Talk:Suggestions And Bugs

While I happen to be somewhat familiar with using many types of computer programs etc. I'm finding this wiki format VERY UNINTUITIVE. I think things can be made clearer if different jargon is used. For instance - Posting a new topic, rather than pick a page, click edit etc..

• Learning new jargon all at once, is painful, especiallly if it's unintuitive. I'm going to work on making the site more intuitive. Thanks for the feedback. --JNMcLarty 21:38, 5 December 2011 (EST)

The main page does not tell a newbie or even a forgetful-bie (like me) what to do exactly to post a new topic. It uses a jargon that is not intuitively clear. So where it says "Getting started" it could also say Create a new page for discussion....here is what you must do, break it down, first go here, then do this etc. Otherwise it far too unfriendly for most people.

• I will improve this. Thanks for the feedback. --JNMcLarty 21:38, 5 December 2011 (EST)

Terms like "workflow" don't mean much, if thats not what one is accustomed to. So those of you who are familiar with this mode of doing things will need to clarify for the rest of us. I have added docs like media releases, but I will admit that it did not happen right away, because I had to find the appropriate place to add stuff.

• It doesn't have to happen "right away". It's all, at your own pace. I predicted the buy-in phase to take 6 months. With feedback, I will shorten the learning curve for people in the future. --JNMcLarty 21:38, 5 December 2011 (EST)

Email is far, far, easier.

• E-mail is to the stamp, what this wiki is to e-mail. There was a time, circa 1995(?), when most would have said a letter is "far, far, easier." --JNMcLarty 21:38, 5 December 2011 (EST)

Unless this is made as easy as email, it will not be used by the vast majority of the membership.

• Define 'used'. Most members (eg. Eg. Regional Managers. Candidates), just need to read instructions we provide. They will have read only access. --JNMcLarty 21:38, 5 December 2011 (EST)

But even I can figure it out. So this needs to be said: First create a title that will become the link for the file that is to be discussed. Then write or copy/paste that file under the title. The make sure you can link to it by clicking "Watch this page". Thats the kind of step-by-step breakdown that is required to get most people on track.

• Ok, I will break it down better in the getting started section. --JNMcLarty 21:38, 5 December 2011 (EST)

I will admit that I see this as a great tool, now, but it wasn't clear at first because I didn't get the idea of collaborative effort on single documents - so the purpose needs to be better defined for the masses. I'm still very shaky on what to do and where to do it.

• Don't worry about that shakyness. Think of this site, like a filing cabinent of only the most important documents. And, before we show the world one of our important documents, it needs to get proof-read however we choose. In my mind, our path forward is either this wiki as our hub, or some other CMS + ERP system (most will cost thousands of dollars. No mid-size organization today, operates without an ERP system. You should be happy, that we're facing the problem of "dealing with" growth. --JNMcLarty 21:38, 5 December 2011 (EST)

Allen

• I 99% sure, if we don't adopt some form of organized CMS [1] and ERP [2] we will continue to run 51 candidates indefinately. Because, 51 candidates, that's the ceiling on an unlevered (ie technology-less) 8 person executive. I'm not saying it has to be this wiki, but it has to be SOMETHING to organize ourselves. I'm all ears for alternatives. This wiki is the best we can do on the budget we have. Think about our organization like a business trying to compete. The party has made leaps and bounds forward. But, it's going to get serious, really, really fast. And, that's a good thing. --JNMcLarty 21:39, 5 December 2011 (EST)

Jeff

I must commend you both gentleman. Jeff for the tenacity to push this wiki + CMS + ERP system into our organization at our "dealing with growth" stage. And the willingness to commit yourself as our systems administrator. Allen, I admire your courage to trust your executive team. A wiki collaboration is the best way of achieving organizational liberization on a common vision. Your function is to guide a swarm of libertarians into our future under our own spontaneous self directed order. We look like a chaotic group of starlings dancing towards a destination. Thank you both. --Neal 20:32, 13 June 2012 (EDT)