Here is a summary of the tweet stream from our weekly #AssnChat Twitter chat from today (6/23/09). These chats are open to anyone interested in association issues. Today's topics included:
Tagged: #assnchat association Twitter chat
If you are like me and can't afford to get to Cannes Lions later this month, I recommend that you consider Buzz 2009 on July 9th in DC. Maddie and Lindy of Social Fish have pulled together a great agenda and some quality speakers, including Andy Sernovitz (who created the Word of Mouth Marketing Association) and Guy Kawasaki (author of nine books and co-founder of AllTop.com). This may be the social media event of year for associations and nonprofits in the Mid-Atlantic area.
They have also allowed me to offer a $100 registration discount if you use this link to register. Hope to see you there. And, in the meantime, follow the Buzz on Twitter (#buzz2009).
It's been a big week for Search. Earlier this week, Microsoft launched Bing and then Google ups the ante with Google Squared. All this on top of recent launches for Searchme, Kosmix, Meehive (collaborative search that utilizes Facebook), and Wolfram Alpha ("computational knowledge engine").
Microsoft is already being slammed for its $100M marketing campaign including a live premiere on Hulu scheduled for Monday (June 8th) at 9:00 PM ET. So its easy to dismiss it as just one search clone but it does have some nice features that should not be ignored. And it has already surpassed Yahoo search (at least in the short run) according to one report.
I have not been overly impressed with the relevancy of results on Bing so far but I do like the expanded search result roll-overs and suggestions for related searches. Google shines on its simple interface and relevant (mostly) results but lacks tools to help the user refine their search or discover related information.
Google Squared competes more with Wolfram Alpha than Bing as it presents its results in a suggested square or table where the user can adjust the rows and columns to add or delete criteria. These search engines are especially helpful when comparing results for products or similar items (check out the roller coasters example).
What does this all mean and who will win the Search Wars? We may need to wait for Web 3.0 to find out but one thing is for sure... search will become increasing important as content continues to explode and users have more difficulty finding what they want with conventional, hierarchical navigation.
Tagged: search search wars Bing Google Squared Kosmix Searchme Wolfram Alpha Meehive Hulu
The Web Analytics Association (WAA) has a new report on use of web analytics for public sector and nonprofit sites. A webcast that ran today will be available for all. The actual report can be downloaded by members only but it may be worth joining to get it.
Here are a few snapshot tweets that I offered during the webcast:
Tagged: web analytics association survey WAA Web Analytics Association
While most association CIOs and IT Directors have some vision for their future technology, most do not have a detailed technology roadmap that describes the key desired technologies to support future initiatives, the interdependencies, timelines, budget implications, etc. Many technology requests pop up suddenly from siloed business needs. This results in delays, system conflicts, budget issues, and wasted resources.
Given the rapid developments for information technologies, it is impossible to develop a long-term roadmap that is cast in stone. There will be necessary adjustments as new technologies emerge and business needs change. However, a well-defined plan that can be updated provides a thoughtful strategy for staying ahead of the technology curve.
Some elements of a good technology roadmap include:
If you need assistance documenting requirements or selecting technologies, be sure to work with a consulting firm that is not tied to a specific solution. Rather they should have experience with a wide variety of competing technologies and be able to help you assess the strengths and weaknesses relative to your unique needs.
More on technology roadmaps can be found on Wikipedia.
Thanks to Jeff De Cagna (@pinnovation) for suggesting the Tweet-up for association topics and getting it started. This is essentially an informal unconference on Twitter scheduled for each Tuesday (2-3 PM ET). TweetChat works fairly well for following tweets with the #assnchat hashtag.
Example topics have included "generational differences among members," "success factors for effective social networking," "use of Twitter by meeting speakers," and "alternatives to the standard RFP process." Yes, that last one was my suggestion as a follow-up to Speed Sourcing post below. Notes from the May 19 Tweet-up can be found on Jeff Hurt's blog.
It can be a little awkward using Twitter for such a live chat, especially when Twitter and/or TweetChat are experiencing delays or there are simultaneous topics being discussed. But it is worth giving this a try. There are some smart people participating and offering thoughtful suggestions. Jeff, how about a wiki as a standard place to place notes or a Tweet stream?
