Presented by Judith M. Herr Blogs and Wikis and Bears, Oh My!: Selecting Web Collaboration Tools for Managers

Presented by Judith M. HerrPresented by Judith M. Herr

Blogs and Wikis and Bears, Oh My!: Blogs and Wikis and Bears, Oh My!: Selecting Web Collaboration Tools for ManagersSelecting Web Collaboration Tools for Managers

jherr Sept.2005 LavaConjherr Sept.2005 LavaCon blogs and wikis oh myblogs and wikis oh my 22

Collaboration: Collaboration: Elephant in the DarkElephant in the Dark

““If each of us held a candle there, and If each of us held a candle there, and if we went in together, we could see if we went in together, we could see it.”it.”

The Essential RumiThe Essential RumiTranslation by Translation by

Coleman BanksColeman Banks


OverviewOverview

• Poll the participantsPoll the participants

• Choosing the right web-based tools for Choosing the right web-based tools for managing and collaborating - managing and collaborating - knowledge, communities, projectsknowledge, communities, projects

• Lists and blogs and wikis, oh myLists and blogs and wikis, oh my

• Enterprise & corporate Uses?Enterprise & corporate Uses?

• Follow the road – summary table; Follow the road – summary table; references; primerreferences; primer


PollPoll•Blogs, web sites, discussion forums, Blogs, web sites, discussion forums,

chat, wikis you visit?chat, wikis you visit?•Use web-based communication Use web-based communication

tools to manage projects, people, tools to manage projects, people, clients? clients?

•What for? (collaboration, What for? (collaboration, knowledge management, knowledge management, internal/external communication, internal/external communication, training?) training?)

•Any experience using web-based Any experience using web-based collaborative tools across cultures?collaborative tools across cultures?


Managing Technical Managing Technical Communication: Collaboration, Communication: Collaboration, discussion, communitydiscussion, communityCollaboration/Collaboration/

Discussion ModelsDiscussion Models• E-mail exchangeE-mail exchange

• Shared folder/accessShared folder/access

• Interactive content Interactive content update/accessupdate/access

Web Communities…Web Communities…happen when users happen when users are given tools to use are given tools to use their voice in a public their voice in a public and immediate way, and immediate way, forming intimate forming intimate relationships over relationships over timetime


And, another current reference…And, another current reference…

Collaboration and Wikis and Blogs, Oh My! How Web Collaboration and Wikis and Blogs, Oh My! How Web Publishing Tools Could Change Collaboration Publishing Tools Could Change Collaboration [DOWNLOAD: PDF. 9 pages][DOWNLOAD: PDF. 9 pages]by IDC, Mark Levitt, Robert P. Mahowald, Joshua Duhl, Brian by IDC, Mark Levitt, Robert P. Mahowald, Joshua Duhl, Brian McDonough McDonough

Price:Price: $1,000.00 Availability:$1,000.00 Availability: Available for download now Available for download now

This IDC Insight looks at the emerging interest in using This IDC Insight looks at the emerging interest in using Weblogs (blogs) and wikis for collaboration. It explores what Weblogs (blogs) and wikis for collaboration. It explores what these technologies are, what they offer for collaboration, and these technologies are, what they offer for collaboration, and how they are expected to impact collaboration, including how they are expected to impact collaboration, including collaborative solutions, over the next several years.collaborative solutions, over the next several years.

• 9 pages9 pages


Collaboration/Collaboration/CommunicationCommunication Web ToolsWeb Tools

• Email lists/discussion forums/chat – Email lists/discussion forums/chat – Personal, professional, political, Personal, professional, political, corporatecorporate

• Blogs – Personal/Organizational journalBlogs – Personal/Organizational journal

• Wikis – Open source collaborative server Wikis – Open source collaborative server technology; Users access/browse/edit technology; Users access/browse/edit hypertext pages in real-time contexthypertext pages in real-time context

• Hybrid systems; RSS; CommercialHybrid systems; RSS; Commercial


Collaborative Models: User Collaborative Models: User RelationshipsRelationshipsThe Wiki Way: Quick Collaboration on the WebThe Wiki Way: Quick Collaboration on the Web

Bo Leuf, Ward Bo Leuf, Ward CunninghamCunningham








When choosing tools, When choosing tools, consider…consider…• Who are the users? What will they Who are the users? What will they

want to get out of it? Pertinent content?want to get out of it? Pertinent content?

• Open Source or commercial? MechanicsOpen Source or commercial? Mechanics

• What features? Hyperlink? Simple quick What features? Hyperlink? Simple quick navigation? Syndication (RSS) navigation? Syndication (RSS) information gathering? Real time?information gathering? Real time?

