Knowledge Advocate

I wrote a paper on collaboration with Mike Mayeux of Novotus for a talk with Austin Technology Council members. The paper has come up recently. Mike’s keen insight on the interplay between people and the IT system that stores their thoughts, habits, and outputs brought about this to-do list when picking software to help your company collaborate on-line:

1.   Decide on the technology;

2.   Commit from the top and make the CEO the biggest fan of the project;

3.   Build out the IT solution with the future users in mind;

4.   Hold the software back while bugs and specific uses get sorted out;

5.   Interview future users to capture key knowledge, preferences, etc.;

6.   Populate the information you find and give credit to the originators;

7.   Prepare the way by getting everyone excited about the project;

8.   Train people on how to use it;

9.   Appoint a hero, the person who champions & oversees the technology;

10. Create excitement about using it;

11. Reward use;

12. Make information flow with changes, new features, and useful benefits.

The paper expands on these notions and demonstrates success for Mayeux and his company. Feel free to contact me if you would like a copy: Collaborationpaper@knowledgeadvocate.com.

On-line collaboration needs great software and people who are willing and able to use it.