In class last weekend, we had a session about matching employee compensation to company goals. This, in turn, got me thinking about how to motivate employees.
My study group talked about it over drinks that evening (because earning an MBA means minoring in beer drinking), and we digressed into "What makes a good manager?" and "Are you a good manager?" Think about it - the best manager you've ever had - probably wasn't the one who gave you the most money. I'd suggest that just throwing money at employees (pay for individual performance) isn't best for the employee or company. It's an uncreative solution to a complex situation.
At my company - I've had both one of the best managers and the worst managers ever. The good manager focused on my skill set and looked for opportunities for me to grow in the organization. He recommended pursuing the MBA, and looked for ways to get the company to sponsor it. He gave me raises and promotions, sure, but more than that, he gave me opportunity and responsibility... and for me... that goes a long way. I felt like he always had my back, and that he took his management role seriously, not just as a path to more power and money. He was managing people bc he did it well, and could bring out the best in them. He's a true asset to the company.
The worst manager treated all his direct reports like peons. In his view, we were unable to make our own decisions, as we needed his "executive insight" on everything. Nevermind that I work on the website and he had no idea about how websites work. This arbitrary authority left us feeling insignificant and frustrated, as his "authority" really became an enormous bottleneck that encouraged us NOT to try anything new or "out of the box." Not only was he unlikely to get behind and champion an idea, but also we knew that if anything went wrong - well, let's just say you couldn't count on him to have your back.
The WSJ had an article yesterday, Two Football Coaches Have a Lot to Teach Screaming Managers that took another slant on this same issue. The writer, Hymowitz, suggests that the motivational technique of belittling employees isn't very effective. While increasingly uncommon in the corporate world, it's still a thriving aspect of the sports world. However, the two coaches for this Sunday's Superbowl - Lovie and Dungy - have turned their backs on this traditional management technique. Instead, they treat their players with respect and patience. Now, they certainly are tough coaches who expect the best all the time (and have structured a reward system to match their expectations), but they realize the best way to performance lies in building people up.
It's all very interesting to consider. I haven't crystallized my thoughts on this, but I thought I'd blog on it to open the floor.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
[A word before we get to today's topic. We contributors have agreed to post once a week, and that will be about all I'll be able to manage for awhile. I come home from work with all sorts of ideas stirring around in my head, but I'm also brain-dead and dead tired, so writing is going to happen after I've had a day to recover. I start with this caveat in case there are any expectations of immediacy. With that said, we're becoming very web 2.0 at work, and there's a lot to say because we are currently undergoing a complete overhaul.]
I have a few soapboxes at work; I stand on them a lot as we go through the process of redesigning our web site. One of them is that we need to support our technical community in two ways:
What's interesting is that I get a lot of support for the idea of providing better findability for the information that will create capability. Some aren't sure of the idea of creating community. I think this has two causes. We do have a few in our customer base who like nothing better to take potshots. They lie in wait for the opportunity to arise. The other cause is a fear, I believe, that people will not participate. I'm not too worried--we have good participation on our mailing lists, and I think we can translate that to forums and community generated content.
Where I run into resistance (fear) is creating trust by opening up the black box. We run centralized IT services (network, phone, security, etc.) that others can and often must use. They can also run some of their own services. We have a lot of power, and we can make things difficult for people, oftentimes inadvertently (these usually end up being labeled "communication problems," but that's another post). That makes people upset and more likely to take potshots.
So, we open it up. Listening to our folks complain about the complaints they get and talking to customers tells me that this is what we need to do. As we enter the content phase of the web site redesign project, we will integrate that at several levels of the site--mission level, SLAs, policies, product/service descriptions, and more. Exposing information creates trust.
