Comments on: Sowing seeds: Common objections to technology evangelism for collaborative tools http://sachachua.com/wp/2008/07/07/sowing-seeds-common-objections-to-technology-evangelism-for-collaborative-tools/ I help people connect through blogs, wikis, other Web 2.0 tools. I'm also writing a book about Emacs. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:54:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Jeffrey A. Aborot http://sachachua.com/wp/2008/07/07/sowing-seeds-common-objections-to-technology-evangelism-for-collaborative-tools/comment-page-1/#comment-38136 Jeffrey A. Aborot Thu, 10 Jul 2008 01:46:21 +0000 http://sachachua.com/wp/?p=4943#comment-38136 Yep, these points are true. Good thing for my case, I am working with a small team. Technovangelism is ain't that hard to do in my case. Whenever I or any of my teammates have a new idea or tool that we want other people from the group to try out, we would try it out first and then come up with a list of pros and cons of using that new tool or idea compared to the one we are currently using. This would serve as a proof that we really know what we are evangelizing about, because we tried it firsthand. Then a meeting would be called. With the priorities of the group in mind, each one of us will be weighing things out, asking the questions: Would shifting to the new idea or tool really make a difference? Would it really make things faster? How about the learning curve? What about the prerequisites of learning the new idea or tool? Or is it an overkill to shift to that one? Or are we fine with the current one we are using, saying "This is what works for us so let it stay" (we is what I hate to hear, hehe)? These are just some of the questions we would be asking ourselves. Anyway, thanks for the post miss sacha. Keep on technovangelizing :] Yep, these points are true. Good thing for my case, I am working with a small team. Technovangelism is ain't that hard to do in my case. Whenever I or any of my teammates have a new idea or tool that we want other people from the group to try out, we would try it out first and then come up with a list of pros and cons of using that new tool or idea compared to the one we are currently using. This would serve as a proof that we really know what we are evangelizing about, because we tried it firsthand. Then a meeting would be called. With the priorities of the group in mind, each one of us will be weighing things out, asking the questions:
Would shifting to the new idea or tool really make a difference?
Would it really make things faster?
How about the learning curve?
What about the prerequisites of learning the new idea or tool?
Or is it an overkill to shift to that one?
Or are we fine with the current one we are using, saying "This is what works for us so let it stay" (we is what I hate to hear, hehe)?
These are just some of the questions we would be asking ourselves.

Anyway, thanks for the post miss sacha. Keep on technovangelizing :]

]]> By: Mikael Haglund http://sachachua.com/wp/2008/07/07/sowing-seeds-common-objections-to-technology-evangelism-for-collaborative-tools/comment-page-1/#comment-38020 Mikael Haglund Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:22:01 +0000 http://sachachua.com/wp/?p=4943#comment-38020 Sacha, I think you're missing one qualification: I hope you are mostly talking about productivity enhancing social tools in this post. We want to see those accepted faster and wider, and any good strategy sharing is welcome. But in general, some objections some of the times are valid. Systems that don't benefit the user will always have a really hard time - and they should. If you get push-back when you try to get users to embrace a poorly designed administrative system that mostly adds overhead to the individual for the sake of "management and control", then it is the system's fault and not the users'. Management and control should be emergent and not the main purpose of say e.g. a CRM system :-) That said, one way of forcing users is to remove older alternatives. To phase them out quickly. Like the move from ICT to Sametime 7.5.1. Sacha, I think you're missing one qualification: I hope you are mostly talking about productivity enhancing social tools in this post. We want to see those accepted faster and wider, and any good strategy sharing is welcome.
But in general, some objections some of the times are valid. Systems that don't benefit the user will always have a really hard time - and they should. If you get push-back when you try to get users to embrace a poorly designed administrative system that mostly adds overhead to the individual for the sake of "management and control", then it is the system's fault and not the users'. Management and control should be emergent and not the main purpose of say e.g. a CRM system :-)

That said, one way of forcing users is to remove older alternatives. To phase them out quickly. Like the move from ICT to Sametime 7.5.1.

