.
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