I have a few soapboxes at work; I stand on them a lot as we go through the process of redesigning our web site. One of them is that we need to support our technical community in two ways:
- providing them with information about our systems so they know:
- how to implement them in their specialized environments (creating capability)
- what processes we follow for making decisions or changes (creating trust)
- enabling them to share their extensive information with each other and with us (creating community)
What's interesting is that I get a lot of support for the idea of providing better findability for the information that will create capability. Some aren't sure of the idea of creating community. I think this has two causes. We do have a few in our customer base who like nothing better to take potshots. They lie in wait for the opportunity to arise. The other cause is a fear, I believe, that people will not participate. I'm not too worried--we have good participation on our mailing lists, and I think we can translate that to forums and community generated content.
Where I run into resistance (fear) is creating trust by opening up the black box. We run centralized IT services (network, phone, security, etc.) that others can and often must use. They can also run some of their own services. We have a lot of power, and we can make things difficult for people, oftentimes inadvertently (these usually end up being labeled "communication problems," but that's another post). That makes people upset and more likely to take potshots.
So, we open it up. Listening to our folks complain about the complaints they get and talking to customers tells me that this is what we need to do. As we enter the content phase of the web site redesign project, we will integrate that at several levels of the site--mission level, SLAs, policies, product/service descriptions, and more. Exposing information creates trust.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Amazon.com at the Forefront of Web 2.0
Amazon.com
has been integrating AJAX, tags, blogs, and wikis to their e-commerce website. As with their product reviews, recommendations, and lists, these tools give consumers the ability to add their knowledge and opinions to products. This post on The New Face of Amazon speaks favorably of these innovations, even if Wall St. disagrees.
has been integrating AJAX, tags, blogs, and wikis to their e-commerce website. As with their product reviews, recommendations, and lists, these tools give consumers the ability to add their knowledge and opinions to products. This post on The New Face of Amazon speaks favorably of these innovations, even if Wall St. disagrees.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
What is Web 2.0?
I think I have a definition. Once upon a time, back in the days of IE5 and Netscape Navigator, I gave up on doing much of anything in the browser. It was a nightmare.
So, now, I'm working using AJAX using ruby and prototype and have become a big fan of RESTful
interfaces. All of these technologies use the basic HTTP building blocks. The HTTP error codes are useful, GET vs. POST vs. DELETE is useful. It's all useful. So reading an interview with Sir Tim Berners-Lee of "I invented the web" fame he says some interesting things:
The era when both an open source browser lives up to the web standards and Microsoft isn't screwing it up too badly so people can actually make stuff.
So, now, I'm working using AJAX using ruby and prototype and have become a big fan of RESTful
interfaces. All of these technologies use the basic HTTP building blocks. The HTTP error codes are useful, GET vs. POST vs. DELETE is useful. It's all useful. So reading an interview with Sir Tim Berners-Lee of "I invented the web" fame he says some interesting things:
LANINGHAM: "You know, with Web 2.0, a common explanation out there is Web 1.0 was about connecting computers and making information available; and Web 2 is about connecting people and facilitating new kinds of collaboration. Is that how you see Web 2.0?"
BERNERS-LEE: "Totally not. Web 1.0 was all about connecting people. It was an interactive space, and I think Web 2.0 is of course a piece of jargon, nobody even knows what it means. If Web 2.0 for you is blogs and wikis, then that is people to people. But that was what the Web was supposed to be all along."
So ... really... from a technical point of view, I offer this definition of "Web 2.0":"And in fact, you know, this Web 2.0, quote, it means using the standards which have been produced by all these people working on Web 1.0. It means using the document object model, it means for HTML and SCG and so on, it's using HTTP, so it's building stuff using the Web standards, plus Java script of course.
So Web 2.0 for some people it means moving some of the thinking client side so making it more immediate, but the idea of the Web as interaction between people is really what the Web is. That was what it was designed to be as a collaborative space where people can interact."
The era when both an open source browser lives up to the web standards and Microsoft isn't screwing it up too badly so people can actually make stuff.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
I Knew Someone Was On It
IBM Introduces Social Networking Suite for the Enterprise
(rubs hands together) Now... to convince them to hire the web2.0maven...
(rubs hands together) Now... to convince them to hire the web2.0maven...
