Gary Vaughan's Collaboration Times

"Collaboration TechTalk" Episodes

Listen to internet radio with Gary Vaughan on Blog Talk Radio

"Five Top Add-ons for SharePoint" Podcast Interview

Our thanks to Terry Simpson, Solutions Architect, SusQTech, for an excellent interview on April 19 on the subject of "Five Top Add-ons for SharePoint". Here is a podcast link to this BlogTalkRadio show.
 
Key topics covered were the benefits of selectively applying add-on software even with the built-in power of SP 2010, a case example on their application, and recommendation of three specific tools (plus shorter comments on tools for migration and analytics):

-http://www.nintex.com (work flow)

-http://www.shareplusapp.com/ (site management in-house)

-http://store.bamboosolutions.com/bamboomainweb/ (project management and other applications).

In terms of cost, Nintex was at the higher end, Bamboo in the middle, while SharePlus is either free or $20 for a premier download.

Feel free to consult these links for further info, as well as Terry at his Twitter feed @TerryDSimpson for further questions or a trial download of the work flow app.
 
Also covered was SusQtech's upcoming Sharepoint.org conference in Reston, Va. April 29-May 2. See this link (www.sharepointconference.org) for conference details and a last chance to register (listeners may apply this promotional code to get a 15% discount:  ShareCon15).

My thanks to all those tuning in to this episode of Collaboration TechTalk. Any questions on the Show in general are welcome at my email address at glvconsulting@hotmail.com, or Twitter @glvaughan.

Upcoming Tech@State

Looks like another interesting Tech@State event to be held at the George Washington University early next month.  The topic is Real Time Awareness, and the keynote speaker will be Craig Fugate, FEMA Administrator.  The event is divided into a conference on February 3 and an unconference on February 4.

Judging from past such events, this should be very worthwhile - I also plan to attend.  The events are free and open to the public, but seats tend to go fast.  Check out the Tech@State site for further details on the agenda, other speakers and how to register.

 

"How to Manage Social Media" Presentations

My thanks to Joel Sarfati, Director of 40 Plus of Greater Washington D.C. and Professor Ray Kimball of Montgomery College's TechLeap Program for inviting me to give presentations on "How to Manage Social Media for Busy Professionals" last week.  Both events had great audiences, and I appreciated the vigorous question-and-answer sessions.

Two slide decks share my "system" for organizing various social media tools (LinkedIn, Twitter, TypePad Blog, Govloop and BlogTalkRadio) in pursuit of my professional career development and networking goals in the IT field.  I also discuss and demo the use of Facebook, Skype, YouTube, Delicious bookmarking, and Hootsuite.  I manage all these social media apps through a mix of hotmail alerts (esp. for discussion group postings), cross-site postings, and a Tweetdeck dashboard.  A centerpiece of my approach is to use LinkedIn as my main home page (see my profile), with links to other tools.  LinkedIn is also a repository for key work samples and presentations on Box, an integrated document-sharing application.

The main goal in using these tools is to establish a "living professional presence" on the Web, which is nurtured by occasional BlogTalkRadio interviews with D.C. area SharePoint, open source and other IT experts; narrative blog posts and discussion entries; and more frequent, short Twitter messages.  It is helpful to think of this as a "marketing" exercise in two senses:  first, one is marketing one's skills and capabilities on the web; second, one is tapping market intelligence on new technology trends, career opportunities and resources. 

I assume basically three roles in the personal professional application of social media:  (a) as a publisher of content, whether sharing a resume, presentation, or a narrative blog post; (b) as a reader or consumer of others' content; and (c) as a participant interacting with peers via group discussions, status updates, and tweets.  In my experience, the key to successfully applying this system is tight management of the sites or data streams that one monitors and interacts with.  Ideally, I try to track my Twitter stream and discussion groups daily for about an hour (with a family break on weekends!), plus the option of monitoring this traffic while commuting or otherwise "on the go" via 4G Smart phone.

The presentations contain real examples in applying these tools, explore how to measure social media "traffic", and assess security, privacy and other issues.  Also discussed is the need to build a social media presence on a solid prior foundation of traditional personal networking, clear job goals, and a detailed resume.  Another concept that may be useful in shaping both your personal and online presence is that of "branding."  In closing, the slide decks list a number of articles, how-to examples, books and other resources to help expand your use of social media for professional development, plus a few tips on how to get started.

I have enjoyed populating and experimenting with this social media system over the past year, and hope that these presentation decks will be of general interest, not only to IT specialists, but to any professionals who hope to harness social media for career development:

• 40 Plus Presentation (longer, and with more narrative detail)
• TechLeap Presentation (shorter, with more focus on tool demos)

  Please address any comments or questions to me either via LinkedIn messages, or via Twitter @glvaughan.

