Comments for manIA http://patrickcwalsh.wordpress.com information architecture - knowledge creation - intranets - quality Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:17:30 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on The collaborative intranet: Involving users in intranet designs by patrick c walsh http://patrickcwalsh.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/the-collaborative-intranet-involving-users-in-intranet-designs/#comment-409 patrick c walsh Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:17:30 +0000 http://patrickcwalsh.wordpress.com/?p=1413#comment-409 Vegard, Many thanks for your comments. As I say in the post I've always been a sceptic when it comes to intranet blogs but I'm think that they may be a good tool for this activity. Perhaps that's what we need to do with Intranet 2.0 approaches; find out exactly where and when they can be used to good purpose rather than the scattergun approach we tend to see in may organizations. Regards Patrick Vegard,
Many thanks for your comments.
As I say in the post I’ve always been a sceptic when it comes to intranet blogs but I’m think that they may be a good tool for this activity.
Perhaps that’s what we need to do with Intranet 2.0 approaches; find out exactly where and when they can be used to good purpose rather than the scattergun approach we tend to see in may organizations.

Regards
Patrick

]]> Comment on The collaborative intranet: Involving users in intranet designs by Vegard http://patrickcwalsh.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/the-collaborative-intranet-involving-users-in-intranet-designs/#comment-408 Vegard Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:24:22 +0000 http://patrickcwalsh.wordpress.com/?p=1413#comment-408 Thanks for a good post on how to engage with the readers when redesigning the intranet. I'm a strong believer in using the corporate blog as a tool for sourcing for feedback. So this hits me straight in the heart. Thanks for a good post on how to engage with the readers when redesigning the intranet.

I’m a strong believer in using the corporate blog as a tool for sourcing for feedback. So this hits me straight in the heart.

]]> Comment on User/stakeholder maps for intranets by Don’t Forget Who All the Work is For « Predicate, LLC | Editorial + Content Strategy http://patrickcwalsh.wordpress.com/2008/12/14/userstakeholders-maps-for-intranets/#comment-402 Don’t Forget Who All the Work is For « Predicate, LLC | Editorial + Content Strategy Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:44:42 +0000 http://patrickcwalsh.wordpress.com/?p=431#comment-402 [...] Having worked in intranets for over a decade now I know how easy it is to forget who all the work is really for and who else might be affected by the decisions we make.via User/stakeholder maps for intranets « manIA [...] [...] Having worked in intranets for over a decade now I know how easy it is to forget who all the work is really for and who else might be affected by the decisions we make.via User/stakeholder maps for intranets « manIA [...]

]]> Comment on What every intranet manager should know by patrick c walsh http://patrickcwalsh.wordpress.com/2009/10/25/what-every-intranet-manager-should-know/#comment-401 patrick c walsh Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:41:46 +0000 http://patrickcwalsh.wordpress.com/?p=1379#comment-401 Vivek, Thanks for your comment. I absolutely agree. If you look at James's list of the things Intranet Managers need to do a lot of it is around interacting with people - users, managers, stakeholders. Intranets generally don't fail because their CMS isn't up to scratch but because these aspects have not been handled well or sometimes at all. I honestly think that asking up front for technical qualifications and experience often rules out many of the people who could really make an intranet work. People who are good managers and good with people and who can also see the big organizational picture. Patrick Vivek,
Thanks for your comment.
I absolutely agree. If you look at James’s list of the things Intranet Managers need to do a lot of it is around interacting with people – users, managers, stakeholders. Intranets generally don’t fail because their CMS isn’t up to scratch but because these aspects have not been handled well or sometimes at all.
I honestly think that asking up front for technical qualifications and experience often rules out many of the people who could really make an intranet work. People who are good managers and good with people and who can also see the big organizational picture.

Patrick

]]> Comment on What every intranet manager should know by Vivek http://patrickcwalsh.wordpress.com/2009/10/25/what-every-intranet-manager-should-know/#comment-400 Vivek Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:44:17 +0000 http://patrickcwalsh.wordpress.com/?p=1379#comment-400 Apart from my inability to code or program any computer language,..I am totally delighted to read this article as these were always my thoughts when I go through those job ads that dont make any sense. I totally agree with you that, 'Techies' are not necessarily/always good communicators or to that matter even good managers. Also, I always notice this divide between knowing how to code and understanding technology and its applications which have relevance to the business. Both need different set of experience and capabilities. Organisations should learn how to differentiate these to be successful in their respective businesses. Apart from my inability to code or program any computer language,..I am totally delighted to read this article as these were always my thoughts when I go through those job ads that dont make any sense.

