Tim Bauer’s Running Thoughts

Semi-daily webcast summaries/insights

Khris Loux (JS-Kit): Social Commerce … The Next Business Elixir

When you talk to most people about social commerce the converation is typically product focused (e.g. shoes, apparel, jewelery, autos, pc’s, etc). However, Khris Loux (CEO of JS-Kit), wants you to ask a broader question:

Could/Should social commerce really be an elixir for all things sold?

Interesting point and early in the webcast … two points for Khris. So, as usual, I got to running to see if he could bring to light other points off the beaten path.

.

Details Notable Points
Title/Link:

Duration:

  • ~40m

Presenter:

  • Khris Loux

    • CEO JS-Kit (prior starts @ JackNyfe, Securix, FutureNow)

Recommend to Watch? Perhaps

  • It was interesting in that Khris emphasized an aspect of social commerce often not discussed … non-retail applications. If you are in that segment I would take a look.
 1. Add Reviews, Ratings, Comments, etc … with a few lines of code

  • Similar to Triggit JS-Kit is trying to offer you a set of services to use in your online site. Unlike Triggit, JS-Kit is not offering easy injection of ads to monetize your site. They want to help you add Amazon like social features (e.g. reviews, comments, ratings, polls, scores, etc). Interesting.

2. Special Sauce … Not Just On Your Site … Embed in Google Search

  • So, if you get this social data going JS-Kit can enable you to have it easily (hover / popup) accessible in the google search result pages (or your favorite directory). So as you look at results you can see the wisdom of the crowds BEFORE clicking. A valid need for companies trying to move the search crowd into clicking on their link.

3. Not “Buyer Beware” rather “Buyer Aware”

  • Alot of his talk was justification for injection of social commerce to your site. One good line he had was the market moving to one making the old saying “Buyer Beware” become “Buyer Aware”. Nice play on words.

4. Why Open? Why Should Businesses Tear Down Their Walled Gardens?

  • He pointed out that it will not be a choice they (i.e. large businesses like Facebook, Google, etc) make but rather are forced into by smaller companies that are surrounding them and creating a stance of open. My thought was companies need to look past winning business on private stock on things that are really their customers … and focus on old school aspects … localization, easy to work with, quality, etc.

After watching this 2 days back I thought it was must watch but in hindsight I think it’s more of a perhaps. JS-Kit is a nice bolt on for your sites if you want to easily add Web2.0 features but Khris didn’t weave in many (any?) ground breaking points. More of a great refresher on nuances of web strategy around social commerce. For example, he does get you thinking about how Web2.0 can be applied to service industries (i.e. doctors, etc) but that was a brief point … so if you have time … it might be worth a watch.

Would be curious on your thoughts … as always.

* START OF RAW SCRIBBLE TAKEN WHILE RUNNING **

5/27/2008, 6:13 AM
…………….○ NextWeb 2008
…………………………..§ Distribute lightweight apps via widgets
…………………………………………□ Ratings, comments, reviews, etc
…………………………………………□ Bauer Comment - Interesting lower tier of services versus AMZN’s tack which requires a huge commitment out of the gate
…………………………..§ Web 3.0 - Consumers becoming part of the product lifecycle
…………………………………………□ 1.0 - publishers pushing content
…………………………………………□ 2.0 - Bloggers countering mass voice of publishers
…………………………..§ Would you rather buy from an online retailer ….
…………………………………………□ Which crowd comments reviews
…………………………………………□ One w/ just a nice sizzle to it
…………………………………………□ Bauer Comment - Interesting thought. Most see this as part of consumer product sales. What about other verticles? Services (largest sector in US)?
…………………………..§ 5/27/2008, 6:18 AM
…………………………..§ Shows how this model drives the presentation
…………………………………………□ Rating topics drives what he talks about it
…………………………………………□ Comments that are really good fly by on one part of overhead … good ones facilitator calls out
…………………………..§ His vision for the web … 3D web
…………………………………………□ Connecting a large web
…………………………………………□ Bauer Comment - Like my commentary on XYZ … it shows up where it is relevant … it doesn’t lay where I wrote it. Right now discussions are the primary debate (comments) but think about all elements surrounding a product or offering. Word press does similar w/ its supporting angle
…………………………..§ 5/27/2008, 6:22 AM
…………………………..§ His recommendation … smash your website
…………………………………………□ Drop SEO war
…………………………………………□ Drop ad investment
…………………………………………□ Take true value of product and extend it out
……………………………………………………….® Build a widget … deposit in directory services … yahoo, google
……………………………………………………….® Usually directory services are rated by Google or Ads
……………………………………………………….® Now see ratings in search, roll over you see all the elements of that service provider
……………………………………………………….® Look for doctor
……………………………………………………….® Bauer Comment - Interesting. Helping companies have a more robust initial search result listing … a blow out javascript item
…………………………..§ Credibility Gap
…………………………..§ 5/27/2008, 6:25 AM
…………………………………………□ Marketing drives comment “Buyer Beware”
…………………………………………□ Switch to “Buyer Being Aware”
…………………………………………□ Bauer Comment - Nice.
…………………………..§ 5/27/2008, 6:26 AM
…………………………..§ Q&A
…………………………………………□ Comments are valuable. But risky
……………………………………………………….® Two companies … open and closed
……………………………………………………….® Consumers will gravitate to the truth on there
……………………………………………………….® Bauer Comment - Think of resumes … Linked in is trying to do it. But why don’t people trust it. People feel the items are solicited. Too personal to attack … comment on an individual.
…………………………………………□ 5/27/2008, 6:28 AM
…………………………………………□ Bauer Comment - The use of the comments on the screen is disrupting the flow … but maybe that is ok
…………………………………………□ Does the internet have a collective ego
……………………………………………………….® Vistors wind up acting like sites … they have comments, reviews, reputation, etc
……………………………………………………….® See a person … see his comments … posts … etc
……………………………………………………….® People don’t ask for resumes they look at linked in
……………………………………………………….® Bauer Comment - problem w/ linked is can’t know what % truth we are hearing in recommendations.
…………………………………………□ Their comment technology
……………………………………………………….® Terms of service - Filter not delete, modify but flags the change
……………………………………………………….® Visitor has same rights and responsibilities
…………………………………………□ What about economic rights of reader
……………………………………………………….® Facebook - IP around creating social network … then they trap the content … then the value is their framework + your content
……………………………………………………….® Bauer Comment - So that is the lack of rights … what is his offered rights … he skipped that
……………………………………………………….® Right up terms of service so visitor owns the content (at minimum shared)
……………………………………………………….® Creative commons style of content
…………………………………………□ Someone stands up and fires in a question … can’t connect to the local wifi
……………………………………………………….® Bauer Comment - Another problem w/ a large group that can all talk … group waits while one raises issue … the need to listen to Spock (Needs of the Many, Outweigh Needs of the Few, Or One)
…………………………………………□ 5/27/2008, 6:35 AM
…………………………………………□ Standards for Open - Demanding It
……………………………………………………….® IBM owned everything
……………………………………………………….® As400 did 14B a year
……………………………………………………….® Then someone blew it … gave standard on PC platform to MSFT (IBM did)
……………………………………………………….® Then MSFT started acting like MSFT (tweaked API to kill competitors)
……………………………………………………….® We are about ready to do it again. Guy from Harvard.
……………………………………………………………………..◊ Google (API on search)?
……………………………………………………….® Push big companies to open up
……………………………………………………….® Open Social - It isn’t … he wasn’t invited. It isn’t in the public domain. So are they (Google) lying?
……………………………………………………….® If we succeed … Long tail … typically drawn skinny … will get fatter as the revenue will flow out of the centralized players
…………………………………………□ 5/27/2008, 6:39 AM
…………………………………………□ Open Standard Talk Tommorow (Chris Sod)
…………………………………………□ What is in it for the business. Why open up. Can’t build a business.
……………………………………………………….® Bauer Comment - Return to localization? What drives success of a grocery or retail store brick and motar? Convience. Quality of Service. Not ownership of data. Web 2.0 startups are addited to user data perhaps.
……………………………………………………….® Easier to get Google to adopt Open API as a leverage point
……………………………………………………….® Surround and cut out the kings then they are forced
…………………………………………□ 5/27/2008, 6:42 AM
…………………………………………□ Users drive valuation today … if data portability is accepted … valuation model needs to change … to what
……………………………………………………….® 3B profit google made last quarter is shattered into a lot of companies
……………………………………………………….® That is a good thing
……………………………………………………….® Diversification
……………………………………………………….® The next facebook … (it will die)
……………………………………………………………………..◊ Bauer Comment - Social networks go away .. Peer to Peer Arrives. Perhaps your ‘peer’ is a small social network that allows you to tie in w/ basic functions to various other islands
…………………………………………□ Feeders
……………………………………………………….® Comments.yourdomain.com
……………………………………………………….® Crawlers contributes feedss to your domain
……………………………………………………….® Customization tip #10
……………………………………………………….® So your search engine juice … goes to you
…………………………………………□ 5/27/2008, 6:45 AM
…………………………………………□ How long for mass adoption, do users (general) care,
……………………………………………………….® World now (new deal for html) … owns 200 newspapers … local readers get these web 2.0 services