Web Radio and Podast Options Summary

My thanks again to Jeff Porter for sharing his insights on our June 30 Collaboration TechTalk Show “Web Radio and Podcast Options” (available as a podcast via this BlogTalkRadio link). Jeff is owner of Ausmerica Business Development Network www.ausmerica.com and Management Analyst with the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service.  He also helps independent authors publish Audiobooks and assists bloggers in creating podcasts from their existing content. Writers often aren’t interested in narrating their work, and he helps find the right narrator or host. You can find him at www.Audiblize.com

Below is a listing of the web resource links that Jeff mentioned during the Show, followed by my own experience and tips on how to best use BlogTalkRadio. 

First, here is a list of Jeff’s links on podcasting, audio and other collaboration resources :

-       Skype – Voice Comm’s / IM          

                            
-       PrettyMay Recorder   - Skype call recorder              

-       FreeConferenceCall.com – Conference Bridge         

·         Mikogo – Screen Sharing                                           

-         Google  - Apps / Email / Documents / Sites /

·        Tungle  Calendaring/Scheduling                                   

·         Box.Net          - File Sharing

·         Talkshoe.com – (podcast hosting) Conference Bridge, Chat Board, Call Screening 

·         Evernote          Screen Clipping / Notes

·         Snagit / Camtasia        Screen Capture            

·         Audible.com – Audiobooks – Sanity saver to overcome the isolation factor of working alone.

·         Cliff Ravenscraft (Podcast Answerman) a great resource for new and experienced podcasters:   

Second, here are my impressions and tips on BlogTalkRadio based on roughly a year’s experience:

PROs:

-          Easy to use web interface

-          Both live and podcast renditions of your Show

-          Part of a larger BlogTalkRadio Community, and with their tech support which is fairly prompt

-          Built in feedback to Shows through live chat, telephone or  comments

-          Convenience in that guests can participate via landline, cell phone or Skype.

-          The maximum, free 30 minute show time seems about right for a professional interview

CONs:

-          Very occasionally a call will drop during an interview, but this is solvable by having the guest call back in.

-          Sound quality is adequate, but not as good as more professional audio options.

-          While there are many business and professional shows on BlogTalkRadio, there are also a lot of off-beat shows and opinion.

-          BlogTalkRadio has obligatory advance advertising clips before a listener can hear your show.

TIPS:

-          Draft and go over a rough script by phone with your guest before the Show.  It will help the interview go more smoothly.  Also ask the guest to review your BTR Show description before posting.

-          Start inviting as guests colleagues you know, and later branch out to other experts you may only know virtually

-          Some advance rehearsal of your Show opening and script is helpful.  The cleaner delivery the better.

-          If possible, promote the Show widely on social media, and ideally with the help of blogs, distribution lists, and online discussion groups in which the expert guest is involved.

-          I saw no need for my own audio clip at the beginning of the Show, but a customized image for the Show is desirable:  perhaps just your photo edited with the Show title and logo.

-          Ideally, a summary of the Show and any reference links and resources should be posted to your blog soon after the Show airs.

-          Try and maintain a strict discipline of airing shows in a set pattern (mine is every 2-3 weeks), and stick with the exact Show time and date once you announce and promote it.  Ideally, line up guests and shows at least a couple in advance so that you can always announce the next show at any given broadcast.

-          With a lively guest, a one-on-one interview is best given time available, but two guests is also doable.  I would not go with more than two guests.

 

SharePoint Conference... and Podcast Alerts!

Attention SharePoint and Podcast Enthusiasts!...

Two alerts today to sign up for the following:

-  Tune into my BlogTalkRadio Show on "Web Radio and Podcast Options".  You can either catch this live at 6:00 PM ET later today, or listen to it subsequently as a podcast - see this link for further info and access. 

-  SharePoint Saturday the Conference in Washington D.C. August 11-13.  A great buy at $39 (the early bird rate until COB today!), register for what looks to be an outstanding event.  I plan to attend, and hope to see many of my SharePoint colleagues there.

 

 

SharePoint and Management Podcast - Join our Discussion on June 10!

Format:  In the next edition of my BlogTalkRadio show (“Collaboration TechTalk") this Friday, June 10th at 7:30 A.M. ET, I (Gary Vaughan) will be the sole speaker for about 15 min, with the remaining 15 min open to comments/questions via BTR chat, telephone line to BTR, or prior to the show via Twitter @glvaughan, LinkedIn messages, or my email at glvconsulting@hotmail.com.  Best "live" connections are via BTR chat or call-in number at (347) 857-2878.

Podcast Synopsis:  This show will sum up my management experience in implementing SharePoint with the federal government, as well as lessons learned from other organizations and from D.C. area SharePoint user conferences.  I will address such questions as:  What is the difference between technical and more user-focused SharePoint governance?  How is a program management approach useful in guiding a SharePoint implementation, esp. for a large enterprise?  What characteristics of SharePoint collaboration technology favor a more agile vs. a more traditional and structured project management methodology?  

Speaker Bio: I am a Senior SharePoint  Advisor with Worldwide Information Network Services, Inc. in Washington D.C.  I am also a certified Project Management Professional, and had a previous career as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Agency for International Development. 