]]> By: Helena Lindh http://sachachua.com/wp/2008/07/07/sowing-seeds-common-objections-to-technology-evangelism-for-collaborative-tools/comment-page-1/#comment-38013 Helena Lindh Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:26:06 +0000 http://sachachua.com/wp/?p=4943#comment-38013 Oh- it's so true. And another one that I keep hearing is "Oh, this probably works for you who has the skills and the time, but I have to focus on my REAL job". ;) Oh- it's so true. And another one that I keep hearing is "Oh, this probably works for you who has the skills and the time, but I have to focus on my REAL job". ;)

]]> By: Rex Lee http://sachachua.com/wp/2008/07/07/sowing-seeds-common-objections-to-technology-evangelism-for-collaborative-tools/comment-page-1/#comment-37946 Rex Lee Wed, 09 Jul 2008 03:27:12 +0000 http://sachachua.com/wp/?p=4943#comment-37946 Thanks for the post Sacha. Your first point, "I am happy with the existing tools" , really means one of three things to me 1. "I don't see the benefit" 2. "I don't believe in the benefit" 3. "I don't value the benefit" Unfortunately, it's not just the individrual you are trying to influence. But it many cases it's the processes, culture, and what we've previously considered "sound management discipline". Clayton Christensen has a great way of talking about how Companies struggle to implement new technologies until their customers and shareholders want them and by then it's too late. #1 might be addressed with useful anecdotal stories, and possibly some calculations but will often lead to #2 anyways. A powerful aid for the evangelist is "simplicity". Understanding the potential of collaborative tools based on the diversity of definitions and hype can be a tough thing. #2 is much tougher to overcome. The request for proof in most large scale risk averse companies is tough enough, but when weighed against positive showing ROI on other investments that compete for the same resources, you really have a tough fight. Skepticism in fractional productivity savings, or applicabiliy of anecdotes are usually encountered. #3 Is also very tough. Guy Kawasaki, has some good illustrations (i.e. Ice Farmers to Refrigerators) on the topic of innovation "curve jumping" and demonstrates that very few companies are able to "jump the curve" and think about things in a completely different way. What if wasn't just one person. What if it's 90% of the employee base that says something like, "well that may be a benefit but we don't need it". Evangelizing is not an easy role in these still early days of social computing & E2.0 BUT it is extremely rewarding when there is succees. http://rexsthoughtspot.blogspot.com/2008/03/keeping-faith-e20-evangelist.html Thanks for the post Sacha.

Your first point, "I am happy with the existing tools" , really means one of three things to me

1. "I don't see the benefit"
2. "I don't believe in the benefit"
3. "I don't value the benefit"

Unfortunately, it's not just the individrual you are trying to influence. But it many cases it's the processes, culture, and what we've previously considered "sound management discipline". Clayton Christensen has a great way of talking about how Companies struggle to implement new technologies until their customers and shareholders want them and by then it's too late.

#1 might be addressed with useful anecdotal stories, and possibly some calculations but will often lead to #2 anyways. A powerful aid for the evangelist is "simplicity". Understanding the potential of collaborative tools based on the diversity of definitions and hype can be a tough thing.

#2 is much tougher to overcome. The request for proof in most large scale risk averse companies is tough enough, but when weighed against positive showing ROI on other investments that compete for the same resources, you really have a tough fight. Skepticism in fractional productivity savings, or applicabiliy of anecdotes are usually encountered.

#3 Is also very tough. Guy Kawasaki, has some good illustrations (i.e. Ice Farmers to Refrigerators) on the topic of innovation "curve jumping" and demonstrates that very few companies are able to "jump the curve" and think about things in a completely different way. What if wasn't just one person. What if it's 90% of the employee base that says something like, "well that may be a benefit but we don't need it".

Evangelizing is not an easy role in these still early days of social computing & E2.0 BUT it is extremely rewarding when there is succees.

http://rexsthoughtspot.blogspot.com/2008/03/keeping-faith-e20-evangelist.html

]]> By: Nishant http://sachachua.com/wp/2008/07/07/sowing-seeds-common-objections-to-technology-evangelism-for-collaborative-tools/comment-page-1/#comment-37886 Nishant Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:28:18 +0000 http://sachachua.com/wp/?p=4943#comment-37886 One more reason I hear is. Do we need a tool for this? or Aren't there already many tools that I am using? Well, actually its a combined thing of making it a habit [Last reason] and I'm happy with existing tools [First reason]. I generally call this as : <strong> "Its always difficult to take the second step." </strong> :-) One more reason I hear is.

Do we need a tool for this? or Aren't there already many tools that I am using?

Well, actually its a combined thing of making it a habit [Last reason] and I'm happy with existing tools [First reason].

I generally call this as : "Its always difficult to take the second step." :-)

]]> By: Steve Meacham http://sachachua.com/wp/2008/07/07/sowing-seeds-common-objections-to-technology-evangelism-for-collaborative-tools/comment-page-1/#comment-37769 Steve Meacham Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:47:11 +0000 http://sachachua.com/wp/?p=4943#comment-37769 "I don't see the value." Man, I hear that one daily for just about anything other than "code and fix" methodologies. "I don't see the value." Man, I hear that one daily for just about anything other than "code and fix" methodologies.

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