The WELL: inkwell.vue.165: Cliff Figallo and Nancy Rhine, "Building the Knowledge Management Network"

#80: Cliff Figallo (fig) Mon 16 Dec 02 09:20

Mon, 16 Dec 2002 09:20:00 PST

Hi, John. I agree that scribes are needed to convey important goings-on to others, and that such reporting is part of the c0nversation. Journalists should see their work as part of a conversation rather than the last word.

And the idea of extending communications technologies so that people can be involved who don't have convenient access to net-connected PCs is important if this is to become anything like a global village. I'm writing an article for a Dutch biotechnology journal about the kinds of devices (including the Simputer) that will be the channels for spreading knowledge about biotech promise and threats in the developing world. [Read entire topic]

#79: John Payne (satyr) Sat 7 Dec 02 21:20

Sat, 07 Dec 2002 21:20:00 PST

Just now getting around to reading the last half of the foregoing, and a couple of things occur to me.

One is that there is a perfectly good word (albeit one long fallen into disuse) to describe people who specialize in doing the writing that others lack the knack/time/predisposition to do: scribes.

The other is that not everyone you might want to involve in a conversation sits at a desk with a network-connected computer in front of them. Light, portable devices, such as the Simputer http://www.simputer.org/ or the new tablet PCs, with some means for periodically exchanging information with the network, might be just what's needed in many circumstances. [Read entire topic]

#78: Nancy Rhine (nancy) Fri 22 Nov 02 14:13

Fri, 22 Nov 2002 14:13:00 PST

Our pleasure! See ya' round (virtual) town! [Read entire topic]

#77: Nancy White (choco) Fri 22 Nov 02 11:13

Fri, 22 Nov 2002 11:13:00 PST

I want to echo Jon's thanks to Nancy and Cliff for letting us pester them. I've read the book and suggest that if conversations are of interest to you, you pick it up. The historical context set up in the beginning is fascinating and something that is often left out of the conversation (more square wheels?)

Thanks, Cliff and Nancy! [Read entire topic]

#76: Cliff Figallo (fig) Fri 22 Nov 02 11:10

Fri, 22 Nov 2002 11:10:00 PST

We will, Jon. We'll keep checking back in. Thanks, everyone! [Read entire topic]

#75: Jon Lebkowsky (jonl) Fri 22 Nov 02 10:10

Fri, 22 Nov 2002 10:10:00 PST

A new inkwell.vue discussion starts today, so we want to thank Cliff, Nancy, and Nancy for a great discussion, and figure out how to do it without conveying the impression that the conversation has to end now.

So, first, our profound thanks for devoting your time and energy to the inkwell. It's been great!

And, second, please consider this your home away from home; feel free to continue the discussion indefinitely! [Read entire topic]

#74: Gail Williams (gail) Fri 22 Nov 02 10:02

Fri, 22 Nov 2002 10:02:00 PST

Wow, what a boost to the paper-writing. I am going to guess that Jonas mailed his question to inkwell-hosts@well.com -- something we like to suggest from time to time in each of these interviews. If you are a reader who comes by a lot and follows many of these author, expert and artist conversations, keep the email address handy for the next one. [Read entire topic]

#73: Cliff Figallo (fig) Fri 22 Nov 02 09:40

Fri, 22 Nov 2002 09:40:00 PST

Hi, Jonas. I assume you're using David's account to post -- unless David has changed his name. I'll try to address your question along with Nancy W's about ROI.

Ah, the ROI question. Or, "If you're so smart, why ain't you rich?"

Well some companies do get rich through active conversational learning, and because of their cultures, it's not a big deal. My current day job is in the outdoor gear industry (three birds with one stone -- this is my real passion, Jon). The leaders in this industry, some of which you've all heard of like The North Face and Patagonia, grew originally out of what we would call communities of practice.

Climbers, skiers and backpackers who used gear and clothing intensively in challenging conditions of weather and altitude discovered the weaknesses in designs and decided to begin making and selling improved products. They could then market these innovations to people who would recognize the improvements and purchase them so that, in essence, they would be more comfortable in the cold and wet of the outdoors.

Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, used to drive around in his old beat up station wagon to prime climbing sites where he would take out a his portable blacksmith setup and fabricate climbing hardware on the spot, customized for the specific climbing conditions based on feedback from the local climbers.

Innovation in any industry relies on communicating the needs of the customer into the best products to meet those needs. By focusing on the most expert users of a product, designs can anticipate the extremes of use. Of course some balance must be struck between the cost of the product and the actual needs of the bell curve of the market.

I'm too old to make use of the US$450 parka that leads the line produced by Arc'Teryx. This jacket is welded together -- not sewn. It's very lightweight and durable, but the shaved ounces only matter to extreme climbers. Yet, whether it's for fashion or actual use, they sell enough of them to fund their very active R&D, which involves a lot of conversation, much of it via email, with people in the field.

So, in terms of ROI, improved and productive online conversation can be considered an extension of R&D as well as customer service and support. The clearer the communication between customer/users and designer/marketers, the better the products will sell. [Read entire topic]

#72: JONAS VORMWEG writes (tnf) Thu 21 Nov 02 16:30

Thu, 21 Nov 2002 16:30:00 PST

From Jonas Vormweg:

Hi Cliff & Nancy!

Currently, I'm working on my diploma thesis. The topic is:

"The relevance of virtual communities for industrial marketing - an analysis based on examples".

So, what do you think? If you got 40 pages to write about that, what would you point out?

Thanks a lot,

Jonas [Read entire topic]

#71: Nancy White (choco) Thu 21 Nov 02 13:27

Thu, 21 Nov 2002 13:27:00 PST

I wonder if there is an evolutionary advantage to wheel reinvention since we seem to do it so well? ;-) [Read entire topic]