** END RAW SCRIBBLE TAKEN WHILE RUNNING **

May 29, 2008 Posted by bauertim | 2-Perhaps (what floats your boat?) | , , | 2 Comments

LaunchPad (WebExpo 2.0): Battle of the Bands (Startups)

O.k. It wasn’t a battle of the bands. More like the battle of the startups. But if you are curious what the top 6 startups out of a field of around ~150 you should take a gander at this … factoring in, of course, that:

1. This is just those startups that think competitions for exposure is good use of their time

2. The selection was crowd based so it may not reflect true enterprise value (more like consumer)

Anyway, the format was a 5 minute pitch to a panel of VC’s at SF’s Web 2.0 Expo followed by 3 questions (1 per VC) by the top six finalists. Then the crowd voted. All they were missing was an encore of School of Rock from Jack Black (the best movie IMHO around battles of the bands).

Here’s my thoughts and scribble …

Details Notable Points
Title/Link:

Duration:

  • ~5m per

Presenters:

  • David Li (TradeVibes, ex Paypal)
  • Daniel Arkind (JobScore, ex HotJobs)
  • Zach Coelius (Triggit, poker player from MN that worked his way into the valley VC circle on his ‘game’ [smile])
  • Eve Phillips (Chirp, Mix of VC and IT .. recent student)
  • Jeff Whatcott (Acquia, Marketing. Ex-Adobe tied to FLEX)
  • Andy Stack (Oortel, prior to that 2-3 startups around various niches & IT Consultant w/ ORCL)

Panel:

Michael Jung (Panorama Capital), Maha Ibrahim (Canaan Partners), David Hornik (August Capital),

Recommend to Watch? Perhaps

  • Pick your flavor. Some are interesting and short. I would read the synopsis and then proceed. I
 1. Tradevibes - Startup Watercooler

  • These guys are trying to enable community around startups. While it’s intriguing I don’t know if there will be alot of sharing of real ‘meat’ between companies out there. However, if you are a startup you might want to track this (but I suspect startups are running hard and have little time for broadband banter in the space).

2. JobScore - Enable Resume Sharing Across Recruiters

  • This one is interesting at 10,000 feet but breaks down on deeper pondering. Basically they want to enable the exchange of resumes by recruiters. While I get how it happens between defined relationships (I know you, we work a deal) the broader sharing is complex and lacks trust.

3. Trigget - Simplify Insertion of Ads (Media) Into Any Site?

  • These guys had a slick concept. Host media (ads, whatever) on their gear then inject it into your site with just a simple line of javascript on the target site. Ok, thats nice. But then they offer their special sauce … they monetize the ads for you (analytics and deals w/ ad sellers). Makes it a bit more interesting. Will be interesting to see if they can scale.

4. Chirp - A ScreenSaver Of Your Activity Streams?

  • So if you love Facebook (or name your favorite social site/sites) so much that you want it to constantly update you via pop ups or screen savers on your desktop … this is for you. I don’t see how it made it to the top six here. Very similar to AlertThingy or other FLEX based stream viewers.

