World Workplace blog

I’d like to highlight this comment from the previous post:

“Here at IFMA, we have been embracing social media through a variety of outlets.

This is our forum for our annual conference World Workplace: http://worldworkplace.wordpress.com/

 

. On the right of this page you will see our various efforts such as Facebook, YouTube, Wikipedia, Twitter, and we also have a LinkedIn group.”

Social networks: a resource for Facility Managers and other professionals

At The Big Picture blog, Chris Matt asks: “Are You Part of a Social Network?” Social networking webstites include LinkedIn and Facebook, but also listservs, forums, and email groups. Here’s his summary of the utility of online social networks:

“Some managers might spend time participating in an e-mail listserv, outlining a difficult issue they hope will generate discussion and lead to a solution. Others might use their time at trade shows to not only hear about new products, but also build relationships with colleagues who face similar challenges. Certain managers might try to ignore social networking altogether.

But due to the results-drive, cost-conscious nature of the facilities management industry, social networking seems to be another resource managers could consider before making critical decisions.” 

From speaking with current customers and prospects, I know that many facility managers are using these kinds of online connections to gather information and recommendations on facilities software and other solutions. For example, facility managers at credit unions have discussed solutions at the IFMA Industry Forums listserve. Discussions are also taking place under the Facilities Management heading of LinkedIn’s Answers section.

Although I’ve been a member of LinkedIn for a while now, today I was surprised to see that 50 of my coworkers have just joined LinkedIn. This indicates to me that social networking is quickly becoming a useful dimension of the professional world, and one of several tools which make it easy to connect and consult with professional peers.

Facilities Management for Credit Unions

As a supplier member of the Credit Union Executive Society, I read Credit Union Management Magazine. Below are some articles that may be helpful to facility managers and leaders responsible for growth and management of credit union facilities.

Not Cookie Cutter Branches: Some CU branches are giving members the chance to see, hear, smell, taste and touch the difference from the bank down the street.

High Five: Five big questions you should answer before investing in a headquarters facility.

Facilities Fitness: credit union facilities management demands alignment with business objectives.

The metrics of toilet paper

World of Usability also tipped me off to a post on the most ecologically friendly way to hang toilet paper at Current Configuration. Below is one of four distinct illustrations demonstrating the impact of incorrect toilet paper hanging.

positioning of toilet paper diagram showing the holding or grasping point

And, no, I don’t remember this being one of the ways to gain points toward LEED certification for new or existing buildings.

Do users read?

Joel on Software posted an interesting aspect of usability (I found this thanks to Ann at World of Usability).

The more things have to be explained, either

• in training,
• in a manual,
• or on the screen,

the less usable an interface is.

The best point is his conclusion:

“Even smart, experienced, advanced users will appreciate things that you do to make it easy for the distracted, inexperienced, beginner users. Hotel bathtubs have big grab bars. They’re just there to help disabled people, but everybody uses them anyway to get out of the bathtub. They make life easier even for the physically fit.”

Simplicity and Ease of Use in Software

Simplicity: What’s Next in Business Software

“There is a widening gap today between what software users experience in their work environment and what is available on the Web. As the line between work and home life blurs, people expect the applications they use at work to be as clear, simple and user-driven as the applications they use to run their personal lives.

Companies today are much smarter about purchasing software. They’re insisting on solutions that have a faster time-to-market, higher ROI and better end-user adoptability. Enterprise vendors must embrace the philosophy of simplicity in business software or risk being sidelined by innovative, emerging vendors in the near future.”

At the end of the article is a list of hallmarks of simplicity in software.

Strategic Partnering

I’ve just aced my first course in the CUES Financial Suppliers University.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that the first course was focused on Strategic Partnering. With a background in consultative sales and now working for a service-driven software company, I’m naturally inclined to this approach. The definition given was especially helpful to me:

“According to Ed Rigsbee, author of PartnerShift: How to Profit from the Partnering Trend (2000), ‘partnering is the process of two or more entities coming together for the purpose of developing synergistic solutions to their challenges’ (page 2). He distinguishes partnering from partnership, a legal term that implies a formal agreement or working arrangement.”

It is also helpful to get the big picture of what partnering involves, which relationships make good candidates for partnering, and things to watch out for.