I totally agree with you that, ‘Techies’ are not necessarily/always good communicators or to that matter even good managers.
Also, I always notice this divide between knowing how to code and understanding technology and its applications which have relevance to the business. Both need different set of experience and capabilities. Organisations should learn how to differentiate these to be successful in their respective businesses.

]]> Comment on What every intranet manager should know by patrick c walsh http://patrickcwalsh.wordpress.com/2009/10/25/what-every-intranet-manager-should-know/#comment-398 patrick c walsh Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:50:25 +0000 http://patrickcwalsh.wordpress.com/?p=1379#comment-398 Scott, I think that you are spot on when you say that there needs to be a distiction between technical admin and content. I think that the role of intranet manager should be the content role. That is what is important to users. The Intranet Infrastructure Manager role, basically all of the technical stuff, is also important but it should serve the content. Otherwise it's the tail wagging the dog again and, as you say above, content gets short shrift All the best Patrick Scott,
I think that you are spot on when you say that there needs to be a distiction between technical admin and content. I think that the role of intranet manager should be the content role. That is what is important to users. The Intranet Infrastructure Manager role, basically all of the technical stuff, is also important but it should serve the content. Otherwise it’s the tail wagging the dog again and, as you say above, content gets short shrift

All the best
Patrick

]]> Comment on What every intranet manager should know by skaufman24 http://patrickcwalsh.wordpress.com/2009/10/25/what-every-intranet-manager-should-know/#comment-397 skaufman24 Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:43:18 +0000 http://patrickcwalsh.wordpress.com/?p=1379#comment-397 Hi Patrick, I neglected to mention you have a great blog here and the crux of this post is right on. Yes, too many organisations don't understand nor have the necessary ingredients for a decent (i.e. useful, worthwhile), no less, world class, Intranet. Re Intranet jobs, many (most ?) good ones are not listed on the big boards directly and 'executive' sites (whichever those are - theladders.com, for example, are even worse than Monster). Here are some interesting Intranet jobs I have seen lately: Disney (Hollywood CA US) https://disney.recruitmax.com//MAIN/CareerPortal/job_profile.cfm?szOrderID=204018 UBS (London UK) http://www.theitjobboard.co.uk/IT-Job/Intranet-Editor-UBS-Wealth-Management-UK-Mayfair/7672757/en/?WT.mc_id=A137&xc=154/ Neither exclude the 4 activities you list from Robertson. I think it's a nice straw man and discussion starter, but unrealistic for Intranet Managers not to do some of the work listed. . A distinction needs to be made between technical administration and content process management. Often these need to need well-defined and separate roles. The technical pieces are often easier to scope and justify, causing content to get short-thrift. ...Scott Hi Patrick,
I neglected to mention you have a great blog here and the crux of this post is right on. Yes, too many organisations don’t understand nor have the necessary ingredients for a decent (i.e. useful, worthwhile), no less, world class, Intranet.

Re Intranet jobs, many (most
?) good ones are not listed on the big boards directly and ‘executive’ sites (whichever those are – theladders.com, for example, are even worse than Monster).

Here are some interesting Intranet jobs I have seen lately:

Disney (Hollywood CA US)
https://disney.recruitmax.com//MAIN/CareerPortal/job_profile.cfm?szOrderID=204018

UBS (London UK)
http://www.theitjobboard.co.uk/IT-Job/Intranet-Editor-UBS-Wealth-Management-UK-Mayfair/7672757/en/?WT.mc_id=A137&xc=154/

Neither exclude the 4 activities you list from Robertson. I think it’s a nice straw man and discussion starter, but unrealistic for Intranet Managers not to do some of the work listed. .

A distinction needs to be made between technical administration and content process management. Often these need to need well-defined and separate roles. The technical pieces are often easier to scope and justify, causing content to get short-thrift.

