During the Future Workspaces project day we also introduced a social networking concept called ‘Borrelpraat’. Borrelpraat is a prototype of a social networking tool that can be used at networking events. Participants have a tag on their badge with which they can indicate their position (using RFID technology). Furthermore, they indicated their interests at registration. On a swipe of their badge their location and interests are visualized on a big screen. These interests are matched with other participants at that location to stimulate conversations. Due to the use of standard Web 2.0 and RFID technology, Borrelpraat is easy to extend. Below is a short movie (in dutch) that shows the working of this prototype
We tested this prototype at the future workspaces project day. The participants of this day reacted enthusiastically, which resulted in approximately 100 swipes of badges within the hour. We are going to explore this way of social interaction more and extend this concept. If you are interested please feel free to contact us.
Exactly two months ago our expertise group started an experiment with Twitter to see how it could facilitate knowledge sharing in between the monthly group meetings, and to see how it could improve social cohesion in the group.
Some characteristics of the expertise group
14 researchers with a shared interest in how ICT affects work, life, and society;
they are working in the same research institute, but located over various parts of the building;
they frequently work elsewhere, for instance during client visits, workshops, conferences;
they are all working on several different projects at a time;
they are well acquainted with one another, though not co-working on a daily basis;
they share a feeling that cohesion and knowledge sharing in the group could be improved.
Yesterday we organized a social media workshop for our expertise group – a group of 16 colleagues with similar research interests. Although we frequently co-operate with one another in various ongoing research projects, and although we meet once a month as a group, we felt that knowledge sharing between group members could be improved. The first aim of the workshop was therefore to introduce and discuss various social media and their potential to facilitate knowledge sharing within the group. (more…)
In the Future Workspaces Projective case a group of volunteers is experimenting with social media. The objective of this experiment is to assess whether social media can support knowledge sharing and social cohesion within a dispersed department. (more…)
Although the post is already a year old, I only encountered the Enterprise Collaboration Maturity Model by Nathan Wallace this week. It captures quite nicely the journey we often see happening. The model is based on the notion that knowledge work is either individual or group based, and it is always performed in an individual, shared or open environment. The Enterprise Collaboration Maturity Model depicts these work modes, and argues that there is a logical journey that people in an enterprises take to reach each stage.(more…)
According to the position paper by Brzozowski and Yardi from the HP Social Computing Lab, visibility of the author is a key reason why people contribute content in corporate social software. I found this interesting, yet also surprising. My expectation is that people contribute mainly because they know that of one of their contacts (not just some random co-worker) needs the answer. (more…)
Two goals that are high on the agenda of Rabobank Netherlands are improving the effectiveness of knowledge sharing, and stimulating new ways of work. Via the “Unplugged” change program, Rabobank is exploring ways to improve and facilitate location and time independent ways of work. In this practical case we investigated how knowledge sharing can be stimulated and facilitated within a department of highly autonomous project management professionals. A leaflet describing the main lessons learned is available here (in Dutch).
This test (a presentation for use in workshops settings) helps you to reflect on what approach(es) to knowledge management and knowledge sharing fit best for your team or department. The test is an adapted version of the ‘knowledge management color test’ originally developed within the METIS project. The test, currently only available in Dutch, can be downloaded here.
Projective is a department of Rabobank Netherlands. Its 80 employees are professional project managers responsible for complex projects within the Rabobank organization. For the duration of their projects they are stationed elsewhere, for example at the Utrecht or Eindhoven headquarters, at affiliate organizations, or at local banks throughout The Netherlands. As such, they form a group of nomadic workers that is scattered throughout the organization and the country. As a consequence, and due to the constant influx and outflux of employees, Projective is facing the challenge of how to effectively organize knowledge sharing within the department. In this pilot case, we quickly discovered that social connectedness is a key prerequisite for informal knowledge sharing. (more…)
Jotting a simple list is a great way to brainstorm, but when you want to visualize, organize, and untangle a deep set of ideas, you want a mind map. (Source: Lifehacker, July 14, 2008)
In the Future Workspaces 
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