Tagged: #assnchat Tweet-up associations TweetChat Jeff De Cagna Jeff Hurt
Speed Sourcing is a new trend that attempts to streamline the process of selecting a vendor. See the recent article in CIO for details. In my opinion, most of the RFPs we receive are not well crafted and do not help associations adequately evaluate and compare potential vendors capabilities and apples-to-apples cost estimates.
Having worked on both sides of the vendor/client table, I can see real value to Speed Sourcing for many technology projects, especially within the association/nonprofit commununity. Some warn of doom and disaster and this could be true for very large (7-figure+) and complex projects, but many times organizations spend more effort on the vendor selection process than they do the actual implementation. Call it what you want...a more effecient and effective process is needed.
Or we could continue to see such ridiculous processes as I have witnessed lately. One example... organization hires vendor to develop RFQ that goes out to large 30+ vendor list who spend considerable effort (read increased overhead) to respond; list is narrowed to six finalist who receive more detailed RFP with "requirements," again developed by vendor who does not fully understand organization or technologies involved; vendors respond again with elaborate proposals; all 6 vendors asked to do 2-hour presentations; final vendor selected based on questionable criteria.
What's wrong with (1) starting with a smaller list of potential vendors, including those with whom you have a trusted relationship and at least one new vendor that comes recommended from peer organizations; (2) discovery meetings with each vendor to discuss relevant experience and expertise with similar projects, proposed approach, and hourly T&M rate; (3) choose partner with detailed SOW for deliverables, milestones, change process, etc.; and (4) get started?
I would be interested in what has worked best for your association in the past and your thoughts on this new approach. Would it work for you?
Tagged: Speed Sourcing RFP vendor selection
I saw this British-made film at its US premiere at Gov 2.0 Camp in late March and had a chance to talk with the film's director, Ivo Gormley. It's a film about "the power of mass collaboration, government and the internet." It is a must-see for anyone interested in using the web to accomplish great, new things using social media tools. There are even those who believe that a coalition organized on the web could be the next world power.
Learn about the film at http://www.usnowfilm.com/ and see the full film (60:33) at http://watch.usnowfilm.com/.
Tagged: Us Now film Ivo Gromley Gov 2.0 Camp
Motorola uses a prediction market to gather new ideas from employees and predict their success based on how willing individuals are to buy "stock" in them. They launched a system called ThinkTank in 2003 to collect potential innovations using software from Consensus Point. Employees are given $100K in virtual dollars to vote on ideas at $10 per share.
Perhap association members (as well as staff) could participate in a similar effort to stimulate innovations and involve more people in the decision process. I would suggest that a committee or panel review the finalists, assess scope/cost and make final recommendations to the board. Perhaps members could also vote for programs and services to retire to make way for these new activities.
Has anyone tried this or something like it? Read more about Motorola's use of prediction markets in CIO article by Kirstin Burnham.
Tagged: Prediction Markets Associations Innovation Consensus Point
We can all look forward to the next generation of the Web where you can expect your PC or mobile device to act as a personal assistant, predict many of your personal needs, and supply just-in-time information and services.
However, I do not recommend that associations spend much time thinking about this unless you are already fully leveraging the appropriate Web. 2.0 features. BTW, whatever happened to Web 2.1? Don't we deserve some interim upgrades before we jump to the next major release?
We have been talking a lot about social media and other 2.0 features for some time now and yet many associations have yet to do much more than dip one toe in the water. Others have embraced the tools and implemented blogs, forums, member directories, wikis and the like but still have not engaged their constituents. Some have a Facebook or LinkedIn page or Twitter feed. However, building successful online communities that actively engage members, donors, and volunteers takes dedicated resources to monitor and participate in both internal and external communities, promote activity online and offline, and incent and reward participation.
I truly hope that we will have more true Web 2.0 success stories (and they are out there) to report in the months ahead. Getting this right may well be the major competitive advantage for many associations. No competitors, you say? Watch out. Groups can form online with few resources and pose a very real threat very quickly.
Tagged: Web 3.0 Web 2.0 social media associations
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