• How to handle nuisances, security, How to handle nuisances, security, hosting, moderating?hosting, moderating?


E-mail lists/ForumsE-mail lists/Forums

Professional collaboration – virtual Professional collaboration – virtual professional community professional community

Finding jobs and new clientsFinding jobs and new clients Career/talent/skill development, Career/talent/skill development,

training, student interactiontraining, student interaction Good ol’ days reminiscingGood ol’ days reminiscing


E-mail Lists/ForumsE-mail Lists/Forums

Scientific investigation – peer Scientific investigation – peer review, expert commentaryreview, expert commentary

““Soul searching” – religious, Soul searching” – religious, political groupspolitical groups

Broadcast messagesBroadcast messages ““Leave taking”Leave taking”


E-mail List Examples and E-mail List Examples and MechanicsMechanics

• Example: STC Management SIG Example: STC Management SIG (http://lists.stc.org/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=stcmgmtpic-l )(http://lists.stc.org/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=stcmgmtpic-l )

• ProvidersProviders

- - http://www.greatcircle.com/majordohttp://www.greatcircle.com/majordomo/mo/

- - http://www.lyris.com/http://www.lyris.com/

- - http://groups.yahoo.com/http://groups.yahoo.com/


E-mail lists/ forums:E-mail lists/ forums:Challenges and SolutionsChallenges and Solutions• Rules – How many? Why?Rules – How many? Why?

• Staying on topicStaying on topic

• Moderators, Administrators, HostsModerators, Administrators, Hosts

• Managing “promoters,” “flamers,” Managing “promoters,” “flamers,” sensitive or constant contributorssensitive or constant contributors

• Shooting yourself in the foot Shooting yourself in the foot

• Critical mass? Critical mass?

• Broad interest or single interest? Broad interest or single interest?


STC Management SIG ListservSTC Management SIG Listserv

From: [email protected]: [email protected]

[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of xxxxxxxr[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of xxxxxxxr

To: STC Management SIG discussionsTo: STC Management SIG discussions

Subject: [stcmgmtpic-l] Friday afternoon and the Management SIG Subject: [stcmgmtpic-l] Friday afternoon and the Management SIG discussiondiscussion

Welcome newcomers to this Management SIG discussion forum. PleaseWelcome newcomers to this Management SIG discussion forum. Please

introduce yourselves and tell us a bit about your work in technical introduce yourselves and tell us a bit about your work in technical communication - and, how your week went. jmhcommunication - and, how your week went. jmh

-----Original Message----------Original Message-----From:From: XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXSent:Sent: Saturday, September 17, 2005 12:32 PM Saturday, September 17, 2005 12:32 PMSubject:Subject: How my week went How my week went

……My week went as well as can be expected. I'm under notice of a My week went as well as can be expected. I'm under notice of a pending layoff and none of my resumes are generating more than pending layoff and none of my resumes are generating more than nibbles. No bites at all. nibbles. No bites at all.


BlogsBlogs

• Short for web log; frequently updated Short for web log; frequently updated journal for general public journal for general public consumptionconsumption

• Online diary with an audienceOnline diary with an audience

• Hierarchy of text, images, media Hierarchy of text, images, media objects data, arranged objects data, arranged chronologically - Viewed in an HTML chronologically - Viewed in an HTML browserbrowser




Blog Examples and Blog Examples and MechanicsMechanics

• ArchivesArchives

• CalendarCalendar

• Comments from readersComments from readers

• ExamplesExamples– http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/globalvoicehttp://cyber.law.harvard.edu/globalvoice

ss– http://www.dvorak.org/blog/http://www.dvorak.org/blog/– http://jessicamusic.blogspot.com/http://jessicamusic.blogspot.com/



Blog Examples and Blog Examples and MechanicsMechanics

• Salon.comSalon.com

• Band site for fans - www.thefray.netBand site for fans - www.thefray.net

• Seattle Children’s Hospital -Seattle Children’s Hospital -seattlechildrens.org/home/calendar.aseattlechildrens.org/home/calendar.aspsp

• Posting blog photos - www.hello.comPosting blog photos - www.hello.com

• wellchosenwords.blogspot.com/wellchosenwords.blogspot.com/


Challenges and SolutionsChallenges and Solutions

• Quality of the postings varies. Quality of the postings varies. Quantity overwhelmsQuantity overwhelms

• Focusing the conversation – adding Focusing the conversation – adding barriers including registrationbarriers including registration

• Managing bad manners and nuisances Managing bad manners and nuisances – “I reserve the right to delete any – “I reserve the right to delete any post for any reason”post for any reason”

• Hubris vs. collaborationHubris vs. collaboration



Wiki – Wiki – Wikiwiki:Wikiwiki: Hawaiian for fast, speedyHawaiian for fast, speedy