5. Acquia - Supporting Drupal (Open Source CMS) For the Enterprise Ala JBoss Model

  • Now this one was actually interesting. Not to the crowd it seems (they lost) but to me. Alot of businesses are pondering open source more as of late. This could be viable for these guys. Basically organizing a managed services consulting company behind an adopted open source product (Drupal).

6. Oortel - Revolution in the Underbelly of the Web

  • It was interesting that this presentation was redirected by the VC panel to consider the target market to be porno. Disturbing but probably a valid point. Their solution was to enable users to join a room and watch media online together … commenting … interacting with the video. You can see why the VC went where he did. Outside of that play i don’t think it has much traction in the user market. People are temporal in their sharing of stuff. They typically don’t want to go through the setup of getting in one space together.

My parting thought was … how did these six became the six startups featured? When you track other channels of startups like Scoble or RedMonk you get a different sense of the field and what is more intriguing to the consumer and enterprise. Still, these six beat out 150 others … so it made them interesting enough to ponder … for awhile. However, a few days later … I am not pumped on any of the topics so it wasn’t eye opening.

FYI, eventual winner was Trigget.

As always interested in your thoughts.

* START OF RAW SCRIBBLE TAKEN WHILE RUNNING **

• Hosts
………………..○ Facilitator - John Battelle - Federated Media Publishing
………………..○ Panel
………………………………….§ Michael Jung - Panorama Capital
………………………………….§ Maha Ibrahim - Canaan Partners
………………………………….§ David Hornik - August Capital
• Companies
………………..○ TradeVibes
………………………………….§ Founder Overview
…………………………………………………… David Lee
…………………………………………………… Startup Sharing Ideas — Products Ideas
…………………………………………………… Community based
…………………………………………………… All six of launch pad are there
…………………………………………………… 5/13/2008, 6:21 AM
…………………………………………………… Like / Dislike … show similar
…………………………………………………… Wikipedia for Startups meets Yolk (sp?) … facts and opinions on startups
…………………………………………………… Show which are hot and not
…………………………………………………… See … team, funding, products, bio of team
…………………………………………………… News
…………………………………………………… Traffic comparison
……………………………………………………Bauer Comment- why would I put research I did in online for competitors I am trying to beat? I guess to poison the water.
…………………………………………………… Company profile widgets
………………………………….§ Q&A From Judges (VC)
…………………………………………………… What is in it for the user?
…………………………………………………………………….. Stake in company, fan of company.
……………………………………………………………………..Bauer Comment- so big fan boy site
…………………………………………………… User base too small … challenge is will become a sales tool w/o counter model
…………………………………………………… Lead generation business ($ on traffic or close rate)
…………………………………………………… Add the valuation feature … allows it to replace VC
………………..○ JobScore
………………………………….§ 5/7/2008, 6:11 AM
…………………………………………………… In Luanch pad
…………………………………………………… JobScore
…………………………………………………… http://blip.tv/file/856717
…………………………………………………… Recruiter focus for FTE
…………………………………………………… Employers to work collaboratively
…………………………………………………… Build, See, Source, Share
…………………………………………………………………….. Build, See were out since Nov
…………………………………………………………………….. Source, Share (recommendation)
…………………………………………………………………….. See top people in a shared resume database
…………………………………………………… Qualified, take the job
…………………………………………………… 5/7/2008, 6:14 AM
…………………………………………………… Run campaigns
…………………………………………………………………….. Takes your job
…………………………………………………………………….. Tracks views by source
…………………………………………………………………….. Share component … candidate has to opt in
…………………………………………………………………….. If you decline and candidate is ok … they are put in pool
…………………………………………………………………….. Set status to screening
…………………………………………………………………….. Candidates on demand
…………………………………………………… Stats
…………………………………………………………………….. 50 active customers
…………………………………………………………………….. 4000 resumes
…………………………………………………… Recruit cooperatively w/ JobScore
…………………………………………………… LaunchPad (Q&A)
…………………………………………………………………….. You charge people money .. That is your crazy talk
…………………………………………………………………….. Accrue a ton of credit … get 50 resumes …. Can you trade?
………………………………………………………………………………………. Only a credit for a NEW resume
………………………………………………………………………………………. 90 day expiration on credits
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………Bauer Comment- FLAW
…………………………………………………………………….. Motivation for candidate to share (resume)
………………………………………………………………………………………. Less than 20% have opt’d out
………………..○ Triggit
………………………………….§ Overview
……………………………………………………○ 5/13/2008, 6:34 AM
……………………………………………………○ Zachery Coelius
……………………………………………………○ Focus - How easy it is to write about the web
……………………………………………………○ Problem - Monetizing websites is hard
……………………………………………………………………..® Negotiate w/ ad networks
……………………………………………………………………..® Put code in to display ads
……………………………………………………………………..® Show analytics
……………………………………………………○ Their app … web app … 1 line of javascript
……………………………………………………………………..® Turns any word in their page … to a link to a buy area
……………………………………………………………………..® Graphic ads too (have banner adds)
……………………………………………………………………..® Drag and drop of any content (not just ads)
……………………………………………………………………..® Soon adding widgets … enable publishers
……………………………………………………………………..® Easier to interact w/ 3rd party datasources and add to page
……………………………………………………○ Drag and Drop Google Ads
……………………………………………………………………..® In page edit … drag drop … refresh
……………………………………………………○ Overview
……………………………………………………………………..® 4 people - Pre Series A
……………………………………………………………………..® 10million page views a month
……………………………………………………………………..® 2 years in development
……………………………………………………………………..® 35 people using it (companies)
………………………………….§ Q&A from VCs
……………………………………………………○ Why not join Drupal (another launchpad player)
……………………………………………………………………..® They do any website. Existing platfrom. Drupal wants you to switch.
……………………………………………………○ Compete w/ content platforms?
……………………………………………………………………..® No, helping w/ monetization and widget on 3rd party content
……………………………………………………○ Big issues is distribution … why not merge … how scale?
……………………………………………………○ Not writing to hosting server …
……………………………………………………………………..® Triggit dynamically edits a page from wordpress (ie) after render
………………..○ Chirp
………………………………….§ Overview
……………………………………………………□ Eve Pillips
……………………………………………………□ Sites are designed for publish not consumption
……………………………………………………□ Chirp screen … screensaver … desktop widget .
……………………………………………………□ Enables discovery