Logistics Info:  For the site to interact via Chat on June 10th, info on my other shows, and more general background on BlogTalkRadio, see:   http://www.blogtalkradio.com/collaborationtechtalk/2011/06/10/sharepoint-governance-a-project-management-perspective

ECM Helps Control the Information Explosion

Survey data indicates that a majority of organizations are unhappy with their information systems, yet, ironically some 90% consider managing online information as critical to their future!  With the present explosion of social media and other forms of online information, generation of data is outpacing our capability to manage it.  Hence the value of an analytical framework such as Enterprise Content Management (ECM) to help both clients and consultants get this situation more under control. 

Last April I attended a one-day AIIM ECM Practitioner workshop in Washington D.C., and thought that the course's collection of methodologies and examples was very useful in my SharePoint program management and user adoption work in the public sector.  I found that the ECM approach put SharePoint into a broader and logical framework of user expectations, competing/complementary tools, and integration strategies.  Steve Weissman was an experienced and insightful instructor, and he had a light and entertaining way of teaching the AIIM course which made the day go fast.  See also Steve’s blog at:  http://blog.hollygroup.com/

AIIM provides the following definition of ECM:  "strategies, methods and tools used to capture, manage, store, preserve, and deliver content and documents related to key organization processes.”    In applying ECM to business needs, it may be helpful to use Marchand’s Strategic Information Alignment Framework (see diagram), with end goals of reducing costs, adding value, minimizing risks and reacting a new reality.

Key ECM technologies and functionality consist of the following:  document management, electronic records management, workflow, imaging, collaboration, web content management, content security, search and browsing.  The information-sharing and access benefits in applying a sound ECM strategy include both financial and otherwise quantifiable benefits, as well as non-quantifiable or intangible benefits.  Specific examples here include fewer lost documents, enhanced findability of documents, better management of content processes, and general job enrichment.  Information management benefits include disaster recovery and backup, and improved security.

AIIM offers four principles to help guide ECM strategies for the future:  "embrace the asset revolution; build my work my way; deliver peer-to-peer value; and develop extreme leaders."  For further information on AIIM and its course offerings, see www.aiim.org.

 

The Case for Choosing Open Source Collaboration Technology

Tomorrow, Friday, May 20 at 8:00 A.M. Eastern Time I will be interviewing Kurt Voelker, CTO with ForumOne, a digital communications firm based in Alexandria, Virginia on my Web Radio show 'Collaboration TechTalk."  The topic will be "The Case for Choosing Open Source Collaboration Technology."

ForumOne provides internet strategy, online community and collaboration, user experience and design, and innovative website development for non-profits in health, education, the environment, and international development.

In our interview we will explore what circumstances make a compelling case for an organization to adopt collaboration technology in whole or in part.  What are the costs and benefits in using open source vs. proprietary collaboration technology?  What are some specific tools that ForumOne recommends - e.g. Drupal Commons and Open Atrium -  and how do they "stack up" to widely known vendor apps such as SharePoint in terms of power, useability and support?  Finally, Kurt will highlight upcoming ForumOne events and web resources that listeners might find useful to learn more about this topic.

Hope some of you can join us!  Details for accessing the program (either live or as a later podcast) at this BlogTalkRadio announcement link, or listeners welcome to send me questions via Twitter @glvaughan.

 

"Driving SharePoint Adoption"

My thanks to Portal Solutions CEO Daniel Cohen-Dumani and Marketing Director Joan Muschamp for today's excellent "Collaboration TechTalk" discussion on this topic.  If you missed the live show, you can catch the BlogTalkRadio recording on the web at this link.

Key points during the program included the difference between data and useful information, the utility of "knowledge optimization", and technical and business challenges to user adoption.  The discussion also addressed what factors, given this user adoption perspective, make for a successful SharePoint implementation.  The program closed with announcement of Portal Solution's UX/Usability webinars on April 20 and May 11, and their in-person program on May 18 to discuss the impact that search can have on knowledge management.  For further information on these topics and programs, go to:   http://www.portalsolutions.net

Please join us for the next "Collaboration TechTalk" Show on Friday, May 6 at 8:00 A.M. EST as I interview  guest experts from Syntergy on the topic of network performance and SharePoint.

 

April 8 Web Radio Interview on "Driving User Adoption of SharePoint"

Please join me as I interview on "Collaboration TechTalk" Portal Solutions CEO Daniel Cohen-Dumani on how best to drive user adoption of SharePoint.

The interview will take place this Friday, April 8, 8:00 - 8:30 AM Eastern Time.  You may either listen live or to a later recording at this link.  Questions just prior or during the show are welcome to me via twitter:  @glvaughan.

This is part of my continuing experiment with BlogTalkTadio as a simple, low cost and engaging tool to dialogue with Washington D.C. area experts in project and knowledge management, social media and SharePoint.  I would also be happy to answer anyone's questions on what I have learned in using the tool to date.

Thanks for your attention,

Gary