Effective online collaboration with Michael Sampson
Posted by webmaster 24 July 2008
On July 23 the CIN, in partnership with the Melb KMLF an the KM Round Table, presented Michael Sampson speaking on the some of the challenges and strategies associated with collaborating in an online environment.
The session covered four main themes:
How do you get your IT and corporate communications people to support social software ? Given these new tools can be somewhat threatening to current practice and that they intrude on the traditional IT / Comms gatekeeping functions, the best way to go about things is with due process. This can be done by finding ways to positively highlight how the new tools can do some of the current things in a more efficient or cost effective way. An understanding of these groups current priorities will also allow productive examples to be provided and increased discussion in terms of moving ahead.
How do you get the best out of the new social media tools ? The very best means is to apply the tools to pressing business problems so that the outcomes are apparent and greater support is forthcoming. You need to be aware also that some will like the tools and others will not, therefore people will require a base level of knowledge and understanding of the new technology so they are comfortable with it.
What do you do when your new tool is not being used ? Ensure that there is benefit for the users in doing so. Examine whether or not the tool you are using is critical and useful to the organisation, or is it just nice to have. Find out who isn’t using the tool and why not. Establish a shared vision of the use and and the benefits of the use so all are on the same page.
How do you introduce a collaborative tool like Microsoft’s “SharePoint” into your organisation ? You can use the “throw it over the fence” philosophy, i.e. develop it and roll it out on an unsuspecting audience (this IT strategy has a familiar ring!) or you can “get over the fence” with the product and go and work with the end users. This model ensures greater understanding uptake and application.
For those wishing to see Michael’s presentation from the evening, click here.
Thanks to Stuart French for the Mind Map he made during the session which is attached: ZKMLF 23-Jul-2008 Michael Sampson Collaboration.jpg and many thanks to Michael for his time and expertise and we look forward to future collaborations.
Michael’s blog has now also been included into our blogroll at left.
July 24th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Thanks for the great night. Michael is a good presenter with a passion for making collaboration happen. This is refreshing to see from somebody not aligned with any particular product or company.
It’s easy to join in the hype when it’s part of your job description but Michael’s genuine enthusiasm for Enterprise 2.0, both the benefits and the pitfalls, made it a very rewarding night.
July 24th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Another great session! Michael provided a great presentation balancing the needs of users, technology and businesses to strive for balance in the delivery of potentially nifty communication tools. Inspiring, informative and entertaining.
Thanks VPSCIN.
July 24th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
A really good session on collaborating online and working together which was role modelled particularly well given that it was a collaboration between three different networks that got Michael’s session up and running.
Good to see the government sector working with other networks productively – there is some hope for us yet!
I came away with the constant reminders to keep top of mind day in day out – “Am I modelling knowledge sharing with others?” & “Am I being a collaborative individual?”
July 25th, 2008 at 2:14 am
[...] – about 60 or so there! It seemed that everyone enjoyed it, and there is a great detailed report on the VPS-CIN site. The full slide pack is available there as [...]
July 25th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
It was a very valuable session with something in it for everyone. Michael shared with us some thought provoking ideas with a great sense of humour. It was also great to see the audience participate so much in the discussion and ask so many questions towards the end.
July 25th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Though due process method made a lot of sense, I must admit that the bloodshed option really appeals to me.
Many thanks to Michael for an enlightening session and to the participants for the enthusiastic participation.
August 6th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Thanks for your comments – Stuart, Pip & Scott !
We have a set of KM method cards for you.
Frank
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:05 pm
[...] the KMLF session – a bit hard to say more than Frank has already written at [...]
July 31st, 2009 at 9:03 pm
[...] collaboration expert, Michael Sampson from New Zealand — who spoke at a VPSCIN seminar last July, and is the author of Seamless Teamwork (Microsoft Press) — has just self-published a new [...]