……………………………………………………□Bauer Comment- Someone else built this based on APPL
……………………………………………………□ Channels
……………………………………………………………………..® Friend … Facebook …
……………………………………………………………………..® Non-Friend … flickr … keyword selection
……………………………………………………………………..® Shopping ebay
……………………………………………………□ Content in screen save … interactive … show meta … share …
……………………………………………………□ Share via … email … facebook messaging
……………………………………………………□ Can block / unblock
……………………………………………………□ Screen Saver … Great for conf call .. Idle
……………………………………………………□ Desktop viewer … small slice of screen …
……………………………………………………□ 5/13/2008, 6:45 AM
……………………………………………………□ Launching MacViewer version today
……………………………………………………□ Final comments
……………………………………………………………………..® Distribution - Via feature of share
……………………………………………………………………..® Channels - Create personal channels and 3rd Party Channels
………………………………….§ Q&A from VCs
……………………………………………………□ Pointcast (dead) was a screen saver product … how will they make $?
……………………………………………………………………..® Ads. Can’t block. Part of channels
……………………………………………………………………..® Affiliate payments. Shopping aspects.
……………………………………………………………………..® Download. Bundle downloads … know business model.
……………………………………………………□ Twist is you can share. Creating your channel. Otherwise its just random photo display. If she was to steer in one direction … focus on sharing. Lost in photo upload site (pointcast as well, another died last year)
……………………………………………………………………..® Channels concept
……………………………………………………□ Labor vs. Capital Dodge Ball … you were on VC team … Kickball you were on labor team
………………..○ Acquia
………………………………….§ Overview
……………………………………………………□ Jeff Whatcott
……………………………………………………□ Build communities around product, content, causes
……………………………………………………□ Not easy
……………………………………………………………………..® CMS, Feed, Tags, Blogs, Wikis, Community, Social Networks, Dev
……………………………………………………□ Hosted solutions not cheap
……………………………………………………□ Drupal … 2M downloads
……………………………………………………□ Opensource project
……………………………………………………□ Backed by global community
……………………………………………………□ Top brands use it (MTV, Yahoo, more power)
……………………………………………………□ Demo - Cyclists Focus
……………………………………………………………………..® Create Template … Fields Of Input. Enables Users to Submit rides and View pages
……………………………………………………………………..® Enable users to vote … enable another module
……………………………………………………………………..® Home page …
……………………………………………………………………………………….◊ show top rated rides (submissions)
……………………………………………………………………………………….◊ One list … internal and external content
……………………………………………………………………………………….◊ Interweave ride maps … change from list view to map view
……………………………………………………………………………………….◊ Real time drag drop of page layout
……………………………………………………………………………………….◊ Vertical
……………………………………………………□ Point 1000’s of modules … assemble to what you want
……………………………………………………□ Focus is assembly not code
……………………………………………………□ Their role is a software support to Drupal
………………………………….§ Q&A from VC’s
……………………………………………………□ ORCL is probably interested (Open Source). Support model is valid. Will support model be fun enough versus software dev?
……………………………………………………………………..® Yes, same thing
……………………………………………………………………..® SixApart … VC board … no comment
……………………………………………………□ WordPress / SixApart … how compete?
……………………………………………………………………..® More functionality than them
……………………………………………………………………..® Blog, Wiki, Forums
……………………………………………………………………..®Bauer Comment- Jive Competitor?
……………………………………………………□ Largest value add
……………………………………………………………………..® Support …
……………………………………………………………………..® Keep site up to date (upgrades)
……………………………………………………………………..® Askizmit like … filter on comments … since people are submitting content
……………………………………………………□ Scale
……………………………………………………………………..® TheOnion runs on it
……………………………………………………………………..® New York Observer
……………………………………………………………………..® Millions of Drupal nodes .. Hits
……………………………………………………………………..® LAMP stack … some skill to tune but they will work on that
………………..○ Oortel
………………………………….○ Overview
……………………………………………………® 5/13/2008, 6:58 AM
……………………………………………………® Andy Stack
……………………………………………………® What is social about sitting in front of PC looking at picture
……………………………………………………® Goal is to make it real time
……………………………………………………® 1st product is photo flow …
……………………………………………………® Photo @ Right is Synch’d for all viewers so conversation can happen
……………………………………………………®Bauer Comment… That is interesting …. Similar to comment bubbles synched to keynote presentations that popup later … isn’t that better? The timing of people isn’t synch’d
……………………………………………………® Announcing video flow
……………………………………………………® Demo
……………………………………………………………………..◊ Goto Video Flow .com
……………………………………………………………………..◊ Select video
……………………………………………………………………..◊ Share through a variety of channels
……………………………………………………………………………………….► Send an email
……………………………………………………………………………………….► Then wait for them to respond … launch browser window in private viewing space … wait for him to enter … or watch alone ..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………}Bauer Commentthat seems dumb
……………………………………………………………………..◊ Shared video interaction (fast forward, search, tagging) in the room
……………………………………………………………………..◊Bauer Comment- I still think the offline is core (timing issues, herding cats)
……………………………………………………………………..◊ Ability to throw tomatos
……………………………………………………® Margin for them is higher since they don’t host
……………………………………………………® Lightweight webex for digital media
………………………………….○ Q&A from VCs
……………………………………………………® Don’t get this one. Market will go down … timing issues … sharing …
……………………………………………………………………..◊ Synch isn’t the way to go … just one use case
……………………………………………………………………..◊ Get benefit of feedback of watching … that might be enough
……………………………………………………………………..◊ Could jump and share … onramp
……………………………………………………………………..◊ Find people start interacting … in their room
……………………………………………………………………..◊ 1/3 of YouTube video … is from sharing
……………………………………………………® Porno Flow. Sexual angle
……………………………………………………………………..◊ Reach like slide
……………………………………………………………………..◊ Engagement like Meebo
……………………………………………………® Facebook … 100’s of Friends … Very few are on at the same time
……………………………………………………………………..◊ Could be older generation
• Final Voting
………………..○ Last recommendation — Wear T-Shirts (Pro Schwag)
………………..○ Demonstrate value of business in 5 minutes
………………..○ Simplification theme was key for all startups
………………..○ People’s choice winner - Triggit
………………..○ People from Launchpad are typically acquired for a tidy sum
** END RAW SCRIBBLE TAKEN WHILE RUNNING **

May 22, 2008 Posted by bauertim | 2-Perhaps (what floats your boat?) | , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Mylyn (RedMonk): If You Optimize A Disconnect … Do You Connect?

