Enterprise 2.0 Vision
Thursday: May 24, 2007 2:00 PM
One of the missing components of most implementations of Collaborative and Social Software is the responsibility for the success or failure of the effort. That sounds a bit harsh, but regularly, I fail see the components of a vision, mission, metrics, roadmaps, or game plans. It simply goes back to the concept that if the software is loaded on a server then we are done. Unfortunately, that is at best, short sighted. So, what is our vision?
Collaboration and Online Services strives to Be the Premier Provider of Integrated Collaborative Solutions
Now, that has plenty of buzzwords and jargon. Allow me to break it apart into the terms that drive our vision and mission.
First, “Be” is an action based word that drives us to aspire, dream, dedicate and commit to the overarching goal of mass adoption. It’s about getting ourselves to develop a passion that drives us to go beyond average and beyond what is expected. This is not Lake Wobegon, and it takes total commitment to succeed.
“Premier” sets the bar to where we want to be recognized; world class. Our effort in Enterprise Metadata won us two industry awards, 4 patents, and over 100 publications. Clearly, we established ourselves as one of the best-of-the-best. If we did it once then we can do it again, and I want the organization to understand what it takes to be the very best in the world.
“Provider” defines the ownership and responsibility. It comes down to where the buck stops. If we do not succeed then we must be held responsible. We must burn the ships and not allow escape from the responsibility. This is where we must be the leader in the organization and become the subject matter experts. The organization is looking to you to stand up and be counted.
“Integrated” understands that collaboration is a complete eco-system of tools, infrastructure, products, services, solutions, client-support, partners, suppliers, customers, and even competitors. All of this must come together into one cohesive engine.
“Collaborative” solutions includes both collaborative applications and social software. We may even add the situational applications that can be constructed with workflow within the collaborative space as well as Intranet sites which can be build by setting anonymous access to readership.
Finally, “Solutions” is a term used to describe the highest level value that we can obtain. Sharepoint, Social Text, Connections, MediaWiki are all tools which, along with the infrastructure, is the foundation by which the other elements can be built upon. Products are things you can do with the tool such has group collaboration, meeting notes, product development, professional branding, etc. These functional components describe where the value can be created and sustain over the long haul. Services are value-add efforts that enhance the user experience. These might include configuration, coaching, training, use cases, and many others. Clearly, when you can build a portfolio of products and services, you will succeed.
I like to think about Home Depot with this paradigm. Sure, a hammer is a hammer but they carry a huge collection where each hammer has a distinct use. They add services such has how-to sessions, weekend kid-programs, and construction library that helps you understand the “how”. They are now moving into solutions where they will built that shed for you, install those windows, or even put in that tile floor. They have become a solution provider and so should we.
One of the missing components of most implementations of Collaborative and Social Software is the responsibility for the success or failure of the effort. That sounds a bit harsh, but regularly, I fail see the components of a vision, mission, metrics, roadmaps, or game plans. It simply goes back to the concept that if the software is loaded on a server then we are done. Unfortunately, that is at best, short sighted. So, what is our vision?
Collaboration and Online Services strives to Be the Premier Provider of Integrated Collaborative Solutions
Now, that has plenty of buzzwords and jargon. Allow me to break it apart into the terms that drive our vision and mission.
First, “Be” is an action based word that drives us to aspire, dream, dedicate and commit to the overarching goal of mass adoption. It’s about getting ourselves to develop a passion that drives us to go beyond average and beyond what is expected. This is not Lake Wobegon, and it takes total commitment to succeed.
“Premier” sets the bar to where we want to be recognized; world class. Our effort in Enterprise Metadata won us two industry awards, 4 patents, and over 100 publications. Clearly, we established ourselves as one of the best-of-the-best. If we did it once then we can do it again, and I want the organization to understand what it takes to be the very best in the world.
“Provider” defines the ownership and responsibility. It comes down to where the buck stops. If we do not succeed then we must be held responsible. We must burn the ships and not allow escape from the responsibility. This is where we must be the leader in the organization and become the subject matter experts. The organization is looking to you to stand up and be counted.
“Integrated” understands that collaboration is a complete eco-system of tools, infrastructure, products, services, solutions, client-support, partners, suppliers, customers, and even competitors. All of this must come together into one cohesive engine.
“Collaborative” solutions includes both collaborative applications and social software. We may even add the situational applications that can be constructed with workflow within the collaborative space as well as Intranet sites which can be build by setting anonymous access to readership.
Finally, “Solutions” is a term used to describe the highest level value that we can obtain. Sharepoint, Social Text, Connections, MediaWiki are all tools which, along with the infrastructure, is the foundation by which the other elements can be built upon. Products are things you can do with the tool such has group collaboration, meeting notes, product development, professional branding, etc. These functional components describe where the value can be created and sustain over the long haul. Services are value-add efforts that enhance the user experience. These might include configuration, coaching, training, use cases, and many others. Clearly, when you can build a portfolio of products and services, you will succeed.
I like to think about Home Depot with this paradigm. Sure, a hammer is a hammer but they carry a huge collection where each hammer has a distinct use. They add services such has how-to sessions, weekend kid-programs, and construction library that helps you understand the “how”. They are now moving into solutions where they will built that shed for you, install those windows, or even put in that tile floor. They have become a solution provider and so should we.
