Comments on: Navigating the Wikiverse http://blog.aboutus.org/2008/04/28/navigating-the-wikiverse/ AboutUs.org is creating an editable guide to websites Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:32:32 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Ted Ernst http://blog.aboutus.org/2008/04/28/navigating-the-wikiverse/comment-page-1/#comment-39 Ted Ernst Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:08:29 +0000 http://blog.aboutus.org/2008/04/28/navigating-the-wikiverse/#comment-39 It's definitely going to take AboutUs a while to satisfy Martin's needs about company information. And yet, I would say that is the kind of thing we're working towards. As long as it's public information, it's fair game, and fairly soon we're going to be seeing more info on the pages. It's not going to be everything everyone wants, but it's a step in the right direction. It’s definitely going to take AboutUs a while to satisfy Martin’s needs about company information. And yet, I would say that is the kind of thing we’re working towards. As long as it’s public information, it’s fair game, and fairly soon we’re going to be seeing more info on the pages. It’s not going to be everything everyone wants, but it’s a step in the right direction.

]]> By: Martin http://blog.aboutus.org/2008/04/28/navigating-the-wikiverse/comment-page-1/#comment-40 Martin Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:42:36 +0000 http://blog.aboutus.org/2008/04/28/navigating-the-wikiverse/#comment-40 My wish list for “finding information about a company”. In the aboutus search box I could enter my desired company’s name. Then there is displayed a picture that looks similar to a family tree, showing the internal structure of the company, with “all” managers or executive’s names depicted over the division each heads. In this way one can “at a glace” see who has the most clout, and who is at a higher level than another (also one can then quickly see if the company is flat in management style, or pyramid structure). Then if one clicks to the executive’s name, his or her biography is presented, their contact information, and a brief description of the division or department they head. Some government web sites are beginning to have this type of information available, but I have yet to see for large corporations. I also know that lots of corporations would resist having such information publicly displayed for various reasons. The fact is today large corporations have the automation horsepower to rather easily find out lots of information about me, yet I, Joe Six Pack, don’t have the automation tools to easily find out the same “in-depth” information about the corporations. This should come as no surprise. Large corporations tend to have the big financial resources and the political clout. But someday maybe Wiki systems can give the little guy some better leverage (I am not holding my breath). My wish list for “finding information about a company”.

In the aboutus search box I could enter my desired company’s name. Then there is displayed a picture that looks similar to a family tree, showing the internal structure of the company, with “all” managers or executive’s names depicted over the division each heads. In this way one can “at a glace” see who has the most clout, and who is at a higher level than another (also one can then quickly see if the company is flat in management style, or pyramid structure). Then if one clicks to the executive’s name, his or her biography is presented, their contact information, and a brief description of the division or department they head.

Some government web sites are beginning to have this type of information available, but I have yet to see for large corporations.

I also know that lots of corporations would resist having such information publicly displayed for various reasons. The fact is today large corporations have the automation horsepower to rather easily find out lots of information about me, yet I, Joe Six Pack, don’t have the automation tools to easily find out the same “in-depth” information about the corporations. This should come as no surprise. Large corporations tend to have the big financial resources and the political clout. But someday maybe Wiki systems can give the little guy some better leverage (I am not holding my breath).

]]> By: Martin http://blog.aboutus.org/2008/04/28/navigating-the-wikiverse/comment-page-1/#comment-41 Martin Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:43:34 +0000 http://blog.aboutus.org/2008/04/28/navigating-the-wikiverse/#comment-41 The universe of information about companies is very large. Within this domain the type of information that often has the highest market place value is often keep secret by companies, for very good reasons – the atmosphere is anything but “open and transparent”. Because of this there exists a professional field that does competitive intelligence. Large companies often have competitive intelligence departments, sometimes within marketing or R&D divisions, other times getting via outside consulting services reporting directly to high level executives (such service contractors purposely kept from public view). When I am in a working mode of needing to “find out information about a company”, it is typically as part of some other project, meaning it is not the end goal of my work, rather one stepping stone. As such my mindset is one of wanting a “service” that will get me the company information I seek, with the least amount of my invested time. For such company information (my company information finding needs are admittedly not easy to service)I currently use a combination of services other than aboutus, because I view them as a faster and more efficient way to gain the business information I need. I suspect that the smart folks behind aboutus will keep making refinements and improvements so perhaps some time in the future they will actually be the place I go to gain information about companies. The universe of information about companies is very large. Within this domain the type of information that often has the highest market place value is often keep secret by companies, for very good reasons – the atmosphere is anything but “open and transparent”. Because of this there exists a professional field that does competitive intelligence. Large companies often have competitive intelligence departments, sometimes within marketing or R&D divisions, other times getting via outside consulting services reporting directly to high level executives (such service contractors purposely kept from public view).

When I am in a working mode of needing to “find out information about a company”, it is typically as part of some other project, meaning it is not the end goal of my work, rather one stepping stone. As such my mindset is one of wanting a “service” that will get me the company information I seek, with the least amount of my invested time.

For such company information (my company information finding needs are admittedly not easy to service)I currently use a combination of services other than aboutus, because I view them as a faster and more efficient way to gain the business information I need. I suspect that the smart folks behind aboutus will keep making refinements and improvements so perhaps some time in the future they will actually be the place I go to gain information about companies.

]]> By: Julia http://blog.aboutus.org/2008/04/28/navigating-the-wikiverse/comment-page-1/#comment-42 Julia Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:26:20 +0000 http://blog.aboutus.org/2008/04/28/navigating-the-wikiverse/#comment-42 I thought this was a great post for those, like Martin, who are familiar with wiki. But for those masses who stumble upon AboutUs.org, I think it's important to point out how best to use our "find" bar. To start with, stick to websites. For Martin's "Dupont" example, typing "Dupont.com" will get you a typical AboutUs wiki page. Once visitors get the hang of the type of information we have, it will be much easier to determine how best to contribute their knowledge. So for now, go ahead and include the .com, .net, .org etc... You'll get much more useful results. Enjoy the wiki! I thought this was a great post for those, like Martin, who are familiar with wiki. But for those masses who stumble upon AboutUs.org, I think it’s important to point out how best to use our “find” bar.

To start with, stick to websites. For Martin’s “Dupont” example, typing “Dupont.com” will get you a typical AboutUs wiki page.

Once visitors get the hang of the type of information we have, it will be much easier to determine how best to contribute their knowledge.

So for now, go ahead and include the .com, .net, .org etc… You’ll get much more useful results.

Enjoy the wiki!

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