This quote resonate with you?

“What we got here is… failure to communicate.” (link is to a audio snippet)

If so, you are either Paul Newman re-incarnated from his excellent role in Cool Hand Luke … or … you work, as I do, on your fair share of complex project teams. I thought of this movie when I watched a few webcasts around the product Mylyn (a nice add-on for Eclipse that allows you to take a task concept in development — like you think — versus compilation the way people that wrote Eclipse thought).

Why did this pop into my head while running along?

Read on …

Details Notable Points
Title/Link:

Duration:

  • ~25m per

Interviewee:

Recommend to Watch? Perhaps

  • If you would like to get some of the VSTS sizzle in Eclipse this product is for you. In addition, PMs of technical teams should ponder this … but more importantly my points to the right.
 1. Even if you are Cool Hand Luke — Get Mylyn

  • So, even if you are like me (see below) and feel that automating a inefficient process w/ Mylyn raises more questions … you still should do it. The individual productivity of a development resource will go up. Very similar to what MSFT rolled out w/ VSTS but better I think. My favorite feature is how Mylyn tracks a context (docs edited, where, etc) by task in JIRA. So if you have to track down a change by XYZ person you can see that by just pulling their context (I think) from the Mylyn repository. Very nice.

2. “What we [still] got here is… failure to communicate.”

  • The problem is that even as great as Mylyn is … it doesn’t solve the gap between how developers see tasks … and how PMs see them. Developers are interested in discrete units of work that they can commit to the repository. PM’s are looking for the macro functionality that maybe 25-50 developer units assemble into. Which leads into to a holy war of how to track and report time (which granularity, who defines the tasks that are tracked).

3. The Rosetta Stone? Talk Developer.

  • After thinking about it for a bit (and talking with my current technical team) we have settled on a management granularity that is aligned with development (what is committed). You could call it agile as it is small chunks … but the real driver is the teams primary function … putting out code quickly. JIRA (or it’s equivalent) will never go away … you have to manage your code and associated breakfix/ehancement/build process around it.

Note, while I am suggesting you manage in your master plan at the discrete units of work that the technical team commits from (JIRA items) … you need to force them to make JIRA items worth tracking. Say nothing less than 80 hours. Otherwise you get into a tasklist style of delivery … and that is not good either (lose sight of forest view).

Would be curious on your thoughts … as always.