Admitting You Are Wrong - It Works!
Jonathan Schwartz never ceases to amaze me in his blog. He's approachable, likable, and puts a face on Sun that makes me want to buy their stuff (a comment many ppl make in the blog on a regular basis). In the same way Jobs's little kid excitement makes you want to go buy the new Apple gadget in a rush of childish enthusiasm, Jonathan makes you feel like dealing with Sun will be an amicable, "friends sitting over coffee at the local coffee shop" deal. He's looking out for you, and he's going to explain Sun's decisions in customer-centric terms. He gives blogging a lot of credit in Sun's turnaround, but it's not just the blogging that does it. Lots of big companies have exec bloggers. Yup you know what I'm saying. Enough said.
So this post: http://blogs.sun.com/jonathan/entry/good_bad_and_brave is an excellent example of a CEO stepping off the podium and engaging the blogosphere. What does he say in this post? Well.... from the post:
"And before you send me the email, yes, I saw the entry written by Matt Mullenweg - and all I can say is... I'm really sorry, Matt. That's not the way Startup Essentials is supposed to work. We screwed up, and you're completely right to suggest if that's the norm, we should kiss goodbye our aspirations of reestablishing our business in the startup community.
If there's anything I can do to win a second chance, I'd like to know. I appreciate your first sentence. "
Sun has a campaign to engage startups and basically, they treated this gentleman VERY poorly. He blogged about it, and Schwartz addressed it in his blog, apoplogized, and one will assume, made it right. One would also assume, whoever dropped the ball in the program will also be fixing their ball dropping issues. Boy I know I'd be shaking in my boots if the CEO had to take one on the chin bc I did a potential customer wrong.
The repliers to this post LOVE what Jonathan said. LOVE it. While they still hold Sun responsible for taking care of their customers, Sun gets a lot of credit for stepping up to the plate and admitting a mistake. The attitude is: "no harm, no foul, just fix it and you're fine." Honesty and trust go a LONG way in any relationship, even business relationships. Yah, I know, hard to believe, but yet... true.
Here's a few comments:
"This blog amazed me enough to want to reply, to communicate, and that's the first step in making me a customer. "
"Thanks for listening to the blogosphere, and thank you for taking time to respond. So many other business leaders could do more of that...."
"A CEO who blogs is rare. A CEO who publicly admits a mistake is priceless."
The rest of the replies are chock full of advice and insight. Some of it very usable for marketing departments, some it not. But all of it showing engaged customers and potential customers.
And that is priceless.
So this post: http://blogs.sun.com/jonathan/entry/good_bad_and_brave is an excellent example of a CEO stepping off the podium and engaging the blogosphere. What does he say in this post? Well.... from the post:
"And before you send me the email, yes, I saw the entry written by Matt Mullenweg - and all I can say is... I'm really sorry, Matt. That's not the way Startup Essentials is supposed to work. We screwed up, and you're completely right to suggest if that's the norm, we should kiss goodbye our aspirations of reestablishing our business in the startup community.
If there's anything I can do to win a second chance, I'd like to know. I appreciate your first sentence. "
Sun has a campaign to engage startups and basically, they treated this gentleman VERY poorly. He blogged about it, and Schwartz addressed it in his blog, apoplogized, and one will assume, made it right. One would also assume, whoever dropped the ball in the program will also be fixing their ball dropping issues. Boy I know I'd be shaking in my boots if the CEO had to take one on the chin bc I did a potential customer wrong.
The repliers to this post LOVE what Jonathan said. LOVE it. While they still hold Sun responsible for taking care of their customers, Sun gets a lot of credit for stepping up to the plate and admitting a mistake. The attitude is: "no harm, no foul, just fix it and you're fine." Honesty and trust go a LONG way in any relationship, even business relationships. Yah, I know, hard to believe, but yet... true.
Here's a few comments:
"This blog amazed me enough to want to reply, to communicate, and that's the first step in making me a customer. "
"Thanks for listening to the blogosphere, and thank you for taking time to respond. So many other business leaders could do more of that...."
