Talk:Enterprise 2.0 platforms - case studies
Contents
Sara Teitelman, 2010/5/20
Hello everyone,
I am a newcomer to this forum and have been reading with much interest the posts regarding which specific KM tools are currently in use. We are just now looking at features of various "enterprise 2.0" software "packages", including Lotus Notes 8.5 / Lotus Connections, as well as the following, which all seem to offer similar features and functionality:
- Jive SBS (www.jivesoftware.com)
- Socialtext (www.socialtext.com)
- Sharepoint 2010 (http://office2010.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint-help/sharepoint-help-and-how-to-FX101830228.aspx?CTT=97)
I know Sharepoint 2010 is very new (our experience with previous versions of Sharepoint has been disappointing to say the least), but does anyone have experience implementing Jive SBS or Socialtext? If so, I'd be interested to know generally what your experience has been and how these tools may compare to Lotus and/or Drupal-based platforms people have mentioned.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
Sara Teitelman Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation steitelman@pedaids.org
Jaap Pels, 2010/5/20
Hi Sara, At IRC we have Socialtext up and running as of 20090101. Call, mail or visit me to learn on Socialtext. Best, Jaap
Nancy White, 2010/5/20
Sara, one observation from my experience.
Comparing tools and features from a list, compared to experiencing them, can be very different. A wiki on SharePoint for example, is nothing like a wiki on Socialtext. So your request for hands on experience is important, but I'd also encourage you to actually USE each one. It is not an apples-to-apples comparison in my experience. Also knowing WHAT you want to use a wiki for, is also important. Then the features (things which make a tool useful) are much easier to evaluate.
Platforms are both a threat and an opportunity! :-)
N
Don Kildebeck, 2010/5/20
Sara, I fully agree with Nancy's advice. I utilize a model for basing my decision making on when deciding upon a new "2.0" tool, application or feature: L.A.S.= Learn, Apply, Share. How cost and time efficient is the tool or app to Learn? How effective will the tool or app be once it is Applied to the organization? How usefu l will it be as an agent for Sharing new or existing knowledge within the org.?
Ther e may be other criteria that your specific org. will need to base its decision on, but these three entities are a good starting point.
Don
Jaap Pels, 2010/5/20
That's right Nancy; the key question is 'Technology to do what?'. And do not get wrong-footed when the answer is 'Work together!' :-) because that is a too superfluous answer; more sales pitch then reality. The process of that 'working together' must become clear before tech is fitted in. So people, process, technology; in that order.
Also I make a big difference between primary ans secondary processes. Secondary - admin, planning, money, time etc - information needs to run within a closed user environment; users are users in the basic sense: they use the system, the protocols, the procedures, your CV, a bill etc. In Cynefin words 'belonging to the 'simple' or 'complicated' domain. Primary information is the crystallisation, the process documentation, of working in a complex development context, shaping from e-mail to Skype conference.
To me the crux of Web XXX.0 (oops this will confuse SPAM filters) is creating multi-tier connections between people. We come from a situation where broad casting was the one size-fits-all. Now all are connected to all if we want to resulting in an attention war and prone to marketing / hypes etc. I wonder what number of social networks the average development / knowledge worker is member of. And on the other hand, so what, these networks are the new channels to channel information through and 'open' sounds appealing.
Wiki's go back to the days of bulletin boards. They are the digital form of the announcement boards (bike for sale, will do housecleaning for 10 euro / hr etc) in supermarkets. To make / have users make optimal use of wiki's is a challenge. Must be the same for SharePoint and the Jive Sara mentioned. SO maybe it is not about users needs but about their abilities / attitude / capacities / enthusiasm :-)
Jaap
Arthur Shelley, 2010/5/25
Sara,
Nancy is absolutely right on both accounts (and also right about chocolate too!). "What are we trying to achieve?" is always the first question I ask any group I am working with, especially differentiating between outputs and outcomes. If you know what your desired outcomes are, you can know how to play with the tools to optimise your chances of supporting these.
I have use many different wikis as part of experimenting with ways to get students to interact as part of the MBA knowledge course I facilitate. Some are very good and intuitive whilst others are much more difficult. Some are good for beginners and others work better only of you know some basic HTML. You have to know the level of technical competency of your community before you know which one is most suitable. Also look at the fine print. Some free tools claim ownership of all content including intellectual property created in them!
Regards, Arthur Shelley Founder: Intelligent Answers & Organizational Zoo Ambassadors Network Author: The Organizational Zoo & Being a Successful Knowledge Leader Twitter: Metaphorage Blog: http//organizationalzoo.blogspot.com
Free Zoo Behavioural Profiles: www.organizationalzoo.com
Peter Bury, 2010/5/26
Though I agree, what I struggle with is how many 2.0's can one learn besides private life and work ;-)
Peter
James Tarrant, 2010/5/26
Although this may be implied by your effectiveness criterion I would add:
Does it really add something new or does it better or do I have a tool that essentially already does what this one does just as well?
James J. Tarrant, Phd Project Manager LIFE Sinai Program International Resources Group (IRG)
Sebastian Rottmair, 2010/5/26
I think that is a real danger these days - and it's not just the learning, it's also the 'keeping them updated'. A colleague told me the other day that she is totally stressed out by "showing activity" in her 3 private and 2 to 3 professional 2.0 systems...
As a point of reflection - in the days where the Tyranny of E-Mail (http://w-uh.com/articles/030308-tyranny_of_email.html) was big the author had to deal with only e-mail. These days we all have to deal with so many more things, so that by the time we're done reviewing our profiles and updating all of our status messages the day is over ;-)
Jaap Pels, 2010/5/26
Sebastian, Cool observations! Jaap
Nancy White, 2010/5/26
This looked interesting so I thought I'd pass it along.
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