Enterprise Social Media Experiment – what a mouthful! Essentially how might business usefully gain from having the kinds of consumery tools the blogerati love like Twitter. The scenario described in the video (yes, I did the voice over, yes I’m part of the team, no-it’s not an SAP project and no, I’m not being remunerated) provides an alternative view of how customer support might operate.
It’s a breathless run through because the rules for submitting the project for consideration at DemoJam say the screencast cannot run more than 6 minutes. It also has some technology stuff a tthe end because again, that’s what the rules require.
I’m learning a great deal on this project, not least that community works. I’m not sure what the dynamics are that are contributing to it but it’s one heck of a lot of fun. It is challenging everything I know about how to run projects, what contributes to success and what management needs to do to get out the way and simply let people get on with what they need to do. What about the organization I hear some people yell? What about it? Is there some written law that says there needs to be a formal organization for this type of thing? Isn’t this chaotic I hear others murmur? Sure. But it is a self organizing chaos that…well…it works. Why? Again, I don’t really have any firm answers but I suspect it is something to do with the “screw everything, let’s do it” attitude of the people involved.
This project is already causing waves. I like that.
It’s also raising eyebrows (see vid above) I like that too. Why might I get into something like this? First because I was asked but more important it is because I am seeing how ‘the business’ – the suits if you will, can happily co-exist with the ‘geeks.’ We often hear about suits v geeks. What about suit AND geeks?Finally, I get to work alongside super smart people from the UK, US, Brazil, India, Norway, Austria and Germany. At least that’s where the team comes from right now.
It will be interesting to see where this thing goes. I’m in for the ride. I have a feeling this one is going to be a monster.
The name possibly means “esteemed” or “loved” in Old French.
Sweet