"A CEO who blogs is rare. A CEO who publicly admits a mistake is priceless."
The rest of the replies are chock full of advice and insight. Some of it very usable for marketing departments, some it not. But all of it showing engaged customers and potential customers.
And that is priceless.
Monday, January 22, 2007
We'll See About cellsea
My image manipulation needs are fairly basic. If an application can crop, resize, and convert image file types, it would fulfill 80% of my needs. Add the fact that it's a free hosted application and you have a winner.
This weekend, I came across cellsea, an online image manipulation application. Although it's feature-rich in terms of its competitors, it is by no means going to replace Photoshop or GIMP. Yet, that's the beauty of web 2.0 applications -- their simplicity. You don't need thick manuals nor extensive help files to use it. Just about everything is obvious and the feature set is intentionally small. I must admit that both Photoshop and GIMP overwhelm me with features.
This weekend, I came across cellsea, an online image manipulation application. Although it's feature-rich in terms of its competitors, it is by no means going to replace Photoshop or GIMP. Yet, that's the beauty of web 2.0 applications -- their simplicity. You don't need thick manuals nor extensive help files to use it. Just about everything is obvious and the feature set is intentionally small. I must admit that both Photoshop and GIMP overwhelm me with features.
Yeah, the tools matter, but...
The theme of the latest monthly newsletter of my professional society, Intercom, is "Writing and Web 2.0." I'm all excited to read this, especially given this blog.
*splat*
This is my nose running into the big fat wall of disappointment that is this issue. Maybe it's a failing of print media, or that the monthly mag is not directed at the 10-year professional. Maybe technical writers are largely unispired writers in general (I don't believe that, mostly). The first article promised discussion of how the writing process has changed with web 2.0, and then it degenerated, typically, into a discussion of tools. Next article is interesting but it's about taking the FOSS approach to managing your writing toolset, not really about writing at all.
One ray of hope, the podcasting article, written largely to explain basic podcasting concepts (not the hopeful part). The writers are advocating the use of podcasting to capture technical writing expertise, which I like, and they have created a site of podcasts by tech communciators for us. Now this is something I can spend some time exploring.
"Writing and Web 2.0" largely falls short of what their topic can actually provide--ideas from people who really know something, are doing something, or are thinking about things in interesting ways. Talk about the writing and web 2.0.
*splat*
This is my nose running into the big fat wall of disappointment that is this issue. Maybe it's a failing of print media, or that the monthly mag is not directed at the 10-year professional. Maybe technical writers are largely unispired writers in general (I don't believe that, mostly). The first article promised discussion of how the writing process has changed with web 2.0, and then it degenerated, typically, into a discussion of tools. Next article is interesting but it's about taking the FOSS approach to managing your writing toolset, not really about writing at all.
One ray of hope, the podcasting article, written largely to explain basic podcasting concepts (not the hopeful part). The writers are advocating the use of podcasting to capture technical writing expertise, which I like, and they have created a site of podcasts by tech communciators for us. Now this is something I can spend some time exploring.
"Writing and Web 2.0" largely falls short of what their topic can actually provide--ideas from people who really know something, are doing something, or are thinking about things in interesting ways. Talk about the writing and web 2.0.
Friday, January 19, 2007
it's true, i am a woman
I am a woman... but I try not to let that lead me into silly fashion temptation. I am also a techie, and I try not to let that lead me into gadget lust. But, when those two things are paired.... mmm... well...
And so... LG and the Prada Group have conspired against me. I can hold my own against the iPhone (though I hear that MacWorld + iPhone trumped CES + AVN which is actually saying a lot if you know geeks).
So, here it is, the object of my desire:
The Prada phone
It's sleek, sexy and oh so wantable. It actually looks a lot like the iPhone, but it will be available in Europe this Spring -- pre-iPhone. Hmmm.... The hardcore phone lovers who commented on the article seem to think it's nothing special, but well, I guess I'm just a regular ol'consumer when it comes to some things.