* START OF RAW SCRIBBLE TAKEN WHILE RUNNING **

……………..○ 5/16/2008, 5:57 AM
……………..○ Interview By Michael Cote (Redmonk)
……………..○ Speaker is “Mik” http://www.tasktop.com/blog/
……………..○ Mylyn - Used to be Mylar
…………………………….§ http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2006/12/06/more-on-mylar-tasks-picking-agile-alm/
…………………………….§ www.eclipse.org/mylyn
……………..○ 5/16/2008, 6:02 AM
……………..○ Overview
…………………………….○ Overview
……………………………………………□ http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/07/05/mylyn-conversation-and-demo/
……………………………………………□ Refer to it at Mylar at that point
……………………………………………□ Bring tasks to the IDE
…………………………………………………………..® Issue tracker like JIRA, Bugzilla … single place
……………………………………………□ Once tasks in Eclipse … single click indicate what task working on … auto tag content you work on w/ that task
……………………………………………□ Then you filter (auto) in IDE to objects relative to task
……………………………………………□ One click toggle between tasks and filter of artifacts, inheritance
……………………………………………□ 5/16/2008, 6:08 AM
……………………………………………□ Episode based memory (task)
…………………………….○ 5/16/2008, 6:08 AM
…………………………….○ Demo start
……………………………………………□ Renamed to Mylyn — trademark issues
……………………………………………□ Whats new for Europa and Mylyn (2.0)
…………………………………………………………..® Tasks List
…………………………………………………………..® See comments … new bolded …
…………………………………………………………..® Add comments in IDE (don’t have to leave)
…………………………………………………………..® Stay in flow in IDE
……………………………………………□ Offline Support
…………………………………………………………..® Mylyn … repository connector basis
…………………………………………………………..® Once you connect via Mylyn to any repository it is all offline
…………………………………………………………..® Bauer Comment- how synch handled
…………………………………………………………..® Biggest bang is speed (tasks are localized) … no trips to server
……………………………………………□ Example based on bugzilla
……………………………………………□ What other things can be represented by mylyn task concept
…………………………………………………………..® New task in IDE
…………………………………………………………..® Personal Task (local)
…………………………………………………………..® Group task (bugzilla, jira, etc)
…………………………………………………………..® Framework allows connection to any repository … JIRA, Bugzilla, Task(?)
……………………………………………□ Rally … user stories show up as tasks (Agile)
……………………………………………□ Salesforce, outlook … connectors
……………………………………………□ Google calendar
……………………………………………□ 5/16/2008, 6:15 AM
……………………………………………□ Once tasks in IDE … they can capture the context of the tasks you work on .. Example
…………………………………………………………..® Activate task (one click)
…………………………………………………………..® Auto switch to programming perspective
…………………………………………………………..® As you click on various methods becomes visible in package explorer in eclipse
…………………………………………………………..® SO mylyn track action and expands view based on that
…………………………………………………………..® “Task Context”
……………………………………………□ Key point is relationships of items to tasks …
……………………………………………□ Key is model fills out as you do your work
……………………………………………□ 5/16/2008, 6:17 AM
……………………………………………□ The more you use … the more interesting the mylyn model becomes …
……………………………………………□ Implicit bookmarks basically
……………………………………………□ Built as you work
……………………………………………□ Deactivate a task … eclipse goes back to normal … planning perspective
……………………………………………□ Back to task .. One click away
……………………………………………□ 5/16/2008, 6:20 AM
……………………………………………□ Show example of bug he was working today
…………………………………………………………..® Look at attachments on bugzilla inline in IDE
…………………………………………………………..® Can see in bold the main things he works on as part of task (friend of yours)
…………………………………………………………..® Take change set … just for task … commit … auto commit
……………………………………………□ Everything in IDE is hyperlinked
…………………………………………………………..® Navigate from comments straight to tab it came from
……………………………………………□ Any text can be hyperlinked …
…………………………………………………………..® Navigate from bug report straight from Java comment … unstructured (java) to structured (task tool)
……………..○ Demo Only
…………………………….○ http://blip.tv/file/533405
…………………………..○ http://blip.tv/file/533405
…………………………..○ 5/18/2008, 9:55 AM
…………………………..○ Overview of Mylyn
…………………………..○ 5/18/2008, 9:57 AM
…………………………..○ How to add repository from scratch
…………………………………………□ Just like code repositories (hold tasks not code)
…………………………..○ Validate settings (proxy concerns)
…………………………..○ Add a query to the repository (saved filters from JIRA are available, or create via form)
…………………………..○ 5/18/2008, 9:59 AM
…………………………..○ Troubleshooting query against JIRA (no records)
…………………………..○ Synch w/ JIRA (mylyn stores JIRA stuff local by the way)
…………………………..○ Show how you can push into JIRA via Eclipse RIA (versus browser). Also offline access.
…………………………..○ 5/18/2008, 10:02 AM
…………………………..○ Example of changing priority, submit to repository, new feature (JIRA icon for new feature)
…………………………..○ Show how another comment on web will synch to Eclipse and be flagged as “new” in task panel
…………………………..○ 5/18/2008, 10:06 AM
…………………………..○ Sub tasks in JIRA supported
…………………………..○ Flexibility on top of estimates, due dates ..
…………………………..○ Plus Mylyn’s scheduling facility
…………………………………………□ Basically a way to get past JIRA SPAM (email change notices)
…………………………………………□ You can schedule tasks out a week (JIRA can’t do that natively … at least not this powerfully)
…………………………………………□ Filter out tasks that are not up
…………………………………………□ Get Things Done (GTD) focus … only tasks that are active that are shown
…………………………………………□ Drag and drop tasks in Mylyn scheduler … around when you will work stuff.
…………………………..○ 5/18/2008, 10:08 AM
…………………………..○ Filter view code for you
…………………………..○ “Pickling”
…………………………………………□ Open up home mylyn task … adds to workflow in eclipse .. Have task .. Activate (click button) … now you see the task ..
…………………………………………□ Starts w/ no context … some context in repository (get prior work)
……………………………………………………….® Shows you what you worked on the most on last access
……………………………………………………….® Shows last access / edit point (exact line)
……………………………………………………….® Artifacts narrowed to work in task context in prior
……………………………………………………….® You or someone else’s work
…………………………..○ 5/18/2008, 10:11 AM
…………………………..○ Quick features for JIRA that are useful
…………………………………………□ Attachments .. Drag to task editor .. File system … whatever
…………………………………………□ New features in 2.2 …
……………………………………………………….® Screenshot attachments
……………………………………………………….® Take a whole query and open that in a browser (JIRA query)
……………………………………………………….® Search feature versus repository
…………………………..○ 5/18/2008, 10:14 AM
…………………………..○ Bug reporting in Eclipse
…………………………..○ How get?
…………………………………………□ Google for Mylyn JIRA … downloads page …
…………………………………………□ In eclipse, goto update manager ..
…………………………………………□ Then you install JIRA connector (free)
Hosted on eclipse.org

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May 18, 2008 Posted by bauertim | 2-Perhaps (what floats your boat?) | , , , | 1 Comment

Equals.com (Scoble QIK Interview): Solve Solicitors Calling You

Scoble binged on interviews on 5/13 posting up five in one day but he called out one interview as being noteworthy:

Equals. This is a startup that hasn’t shown anyone its main product yet, I get an exclusive first-look at what they are doing. Wow, what a new way to work using Twitter, social networks, phones, and more. If you only watch one, I’d watch this one. The CEO is a bit wordy, but the demos he shows me are interesting.

Intrigued (and a bit weary of the obsession with social XYZ) I fired it up in hopes of some new perspective.

Details Notable Points
Title/Link:

  • N/A
  • A series of QIK interview snippets at the Equals new offices

Duration:

  • ~30m

Interviewee:

Recommend to Watch? Perhaps

  • If you are into unified messaging perhaps … or … you constantly are interrupted at dinner by solicitors. No hurry however, the beta solution is not even out yet (ETA July).
 1. Free Version of MSFT’s Unified Messaging Vision

  • So, basically they are offering a centralized offering where you (1) register all your communication devices (IM, Email, Phones) (2) integrate that to your systems that track your status (Calendar, Twitter, etc) and (3) pull in your social network. That blob of data is then used to determine how a contact event (call, email, IM) is routed (voicemail, phone, IM, email + who is calling) and to which device (which phone is current). For those MSFT posse out there this is basically a free mini-me version of the Unified Communications vision they have been trying to sell for 2-3 years to corporate america.
  • Free. Ah, how I like that word.

2. Target Market — Hyper Engaged

  • They are targeting the hyper engaged but I wonder if that actor will value the appropriate routing of their phone versus the additional coordination of other data they use (calendar, twitter status, etc). The usability of just flipping a phone to vibrate or silent when going into a no-call zone is pretty simple. I suspect it will struggle to be simple enough while correctly routing calls. Still worth a try.

3. Bauer’s View — The Biggest Market — Stop Dinner Interruptions From Solicitors

  • Who needs a Do Not Call list? Thing doesn’t work anyway. Equals.com will basically route all your calls through their servers and check to see if the CallerID is ‘known’ (this is a simple use case, you can do quite a bit more based on your current context). If the Caller ID isn’t known, they are routed to voicemail. Who wouldn’t set that up at home. I know I will.

