Collaborative Software Initiative understands without collaboration a shared vision innovation will not happen. Collaborative Software Initiative brings together like-minded entities that are open to the collaborative model (an open and inclusive process) to work together as subject matter experts to establish a collective vision, to determine the scope and priorities, to execute against the vision, to meet regularly, to guide the project, and to share the cost of the project amongst the group.

In showing the strength of our collaborative model in the area of public health, Collaborative Software Initiative has built CSI TriSano®. CSI TriSano® is an open source, citizen-focused surveillance and outbreak management system for infectious disease, environmental hazards, and bioterrorism attacks. It allows local, state and federal entities to gather information through interactions with citizens and provides the transparency for public health officials to make a positive impact on the health and well being of their citizens. CSI TriSano® is the outcome of a collaborative project with subject matter experts (local, state and federal public health officials) working together with our program manager and development experts to deliver the next generation disease surveillance and outbreak management application.

In the area of regulatory compliance Collaborative Software Initiative released CSI SIG based on the collective vision of major Wall Street firms to address the need for GLBA compliance while reducing risk and liability for their customers. Each financial institution is obliged to monitor the activities of every service provider throughout the outsourcing relationship. Self assessment questionnaires and on-site audits are used to collect the pertinent data. The Shared Assessments Program standardized the self assessment control questions and developed standard procedures to be examined when conducting on-site audits in the form of a standardized information gathering (SIG) questionnaire. CSI SIG allows services providers to move from a spreadsheet application to a less expensive, less error-prone and more manageable process for submitting SIG responses to the financial institutions.

The innovations capable of addressing the specific challenges inherent in transforming government will require collaboration. Collaborative Software Initiative is developing applications with subject matter experts who are passionate about solving their problems collaboratively, supported by our program managers and developers. If you would like to learn how your organization could benefit from the CSI collaborative process, please accept this invitation to join one of our existing core teams or lead one of your own.