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Subscribe via EmailFor those that missed it, here's my 5 minute presentation from the amazing SpeedGeeking event at Lotusphere 2012:
Enjoy!
By: Stuart McIntyre | 0 Comments | On: 25 January 2012 11:27:40 | Tags: speedgeeking lotusphere ls12 social
Along with Paul Mooney, Matt White and co, I am live-blogging the OGS below:
Live feed:
By: Stuart McIntyre | 0 Comments | On: 16 January 2012 13:00:37 | Tags: lotusphere ls12
Here's a snapshot of my schedule for this week.
Admittedly some of the clashing appointments in Orange are where there are more than one session that I'd like to go to in that slot. However, there is no doubt that this is going to be one seriously intensive week!
By: Stuart McIntyre | 1 Comments | On: 14 January 2012 09:49:40 | Tags: lotusphere ls12
Happy New Year all!
Liking these infographics shared by Business Insider during the holiday:
and:
Some staggering numbers in there - the one that leaps at me is over 50 Wordpress downloads per minute. Makes you realise just how large the consumer and small business content creation community is compared with the enterprise space.
By: Stuart McIntyre | 0 Comments | On: 3 January 2012 09:45:00 | Tags: infographic 60seconds minute
Well this is a find!
Smarter Knowledge Sharing - Quantitative research into the perceived usefulness of Lotus Live as knowledge sharing system by Dutch healthcare professionalsWhilst most definitely an academic paper (it is the author's master thesis), this should be useful reading for anyone with an interest in how cloud-based or on-premise social collaboration tools can be adopted for knowledge sharing purposes, whether in health-care or other similar verticals. I'm still digesting the findings and recommendations contained in the paper, but can already recommend it - so much around Social technology is fluffy and vague in nature - an academic study can really cut through that to focus on the facts and realities.
Master Thesis
Strategic Management
Tilburg University
December 12, 2011
Student
Sjoerd Bouma (962256)
S.Bouma@uvt.nl
An organization’s ability to learn and share knowledge has emerged as a key factor influencing organizational performance (Argote, McEvily, & Reagans, 2003; Kane & Alavi, 2007). IBM can provide an integrated cloud solution, Lotus Live, to support online knowledge sharing and learning. The measurement of information systems usefulness is critical to understand the value and efficacy of information systems investments (Delone & McLean, 2003). Therefore, IBM wants to study the usefulness of an integrated cloud solution for knowledge sharing. IBM is especially interested in the added value of Lotus Live in a knowledge-intensive environment (e.g. healthcare, research institutes, and universities). Especially in these type of organizations lifelong learning and knowledge sharing are crucial aspects of everyday’s work.
This study elaborates on knowledge sharing in healthcare. In general, when talking about knowledge sharing in healthcare it concerns collaboration between healthcare professionals (Chau & Hu, 2002a), and access to learning resources (Geueke & Stausberg, 2003). Lifelong learning and knowledge sharing are important concepts in today’s healthcare, and a requirement for all healthcare professionals (Barnard, Nash, & O'Brien, 2005; Frankford, Patterson, & Konrad, 2000). However, knowledge sharing by face-to-face interaction on a regular basis can be costly and time consuming. Online communities of practice supported by internet technologies are among the few viable alternatives to live conversation and knowledge sharing (Hara & Hew, 2007). It is therefore, very interesting to look at the usefulness of an online knowledge management system for knowledge sharing in healthcare. The central research question dealt with in this thesis will be:
To what extent is an online knowledge management system for knowledge sharing perceived useful in supporting knowledge sharing in a healthcare context?
Excellent work, Sjoerd.
By: Stuart McIntyre | 0 Comments | On: 22 December 2011 10:52:39 | Tags: lotuslive paper
The rise and rise of the user group has been one of the stories of the Lotus community over these past 4 or 5 years.
From DNUG to UKLUG, ILUG to IAMLUG, MWLUG to AUSLUG, BLUG to the (award-winning) DDive, community-organised events have been massively successful and have strengthened and sustained the community that forms around these collaboration products. From small monthly meetings (ATLUG), through to 3 day 400-attendee mega-LUGs, there is clearly a demand for these groups and events. Many community members put hundred of hours into organising them, sponsors pay thousands to exhibit and attendees travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to attend. It is hard to remember a time before they were so prevalent.
However, I've failed to mention the daddy of all user groups... DanNotes. Almost unbelievably, DanNotes was formed in 1993 (18 years!) and has just had its 46th event (yes 46!). Doesn't that put things into perspective? Whether we know it or not, we have a lot to thank DanNotes for...
Earlier this year I was honoured to be invited to speak at the latest DanNotes conference in Denmark, and took the trip out to attend last week.
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Held in a rather lovely if remote hotel and conference centre in Korsor, approximately 60 miles west of Copenhagen, I joined Chris Connor, Ulrich Krause and Niklas Heidloff as the non-Danish speakers at this two-day conference.