4. Sidenote: Scoble Starting a New Show — WorkFast

  • Scoble commented briefly about a new show focused on the Enterprise (not startups) called “WorkFast” I believe. He mentions it occasionally on friendfeed. Anyway, good news. A focus on initiatives that can drive immediate impact to existing companies is wise.

All and all an intriguing offer that I will definitely try out … especially on the home setup. The work setup seems to present another headache to me … not sure I am that worried about if my phone rings or not … or if people can’t reach me.

Would be curious on your thoughts … as always.

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• http://www.equals.com/
• 5/14/2008, 6:01 AM
• http://qik.com/video/77124
• CEO
…………….Ajay Madhok
…………….http://conferences.oreillynet.com/cs/etel2006/view/e_spkr/2519
• Finished move
• Simplify communications
…………….○ Use name to get ahold of me w/ all the identifiers
…………….○ Choice, privacy, controls
…………….○ Filters
…………………………..§ Temporal context
…………………………..§ Who is calling
• Equals.com
…………….○ Value proposition on flip side of card
…………….○ Get away from walled garden model
…………….○ Single signon 1st attempt to break walled garden
• How is this different than friendfeed
…………….○ Connection
…………………………..§ As you speak, happens in background
…………………………..§ Xobni … reference … sidebar … shows relative to people
…………….○ Calendar drives when phone is available for calls
…………….○ Present in skype doesn’t mean you can take calls
…………….○ No one console to manage relationships and availability
…………….○ People in skype, email, calendar, contancts
…………….○ Create your walled garden
…………….○ I defragment my world … then my slice of your world defragments
• Where Would I use Your Platform
…………….○ Social network … show today … and discover new
…………….○ When find someone … how handle people … equals
…………….○ Find people but limit how they connect
…………….○ When they find me … presented as a proper role (image) to that context .. Icon …
• Free service …
• 5/14/2008, 6:09 AM
• Who compete with?
…………….○ Virtual agent …
…………….○ Party line
…………….○ BuzzTalk
…………….○ Bauer comment - not a good answer
• Example
…………….○ How coordinate going to drink
…………………………..§ Don’t setup bridge
…………………………..§ Want to call one number and it calls all devices active for friends
…………………………..§ Bauer comment MSFT vision from 2-3 years back … difference it is free
…………….○ Competitors are all walled gardens
…………….○ They are not
• Campfire … Friendconnect
…………….○ Excited
…………….○ Social Networks - Hypertrend
…………….○ Use all networks as once … One profile
…………….○ Bauer comment - He is getting long in tooth on description
…………….○ 5/14/2008, 6:13 AM
• Using OpenSocial, etc … Help build graph faster
• 5/14/2008, 6:14 AM
• http://qik.com/video/77129
• DEMO
…………….○ Connect based on name … but how work on phone
…………….○ Ajin (sp?) Founder
…………….○ Talk, Text, Video … all interview
…………….○ Choose to interact in any of these services
…………….○ Universal identifier (email addr, phone #, etc)
…………….○ If I give you something I lose control … you can contact me whenever
…………….○ 5/14/2008, 6:17 AM
…………….○ Hidden caller ID … no answer
…………….○ Email. No clue who they are … could be spam
…………….○ Founder refocus … control of when contacted when you are contacted
…………….○ 5/14/2008, 6:19 AM
…………….○ Bauer comment - Still talking about case (restatement of overview segment)
…………….○ 5/14/2008, 6:19 AM
…………….○ Demo … 3 phones
…………………………..§ So a universal #
…………………………..§ Bauer comment - so redirection … on Switch
…………………………..§ Set on profile busy … which synch’s with calendar
…………………………..§ Integrate w/ - Google Calendar, Notes, Outlook
…………………………..§ A profiler … innner circle of calls
…………………………..§ Bauer comment - Way to block callers
…………….○ Potential ability to sell access … joke (but is it really)
…………….○ 5/14/2008, 6:23 AM
…………….○ Now show twitter … update twitter …synch to all … next call …
…………….○ Change context … gtalk, ivr, IM, email, etc … all possible
…………….○ Not released
…………………………..§ Sometime in July release
…………………………..§ Copyline is available today
…………….○ Gtalk example
…………………………..§ IM to assistant … available … facebook profile changes …
…………………………..§ Show different roles trying to contact
…………………………..§ Message
…………….○ Does equal figure out IM?
…………………………..§ No. Right now calendar gets parsed.
…………………………..§ Defining operators … for IM … like LOC ON China
…………….○ Equals context
…………………………..§ There are keywords that equals rests
…………….○ Show how facebook or web talk to you
…………………………..§ “BuzzMe” in location …
…………………………..§ Inner circle … gets different message … since sleeping … redirects to IM
…………………………..§ Insert tag 8295 … uniquely identifies conversation to reply back
…………………………..§ Bauer comment - better make those #’s alphanumeric … could get big quickly … how handle typos
…………….○ Context change via IVR
…………………………..§ Status - at home, working, silent, sleeping, etc … by numbers
…………………………..§ Silent means goes right to voicemail
…………………………..§ Get IM on PC when phone calls are in queue … so when in meeting can pinged quitely
…………………………..§ Bauer comment - seems to do some jott
…………………………..§ Example of not knowing either # … just know where current phone is active … detected presence on skype
…………………………..§ Bauer comment - wonder how well it works on other digital parties
…………….○ 5/14/2008, 6:35 AM
…………….○ Calls to room very expensive (hotel)
…………………………..§ Can define context … in which phone is used
…………………………..§ Bauer comment - can you define work locations and toggle between them
…………….○ 5/14/2008, 6:36 AM
…………….○ Context should change based on activity stream not you having to change stuff
…………….○ 5/14/2008, 6:37 AM
…………….○ Email to Voice
…………………………..§ Not been done before (Actually Jott has done reverse)
…………………………..§ New show in july “Workfast.tv”
…………………………..§ Email comes in … attended by virtual assistant
…………………………………………□ Replies back … hi harry … thank you for invitation … call me now … click … skype … so auto attendant that is more personal
…………………………………………□ If they don’t use email immediately it’s a timeless link … so it goes to current context

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May 15, 2008 Posted by bauertim | 2-Perhaps (what floats your boat?) | , , , | 3 Comments

Sapphire 2008 Keynote (Pat Lencioni): Five Dysfunctions of a Team

Actually I have a better title for this for Pat …

  • Management 101: Mitigating Your Five Dysfunctions (you know … the ones you don’t have)

Because when I read his title I thought “Man, we all are dysfunctional” as his “Five Dysfunctions” (below) really can apply to anyone .. not just those creating or managing teams.

