Running Pilot Project :-)

_Hotels_Map_Reykjavik_m1
Originally uploaded by pntphoto

Running pilot project.........
You have to do everything below (and much more) just by YOURSELF:

listen to users
generate idea
provide design (useful, not cool)
develop everything
test (it's VERY IMPORTANT)
provide documentation for users
provide training, if necessary
analyze results
prioritize
be polite
be agile
listen to users (again and again)
document everything (wiki)

"Twittering" in Enterprise - 2

After one year of micro-blogging in our department, I brought Russian style "hard bagels" to celebrate . Point of celebration? Micro-blogging in work environment with only 30-35 potential participants is useful, and after one year and about 900 posts, still alive :-)
See my blog post about this: http://pnt-blog.blogspot.com/2008/05/twittering-in-enterprise.html

Actually, there were other goals. "Hard bagels" have been served in floor kitchen, so people from other departments could enjoy them. Also I was curious how many people (if any) would ask us about our "twitter".
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pntphoto/2481294834/in/photostream/

Hour or so later unexpected things started to happen - posts directly on the bagel box.
First post: "IGNORING". Ignoring "Hard bagels"? I don't think so - they were pretty tasty. Ignoring our "twitter"? Ignoring whole idea of sharing? OK......
A little bit later - second post. Link to one of the Beatnik Turtle songs, probably somehow related to the fact of ignorance :-)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pntphoto/2481295214/in/photostream/

I think it's just great that people had something to express about the subject.
This IGNORING individual actually has not ignored :-) . He/she POSTED something to let others know about his/her opinion, whatever opinion is.... :-)

Going back to my goals: one person from other departments asked for access to our "twitter".

My blog post about "Twittering" in Enterprise:
http://pnt-blog.blogspot.com/2008/05/twittering-in-enterprise.html

"Twittering" in Enterprise

One year ago we (3 guys from one of the groups in our department) started “something-like-twitter”. We didn’t have any specific goal, just wanted to try how idea of micro-blogging could survive in work environment with very limited amount of potential participants (something around 30-35 people).
It took almost no time to set simple SharePoint list, and first post has appeared. There was no question “What are you doing?”, there were no “friends” and “followers”. Only available options: post and get notifications (RSS or email alert – both provided by SharePoint). From beginning we decided not to tell anyone, we wanted to create initial content, so new participants (if any) would see something (instead of blank page). Plan: “Let see in 3 weeks” . We posted interesting links, question to each other, notes about current projects, etc. To our surprise it was useful even for 3 people.
Two weeks later we have been discovered through our intranet search – and we’ve got 4^th participant (post content looked interesting to him). At this point we’ve sent email to everyone in department about our “something-like-twitter”. Nobody joined.
Three more weeks later we’ve got 5^th participant. After our email she started to read posts, and at some point started to post herself (“this was so 2 weeks ago... i know of this technology but i thought it was a bit "stalkerish".. TRG Twitter just rolls off the tongue. ”).
And so on, and so on (“so on” still within 30-35 people department).
During one year 17 people posted at least once. However, most of content have been created by 5-7 participants. We’ve got about 900 posts.
What is in content:
-- interesting links and other internet findings (somehow technology related);
-- very few posts about current projects;
-- general notes, opinions, etc.
-- several discussions started there, and have been moved to email or in-person conversations (where you can put longer content );
-- very few “What I’m doing now” info;
-- blog posts announcements;
-- jokes and links to funny stories/photos/videos;

Conclusions:
-- micro-blogging is useful even with very limited amount of potential participants;
-- group of enthusiasts is “mast have” condition;
-- initial content (I prefer “Engaging content”) is extremely important.

Public health survey

public health survey
Originally uploaded by pntphoto

On my walk to vegan store (to get rejuvelac) I've been asked to participate in survey conducted by University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health. Quite interesting combination of questions: from safety of water activities in Chicago river to gastroenterology to contact lenses... Best part - 15 dollars gift card and nice T-shirt at the end :-)

San Jose airport and yoga

See on Flickr

Spotted this yesterday in San Jose airport, on my way back to Chicago.
This lady looked much more comfortable than most of other laptop users in the airport (sitting on the floor in inconvenient poses, sitting in the airport chairs which are not exactly designed for people with laptops, etc.).
I think she practices yoga, and looks like yoga training and yoga equipment (yoga brick in this case) are helpful!

San Jose

ODC 2008 begins tomorrow, so today I had several hours to walk around. Weather was just great, 60++ F, sunny, very nice. I got my shorts, sandals and camera, and started to enjoy life.
Streets almost empty. Beautiful St. Joseph cathedral - white on bright blue sky background. Cathedral gift shop - many religious souvenirs, religious and classical music. Very interesting, unusual, modern-design cross (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pntphoto/2253465607/). Very polite man agreed that cross is quite unusual and explained that cross is from El Salvador (“…there are many interesting things from El Salvador… ”). I asked how far is downtown (crowd, troops of tourists, traffic, etc., etc., etc.). Man in the store looked at me silently for approximately 12 seconds. Answer: “You ARE in downtown. Right in the middle….” Yes…… OK…... February, definitely off-season.
Streets of San Jose look nice, but there are not so many really distinctive buildings (my very subjective possibly wrong opinion just after several hours in the city). Really great City Hall, Beautiful example of modern architecture.
Went to the Art Museum. Exhibition of Goya and Picasso graphics – absolutely great. Three chandeliers by Dale Chihuly in the museum lobby, very similar to chandelier which I’ve seen in Columbus, IN visitors center (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pntphoto/2137283494/in/set-72157603417353853/).
Little vegan café. Two vegetarians with tattoo all around the visible parts of their bodies (arms, elbows, shoulders, necks, etc.) sit in the corner. I got green tea and two healthy vegan deserts. Very tasty.
From all possible directions ladies and gentlemen are heading to hotel. Crowd of limos, tuxedoes and very nice evening dresses. Soft piano music in the lobby: Fransis Lai, Michael Legrand, “Stranger of the Night”….. Smell of Chanel #5 and/or something else very nice, all around the hotel lobby. My shorts, sandals, backpack and camera look not exactly……. I ‘m moving to my room and now I’m blogging about my first ½ of day in San Jose, California.

What else?..... More than 100 photos have been taken. Hope to upload them to Flickr soon.

Social Networks Surprises

Recently I registered on www.odnoklassniki.ru (it's russian clone of www.classmates.com).
Of course, found some of my high school and college classmates. It was great to exchange messages with people who I've not seen many (MANY) years, very positive emotions.
My last name (Trebukov) is not very common in Russia and Ukraine, I've never met anybody with last name who is not known relative. Just today another Trebukov contacted me through odnoklassniki.ru, absolutely unknown for me person from Russia. Would be very interesting to "investigate" possible connections. Social Networks definitely work!

Poor news coverage

Colleague from Bogota has sent those photos:

http://img249.imageshack.us/my.php?image=marcha05jb2.jpg

http://img176.imageshack.us/my.php?image=marcha10qb1.jpg

http://img167.imageshack.us/my.php?image=marcha16nj6.jpg

http://img292.imageshack.us/my.php?image=marcha20xb4.jpg

10 millions Colombians (25% of country population) marched against drug cartels and against terrorism in Colombia. Quite amazing. It was four days ago.
I don't remember any mentioning in international news.

Starting blogging again

Third attempt to start blog........ Lets try to keep blog alive this time...