With about 80 in attendance (a full house), the event had a busy feel to it - plenty of attendees but not so big that it wasn't possible to get round and speak to most folks that were there.
A few significant details made it a really interesting experience for me:
1. I have never been a particular fan of conference hotels, they can be a bit soulless. However this one had some character, and the whole conference being in the one remote hotel meant that attendees and organisers spent real quality time together. We ate proper sit down meals, had an excellent evening reception and could relax in each others company. The relatively small size of the event compared to an ILUG or IAMLUG obviously helped in that regard too.
2. The sessions themselves were held in an auditorium with excellent acoustics, full PA and mics on every desk. That meant that when an attendee asked a question, they could do so without moving or significantly interrupting the speaker, everyone heard it and there was a much more interactive vibe as a result.
3. The attendees really know each other. A lot of them have attended a large number of the DanNotes events (46 remember) and hence really are a community all of their own. That really came through in the relationships on show. That said, they were really friendly to outsiders such as myself - I felt really welcome. That is a tough balance to strike.
4. Attendees have to pay to be part of the user group and to attend the event. That tends to make those present really want to maximise the value they get from being there. Whilst free events are great in a lot of ways, I do wonder whether paid user group meetings are the way forward in the long run.
Whilst I wish I could have stayed a bit longer, I massively enjoyed my trip. I was hugely impressed by the organisation behind the event (Per Henrik Lausten and the rest of the team), by the content being shared and by the community that has been developed. I wish too that I could have seen more of Denmark on my first trip than just Copenhagen airport, the train and the hotel! Definitely an excuse for a return trip in future.
If you're wondering what I presented, I did two sessions which are both on Slideshare:
'IBM Connections - Bridging the Gap' (explaining Social Collaboration and IBM Connections for those from a Notes/Domino background):
I also shared a session with IBM's Niklas Heidloff on mobile technologies where he spoke about the options for application developers using XPages:
I then took over and discussed 'The IBM Mobile Collaboration Portfolio' (covering the options open to users of IBM/Lotus packaged applications):
(I know that as a result of my aversion to bullets and my preference for very image-heavy slides, these presentations need more context! I'll be uploading the audio for the presentations as soon as I have it!)
So huge thanks to all those behind DanNotes. If you are from Denmark and haven't attended, you really must - it is one of the best examples of a LUG anywhere in the world!
By: Stuart McIntyre | 1 Comments | On: 30 November 2011 02:50:00 | Tags: dannotes
Collaboration Matters partners with a number of strategic vendors, including Socialtext, Atlassian, Redhat and VMWare. In varying degrees, all are a vital foundation to what we do.
However, most readers of this blog will be aware that our most significant vendor relationship is with IBM - that has been the way throughout my 17 year career since graduation, and in the almost four years since Collaboration Matters was formed. IBM is the thread that runs through my career - AIX, RS/6000, SSA, ADSM, Notes, SP2, TSM, MagStar, pSeries, LTO, MQ, Tivoli Monitoring, xSeries, Domino, Sametime, Quickr, Connections and on. Whilst not all those technologies are still around, all have been transformative for both my customers and for me personally.
Many of those products are Lotus-branded software (of course), but many are not - operating systems, disk technologies, tape standards, middleware, server platforms. Unlike some in the Lotus community, my contact with the greater IBM goes way beyond just the brand that they acquired in 1995. I've seen the breath and depth of solutions that IBM can offer to customers, both direct and through partners such as those I've worked for.
Many of the most important personal relationships built during my career have been with IBMers, from hardware engineers through customer reps, country managers, salespeople, product managers, community managers, marketers and even VPs. I value and cherish those friendships. Although I've worked closely with other vendors including HP and Microsoft for extended periods of time, I have never made the same type of connection with their staff. Whether it's down to similarity of approach, attitude, ethics or just simply because we get along, I've always found IBMers generally a real pleasure to work with and get to know.
If you listen to the This Week in Lotus podcast, or read my posts over an extended period of time, you'll also be aware that I don't always agree 100% with IBM's product decisions, marketing efforts, policies or approach. This is sometimes seen as criticism, often unfair criticism when coming from a partner. This is a tough one to deal with. Over the 17 years, I have been overwhelmingly positive about IBM's vision and products, else I wouldn't still be so entwined with them.
However, I am not an IBM employee, Collaboration Matters is not an IBM subsidiary. Whilst we greatly respect and appreciate IBM and its products, our only responsibility is to our customers, ourselves and our shareholders. We are selected by our customers for our independence and focused approach - we know and use the opposition, and we do not have corporate demands on us to sell other IBM hardware, services and products. In short, Collaboration Matters is a 'trusted advisor' - we can be trusted to offer an IBM-loyal yet independent approach. We would never take a customer request for Connections and unilaterally turn it into a Socialtext or Jive sale for example, and yet if a customer asks 'I hear that Connections is weak in area XYZ, is that true? How do the other vendors deal with that?' then they can rely on us to give a straight answer. I believe that for every customer that suggests that something said on TWiL or the blog is damaging to IBM's cause, we have ten or more that value that independence of approach and the integrity of the comment.