And so... LG and the Prada Group have conspired against me. I can hold my own against the iPhone (though I hear that MacWorld + iPhone trumped CES + AVN which is actually saying a lot if you know geeks).
So, here it is, the object of my desire:
The Prada phone
It's sleek, sexy and oh so wantable. It actually looks a lot like the iPhone, but it will be available in Europe this Spring -- pre-iPhone. Hmmm.... The hardcore phone lovers who commented on the article seem to think it's nothing special, but well, I guess I'm just a regular ol'consumer when it comes to some things.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Rich Internet Applications - AJAX Will Dominate
There are two main camps in the Rich Internet Applications arena, Flash and AJAX. While Adobe is Flexing its muscle for universal adoption of Flash as a programming environment, I believe AJAX will win out in the end. Here's why:
1. More gradual learning curve - with AJAX libraries such as prototype and scriptaculous, only a cursory knowledge of Javascript is required. In contrast, ActionScript powers Flash.
2. Widely supported in ASP.NET, Java, Ruby/Rails, PHP Frameworks (CakePHP, Symfony, etc.).
3. Shorter browser loading times. .swf files tend to take more time to download and start.
4. No additional costs to developers (Flash Basic 8 is $399 while Flash Pro 8 is $699).
While Flash does allow you to a create phenomenal website experience, AJAX provides a sufficiently rich experience to win the battle. It's important to note that this is not zero sum game. However, the winner will dictate how we experience the web in the next 3-5 years.
1. More gradual learning curve - with AJAX libraries such as prototype and scriptaculous, only a cursory knowledge of Javascript is required. In contrast, ActionScript powers Flash.
2. Widely supported in ASP.NET, Java, Ruby/Rails, PHP Frameworks (CakePHP, Symfony, etc.).
3. Shorter browser loading times. .swf files tend to take more time to download and start.
4. No additional costs to developers (Flash Basic 8 is $399 while Flash Pro 8 is $699).
While Flash does allow you to a create phenomenal website experience, AJAX provides a sufficiently rich experience to win the battle. It's important to note that this is not zero sum game. However, the winner will dictate how we experience the web in the next 3-5 years.
Quotable...and Readable...
Translation: It's not effective for marketeers to "throw money at the problem" - we're going to have to use our noodles and come up with a way to get in with the in crowd...
Action: Well? You tell me. Here's what I pitched to work:
Technology Marketing 2.0: The Case for a Social Media Strategy
Sunday, January 14, 2007
online collaboration--the cure for everything?
You may or may not know this, but I'm spending my weekends going to business school. We just started our new semester, and my study group did a presentation yesterday entitled: "Improving Environmental Sensing and Interpretation in Your Organization." Basically, it all boils down to: everything in the biz world is moving fast. Lots of information is being exchanged. So, how do you, in a dynamic, dispersed, and often frantic organization - ensure that the right people in your organization have access to the information they need in order to interpret and react to information/changes/etc. in the business environment?
So we talked about who's responsible for gathering the info (everyone really). And they we talked about how to build a culture (through example and reward) so that everyone did feel responsible. Then, we talked about how to disseminate the info. This is where the issue gets problematic. Say you work for a large organization, and you're at a tradeshow cocktail hour and hear some juicy competitive info regarding another team's product. Would you know what to do with it? Would you just disregard it because, well, that's another team? If you did try to pass it on, would that team welcome your input? Would you even know who to tell?
What a perfect place for social media. I can easily imagine my own company's internal "phone book" becoming more like MySpace. Instead of just the generic page with my phone number and address, each employee would have a "profile." I'd list in there all my vitals: contact info, job responsibilities, etc. But the page would also show current projects, teams and interests. What a fantastic way to encourage knowledgeshare and collaboration across large companies. If you wanted to know who's working on that Dept of Defense project up in DC, a quick search would lead you right to them.
Of course, I'm sure I'm not the first person to think of this. I'm certain companies and vendors are already all over the idea... or are they?