• Invites all users to edit any page; to Invites all users to edit any page; to create new pages using any Web browsercreate new pages using any Web browser

• Promotes meaningful topic associations; Promotes meaningful topic associations; page linking is intuitive – shows whether page linking is intuitive – shows whether target page existstarget page exists

• Involves visitor in ongoing creation Involves visitor in ongoing creation

• ““The simplest online database that could The simplest online database that could possibly work”possibly work”


Examples and Mechanics: Examples and Mechanics: WikipediaWikipedia



Meatball WikiMeatball Wiki

•MeatballWiki http://www.usemod.com/cgi-bin/mb.pl

•Meatball is a community of active practitioners striving to teach each other how to organize people using online tools. Members here are either community managers or are building supporting tools


Adult Literacy Education Adult Literacy Education (ALE) Wiki(ALE) Wiki

““You can learn about the field here and You can learn about the field here and contribute your knowledge from contribute your knowledge from research, experience teaching adult research, experience teaching adult learners, or your experience as an adult learners, or your experience as an adult learner. learner.

http://wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/Main_Pagehttp://wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/Main_Page



Wiki MechanicsWiki Mechanics

• Text only environmentText only environment

• Page links simple to createPage links simple to create

• Most common language – Perl-basedMost common language – Perl-based

- Free and ubiquitous- Free and ubiquitous

- Easy to install- Easy to install

- Compile in perl module on Apache - Compile in perl module on Apache server to speed up processing by factor server to speed up processing by factor of 30of 30



Wiki Challenges and Wiki Challenges and SolutionsSolutions

• Limited editing interface and format; Limited editing interface and format; Inconsistent editing standardsInconsistent editing standards

• Open to anyone within the domain Open to anyone within the domain served by the wikiserved by the wiki

- Many are not sufficiently bold to - Many are not sufficiently bold to take the first step toward changing take the first step toward changing someone else’s creationsomeone else’s creation

- Some are destructive or nuisances- Some are destructive or nuisances


Technologies for Enterprise Technologies for Enterprise Applications?Applications?• Outward facing – CEO writes blogs (the end Outward facing – CEO writes blogs (the end

of traditional PR); forums to collect opinions of traditional PR); forums to collect opinions from customers, partners, investors; easy from customers, partners, investors; easy Web publishingWeb publishing

• Internal uses – Notice board; department Internal uses – Notice board; department web sites; centralized information sourcesweb sites; centralized information sources

• Basecamp – “Project Management Utopia” Basecamp – “Project Management Utopia” http://www.basecamphq.com/index.phphttp://www.basecamphq.com/index.php




ChallengesChallenges

• Security; policies and policingSecurity; policies and policing

• Dealing with nuisances; flamers; Dealing with nuisances; flamers; spammers; constant postersspammers; constant posters

• Hosting, moderating, and barriersHosting, moderating, and barriers

• Bounces, spoofing (get email address Bounces, spoofing (get email address to confirm new subscribers)to confirm new subscribers)


Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions• Simple or complex solutions – what works Simple or complex solutions – what works

best?best?

• How to trust people to consider the How to trust people to consider the interests of the community (anonymous)?interests of the community (anonymous)?

• Do members of virtual communities yearn Do members of virtual communities yearn to meet face-to-face?to meet face-to-face?

• How to manage web-based projects How to manage web-based projects “when everyone is putting in their 2¢?”“when everyone is putting in their 2¢?”


You have a brain my friend, all You have a brain my friend, all you need is a certificateyou need is a certificate


This Certificate of This Certificate of ExcellenceExcellence

is hereby granted to:is hereby granted to:

______________________________________________________for diligently applying what you’ve gained from the for diligently applying what you’ve gained from the

LavaCon2005 ConferenceLavaCon2005 Conference

Blogs and Wikis and Bears, Oh My!: Blogs and Wikis and Bears, Oh My!: Communication Channels for Communication Channels for Knowledge Sharing, Collaboration, and Community BuildingKnowledge Sharing, Collaboration, and Community Building

Granted 27 September Granted 27 September 20052005

____________Judith M. HerrJudith M. Herr________________Judith M. Herr, PresenterJudith M. Herr, Presenter


Comments, suggestions, Comments, suggestions, follow-up questions?follow-up questions?

Contact me at…Contact me at…

Judith M. HerrJudith M. [email protected]@comcast.netWell Chosen WordsWell Chosen Words925-292-1519 (FAX)925-292-1519 (FAX)

http://home.comcast.net/~m.herr/http://home.comcast.net/~m.herr/

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Presented by Judith M. Herr Blogs and Wikis and Bears, Oh My!: Selecting Web Collaboration Tools for Managers