So back to the question I posed in the title... Why is Collaboration Matters an IBM business partner?
Over 17 years, I fundamentally believe that IBM has upheld the best interests of its customers and partners. Undoubtedly it is a commercial organisation and has its own requirements to add shareholder value and deliver profits, but within those constraints I believe it does a terrific job of walking alongside both customers and partners to deliver exceptional solutions. Sure there have been missteps along the way, and there will be more in the future, but if you look back over the 17% of IBM's history that I have experienced IBM has been a great organisation to work with.
Life as an IBM Business Partner is an interesting tightrope to walk; being at times a customer, other times an alliance partner, sometimes a nuisance, and occasionally an outright competitor.
However, I believe that these three things are true... Collaboration Matters can do more business and be more profitable through being an IBM partner. Customers can obtain better solutions and services through Collaboration Matters and IBM combined than they could from either organisation alone. IBM understands the requirements of the customer in more depth and delivers a much more targeted and rounded service to the customer when they work with us. All three elements gain from the relationship, and the whole is much greater than the sum of the parts. For me, that is the definition of being a partner.
This video from IBM UK explains what IBM partners can do in a really good way - I wish I could have been involved:
Through my career and and now as I look to 2012 and beyond, I'm proud that I can say 'I am an IBM Business Partner'.
By: Stuart McIntyre | 1 Comments | On: 29 November 2011 10:00:00 | Tags: ibm businesspartner
Sandy Carter outlines IBM's plans for LeWeb '11 next week:
Social, Local, Mobile.
I like that...
By: Stuart McIntyre | 0 Comments | On: 28 November 2011 19:48:04 | Tags: social ibmsocialbiz leweb
Good friends Jon Mell, Ofer Guetta and Jon Machtynger join with key UK-based bloggers to discuss Social Business:
Leading UK bloggers Chris Turner (Springwise), David Terrar (Biz Two Zero), Matt Alder (Recruiting Futurology), David Cushman (Faster Future) and Johnnie Moore (The Johnnie Moore Weblog) come together with IBM experts Jon Mell, Jon Machtynger and Alex Bray to give their perspective on the concept of Social Business.
Leading UK bloggers David Terrar (Biz Two Zero) and Kathryn Corrick (KathrynCorrick.co.uk) come together with IBM Social Business experts Alex Bray, Ofer Guetta, Jon Mell and Stuart McRae to discuss the benefits of social tools within the enterprise from an IT perspective
Leading UK bloggers John Ingham (Strategic HCM), Peter Gold (Hire Strategies), Matt Alder (Recruiting Futurology), Mike Morrison (Rapid BI) and Johnnie Moore (The Johnnie Moore Weblog) come together with IBM Social Business experts Jon Mell and Stuart McRae to discuss the potential of social tools within the enterprise to benefit HR and drive employee engagement.
Leading UK bloggers Chris Turner (Springwise), David Cushman (Faster Future), Karl Long (Experience Curve) and Kathryn Corrick (KathrynCorrick.co.uk), come together with IBM Social Business experts Ofer Guetta, Jon Mell, Jon Machtynger and Alex Bray to discuss the potential of social tools within the enterprise to drive innovation.
Interesting views and definitions...
By: Stuart McIntyre | 0 Comments | On: 28 November 2011 11:34:17 | Tags: social ibmsocialbiz uk
Many of you will be aware that I work on occasion with Michael Sampson, esteemed Collaboration Strategist and author of 'User Adoption Strategies' and the upcoming 'Collaboration Roadmap'. Michael and I have also submitted an abstract for Lotusphere 2012, but that's a topic for another post.
Michael has previously surveyed business users on the use and effectiveness of the various strategies that he covers in the User Adoption Strategies book, and the data has been used in various presentations that Michael has used around the world since then.
Well it's time to run a new survey to check on progress:
It's time to ask the question again. How are you approaching user adoption? What strategies are you using? How effective have the strategies been in your organization?Michael is particularly interested in hearing from IBM Connections customers to find out how adoption is going in your environments.
I have re-developed the survey - adding a few new strategies from the book, and using slightly different rating scales - and it's up and ready for you to contribute your experience.
WIN A COPY OF THE USER ADOPTION STRATEGIES BOOK! If you take the survey and leave your contact details, you will automatically go in the draw for one of five copies of User Adoption Strategies. There's a weekly drawing between now and early January, so complete the survey early to get a maximum number of opportunities to win a copy.
Should our abstract be accepted for Lotusphere, we will be using this data as part of the presentation, so please do head over and complete the survey!
By: Stuart McIntyre | 0 Comments | On: 28 November 2011 11:20:25 | Tags: social adoption ibm connections