So we talked about who's responsible for gathering the info (everyone really). And they we talked about how to build a culture (through example and reward) so that everyone did feel responsible. Then, we talked about how to disseminate the info. This is where the issue gets problematic. Say you work for a large organization, and you're at a tradeshow cocktail hour and hear some juicy competitive info regarding another team's product. Would you know what to do with it? Would you just disregard it because, well, that's another team? If you did try to pass it on, would that team welcome your input? Would you even know who to tell?
What a perfect place for social media. I can easily imagine my own company's internal "phone book" becoming more like MySpace. Instead of just the generic page with my phone number and address, each employee would have a "profile." I'd list in there all my vitals: contact info, job responsibilities, etc. But the page would also show current projects, teams and interests. What a fantastic way to encourage knowledgeshare and collaboration across large companies. If you wanted to know who's working on that Dept of Defense project up in DC, a quick search would lead you right to them.
Of course, I'm sure I'm not the first person to think of this. I'm certain companies and vendors are already all over the idea... or are they?
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Top Web 2.0 Sites
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Basecamp
If you have a need for project management and hate Microsoft Project, Basecamp may be the answer for you. It is a web-based collaboration tool focusing on communication through messages and comments. Of course, Basecamp also offers organizational tools such as milestones, to-dos, file uploads (with versioning), and a simple wiki they call Writeboards. Notifications occur through emails, so you don't have to constantly check the website.
I've been using it successfully for over 5 months now. The beauty of Basecamp lies in its simplicity. Designers, software developers, system administrators, and clients alike have found it intuitive and useful.
To satisfy your inner geek, Basecamp offers RSS feeds for your pojects and an API to build upon their core functionality. I wish I built this tool. More importantly, I wish I had their 1,000,000 users.
I've been using it successfully for over 5 months now. The beauty of Basecamp lies in its simplicity. Designers, software developers, system administrators, and clients alike have found it intuitive and useful.
To satisfy your inner geek, Basecamp offers RSS feeds for your pojects and an API to build upon their core functionality. I wish I built this tool. More importantly, I wish I had their 1,000,000 users.
Building Community, Building Brand
It's a strange thing to start a new blog. Hi everyone (everyone everyone everyone). Ah, the echo of no readers on a new blog. But hopefully we can fix that soon. I've been blogging over on Live Journal for several zillion years, but this blog promises to be more professional and more well... topical: thus the name. So here we go.
Today's tidbit: Toyota has created a "MySpace" like site for hybrid owners.
From the article....
"Toyota's more than 600,000 hybrid owners are very passionate about their vehicles and the reasons they drive them," Gregg Benkendorfer, National Manager of Media Strategy and Digital Marketing for Toyota, said in a prepared statement. "The new community site taps into that excitement by letting users visually represent themselves through graphic art and video."
Brilliant? Not really. It just makes a lot of sense. I can't see people going back there again and again to talk about their cars, but the site will surely generate a lot of buzz and a ton of content and ideas for new campaigns....
Today's tidbit: Toyota has created a "MySpace" like site for hybrid owners.
From the article....
"Toyota's more than 600,000 hybrid owners are very passionate about their vehicles and the reasons they drive them," Gregg Benkendorfer, National Manager of Media Strategy and Digital Marketing for Toyota, said in a prepared statement. "The new community site taps into that excitement by letting users visually represent themselves through graphic art and video."
Brilliant? Not really. It just makes a lot of sense. I can't see people going back there again and again to talk about their cars, but the site will surely generate a lot of buzz and a ton of content and ideas for new campaigns....
Friday, January 05, 2007
About Us
The Web 2.0 Maven contributors, a motley crew of professionals, offer their perspectives on the technologies and processes enabling the democratization of the web. Consisting of a marketing tool, a technical writer/usability expert, and a collection of software geeks, we write about the web 2.0 (r)evolution and its effects on both our professional and personal lives. Web 2.0 Maven serves as a record of our conversations.
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