…Scott

]]> Comment on What every intranet manager should know by patrick c walsh http://patrickcwalsh.wordpress.com/2009/10/25/what-every-intranet-manager-should-know/#comment-396 patrick c walsh Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:01:40 +0000 http://patrickcwalsh.wordpress.com/?p=1379#comment-396 Scott, Thanks for your comment. Yes some of the ads were pretty dreadful. I did look at quite a few other sites, including some 'executive' job sites, and it was more or less the same story, perhaps I just looked on the wrong day. As I say at the end of the post I think that there are some enlightened organizations out there but possible not as many as there should be. Scott,
Thanks for your comment. Yes some of the ads were pretty dreadful. I did look at quite a few other sites, including some ‘executive’ job sites, and it was more or less the same story, perhaps I just looked on the wrong day.
As I say at the end of the post I think that there are some enlightened organizations out there but possible not as many as there should be.

]]> Comment on What every intranet manager should know by ScottK http://patrickcwalsh.wordpress.com/2009/10/25/what-every-intranet-manager-should-know/#comment-395 ScottK Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:43:40 +0000 http://patrickcwalsh.wordpress.com/?p=1379#comment-395 Trovit and Monster are nearly useless for Intranet postings that you mentioned. There are some more enlightened orgs and hiring managers out there. Depends on your region, too. The ads you mention sound fairly dreadful. Trovit and Monster are nearly useless for Intranet postings that you mentioned. There are some more enlightened orgs and hiring managers out there. Depends on your region, too. The ads you mention sound fairly dreadful.

]]> Comment on Knowledge (Part 2) – an enterprise-wide methodology by patrick c walsh http://patrickcwalsh.wordpress.com/2009/09/05/knowledge-part-2-an-enterprise-wide-methodology/#comment-387 patrick c walsh Sun, 06 Sep 2009 12:04:20 +0000 http://patrickcwalsh.wordpress.com/?p=1066#comment-387 Nick, Interesting question. Off the top of my head - Peer assists (if I understand the term right) are usually one off events held when a team is facing a specific challenge and they invite people who they think might be able to help with a specific problem. The big difference between peer assists and 'Knetworking' is that the 'solution sessions' are short, the process is ongoing over time and people who may not normally be invited will be attending. I am a great believer in 'planned serendipity', that is, creating the conditions where disparate individuals can be thrown together increasing the chances of something original coming out of the process. Communities of practice usually consist of people with a passion for the same thing and they are likely to include people doing the same thing e.g. a Finance CoP, a Quality CoP, an Engineering CoP etc. One of the main attributes of 'knetworking' is that it should cut across these lines and bring together people of differing backgrounds and interests. The 'knetworking' process would not exclude CoPs and peer assist activities, indeed I think that they might even enhance each other. In my view the attributes of 'knetworking' that CoPs and peer assists don't cover is in making 'knowledge' activities a regular part of the workplace activities (and not making a big deal about it), being more inclusive in bringing together representatives of all workplace teams, using a kaizen approach to bulding up knowledge over time and, possibly most important, basing it on an approach (Quality Circles) that, in my mind at least, has been shown to work in the workplace. I'd appreciate your feedback on the above, All the best Nick,
Interesting question. Off the top of my head –
Peer assists (if I understand the term right) are usually one off events held when a team is facing a specific challenge and they invite people who they think might be able to help with a specific problem. The big difference between peer assists and ‘Knetworking’ is that the ’solution sessions’ are short, the process is ongoing over time and people who may not normally be invited will be attending. I am a great believer in ‘planned serendipity’, that is, creating the conditions where disparate individuals can be thrown together increasing the chances of something original coming out of the process.

Communities of practice usually consist of people with a passion for the same thing and they are likely to include people doing the same thing e.g. a Finance CoP, a Quality CoP, an Engineering CoP etc. One of the main attributes of ‘knetworking’ is that it should cut across these lines and bring together people of differing backgrounds and interests.

The ‘knetworking’ process would not exclude CoPs and peer assist activities, indeed I think that they might even enhance each other. In my view the attributes of ‘knetworking’ that CoPs and peer assists don’t cover is in making ‘knowledge’ activities a regular part of the workplace activities (and not making a big deal about it), being more inclusive in bringing together representatives of all workplace teams, using a kaizen approach to bulding up knowledge over time and, possibly most important, basing it on an approach (Quality Circles) that, in my mind at least, has been shown to work in the workplace.

I’d appreciate your feedback on the above,

All the best

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