So I canceled my appointment with my therapist and got to running.

Details Notable Points
Title/Link:

Duration:

  • ~40m

Speakers:

Recommend to Watch? Perhaps

  • Here are the barriers
    • Requires a registration
    • Doesn’t work when you try to play it back (had to download the audio only)
  • The pro’s are his points are timeless reminders of the dynamics of teams … something we all face every day.
 1. Absence of Trust

  • The nuance he brought up was the litmus test of if people feel accepted enough to admit their weakness(es) to a team. Are they safe enough? Will their team members ‘catch them’. If not, they will not rock the boat and their thoughts (which you need) will not come to the fore. It was interesting that he used Bill Clinton’s open style handling his flaws in 1992 as an example. In his view, Bill got into office because people built trust with him from that.
  • BAUER NUANCE - You have to demonstrate it’s o.k. to be vulnerable (wrong) on a consistent basis as a leader.

2. Fear of Conflict

  • Disagreements over issues and ideas are a good thing. He gave a variety of examples of how today’s culture tends to focus so much on being ‘mannerly’ we lose the ability to challenge one another directly … which then turns the resistance to passive styles … which is far more destructive.
  • BAUER NUANCE — It’s not always yelling. What arguing looks like is different by culture / region. The key is to recognize that disagreement is happening and encourage it (on the right topics).

3. Lack of Commitment

  • The old pocket veto. He talked about how you need to get people to air their thoughts on items in contention.
  • BAUER NUANCE - Not only do you need to get them to voice why items will fail. You need to then loop back and address why you are going with (or against them) when a decision needs to be made.

4. Avoidance of Accountability

  • I liked how he talked about great teams (49′ers) that basically enforce the team rules. Boss doesn’t get involved. Hard to implement in practice consistently.
  • BAUER NUANCE - If you can tie their personal incentive plan to their success in (1) identifying risks and then (2) mitigating them you have a shot. Keep it general on the framework so you can add risks to that list in the year.

5. Inattention To Results

  • What are your teammates motivated by … their success … or the team? If the former, you have issues as their focus will be on themselves and not the results the team is chartered to deliver.
  • BAUER NUANCE - The performance plan needs to recognize and reward a large chunk of metrics that are externally focused. Sharing knowledge. Mentoring. IP to a shared drive. Etc. How are they creating assets for the org.

I still think that anyone, if they are honest, have these five Dysfunctions … and they are not going away. Given that, what we should be doing is figuring out how to mitigate them … not solving them … as I think they are core to the human ego.

Would be curious on your thoughts … as always.

* START OF RAW SCRIBBLE TAKEN WHILE RUNNING **

According to Pat Lencioni, teamwork remains the ultimate competitive advantage, both because it is so powerful and so rare. He makes the point that if you could get all the people in an organization rowing in the same direction, you could dominate any industry, in any market, against any competition, at any time. Based on his runaway best-seller, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Lencioni uncovers the natural human tendencies that derail teams and lead to politics and confusion in so many organizations. 2008 ASUG Annual Conference attendees will walk away with specific advice and practical tools for overcoming dysfunctions and making their functional and project teams more effective and cohesive.
Speakers:
………………• Patrick Lencioni, Founder and President, The Table Group
………………• 5/12/2008, 6:11 AM
………………• Myers/Briggs - He is ENFP … no focus
………………………………§ Likes Q&A
………………………………§ Office is near Berkley … but this won’t be a Berkley talk (no love in)
………………• Teamwork is where competitive advantage comes from
………………• Two reasons
………………………………§ It is rare
………………………………………………□ SW Airlines … due to culture
………………………………§ It is the key that lets you leverage the other stuff (tech, strategy, etc)
………………• Teamwork is like parenting
………………………………§ He has 4 boys
………………………………§ 1st child you over think. Last child gets the basics (but the good stuff).
………………………………………………□ Over read / theories on 1st child
………………………………§ Talk to Dad w/ 7 kids … doing well .. Keys he saw … three things
………………………………………………□ Clear boundaries
………………………………………………□ Praise them for being in boundaries
………………………………………………□ Whatever they do … they know that you love them
………………• What is he going to share … you know
………………• He just puts it in a framework so you can remember
………………• Quote … People need to be reminded … Not instructed
………………• 5/12/2008, 6:19 AM
………………• 5 dysfunctions of a team
………………………………§ Absence of Trust
………………………………………………□ Not Predictive Trust - Where you know the word of a person is good.
………………………………………………□ KEY –> Vulnerability Based Trust - I need help. Will people reach out
………………………………………………□ Why 5 dysfunction … Why not the five functions? You are interested on why people fail.
………………………………………………□ Story - Tech stratup. Handpicked people from a variety of companies
………………………………………………………………® Struggling vs competition
………………………………………………………………® Not core business assets … good there
………………………………………………………………® Weird dynamics on team … some people speak … no one responds. It was the ‘funky’ guy.
………………………………………………………………® Kept meeting with executives
………………………………………………………………® Over dinner the funky guy jokes that they don’t really trust one another
………………………………………………………………® CEO and He worked to try and get him to trust people … didn’t
………………………………………………………………® Let him go
………………………………………………………………® Night and day difference
………………………………………………□ Leader must be vunerable 1st … then others will follow the lead
………………………………………………□ Another story
………………………………………………………………® Another example of head of company … no one trusted him … Head of HR did feedback survey
………………………………………………………………® Reviewed w/ no one at first
…………………………………&#