Maximizing+Yammer+Use

Based on the discussions during the virtual meeting for the internal communications task force, the thoughts as to how we can actually maximize yammer use are below.

( comments Ewen in the below text in red ) (Comments from Tsehay in green text below)
 * Andrew's rough notes on the key ideas raised during the meeting
 * [[file:Internal_Comms_Taskforce_YAMMER_Nguyen.pdf]]
 * Review guidelines on Yammer use and how it is being disseminated**

Whilst there is a good ready-to -access guide on the ILRI -Comms Wiki, I think if possible there should be a company wide communication regarding the guide, possibly via an email from the DG or another upper -management staffer. I think people will access and learn Yammer in their own time, as we (the comms team) can't get to every staff member and prod them along. Thus I think the ʻguideʼ that is currently online can be improved upon by 'upgrading' it into a more visually friendly downloadable PDF. Screenshots of the necessary steps will be included with text-based directives, as I have found this to be helpful in my experience with a broad range of individuals. --> I posted links to 3 vids made by Hannah Guedenet from HarvestPlus on the guide page. I second more visuals. Check those video tutorials first and before you set out to develop PDFs or whatever, check with Peter

We already have some guideline I have prepared for some of KommsKlinic sessions. I think we can capitalize/refine on that. Look at this guideline I used for NBDC team training;
 * [[file:nbdc yammer settings.ppt]]

Said PDF can be made available of course on the ILRI -Comms wiki, but maybe also in an email from Peter or someone in upper management, again reinforcing not only the strong push for greater Yammer usage from the DG etc, but also accompanied through real-life ILRI examples of it's success perhaps? Why not even have an ILRI-Comms blog detailing the uptake of Yammer internally? Not only might it be a good ʻ soap-box ʼ for ILRI -Comms to get across our views to internal staff, but we could potentially see a side-benefit as it may increase ILRIʼs visibility as other organizations search for case studies/examples of Yammerʼs use? I see our colleague Ewen already has posted a very appropriate account on his personal blog that may be transferrable? --> Definitely like the idea of encouraging management to promote the page and of us to collect stories of what works or doesn't in Yammer the way that company did it in the link I posted on the blog post you mentioned.

Just back to the instructional -PDF ; it can be easily created in my opinion, and I am more than happy to take charge of this task if deemed suitable? If a PDF wantʼ s to be avoided, I think we can just follow suit of this existing page at a minimum: http://ilri-comms.wikispaces.com/ilritoolbar

__Encouraging existing members to become more active__

I personally think that there might be an obligation by some to just post some updates on Yammer, at least from the Comms team at times to appease the one-per-day mandate – well - at least I do sometimes personally. --> I see the compelling argument for this but in practice I'd rather social media were left to the good old 'lead by example' practice whereby we try and set a standard. Parts of the trick is to also get scientists (or support staff or whatever other 'category of Yammer users') to convince each other about the value - reinforces the idea of the testimonials above. EKatingi: for the scientific category, i think it would be good to actually give examples and tell people what a yammer post is all about and examples of things they can yammer about, i had a talk with someone working in the labs and they said for them social media and specifically yammer cannot work because it is difficult for them to share an experimental process which is what they do daily since they are concerned over IP issues and others and as such they are only comfortable sharing outcomes which is once in a while. I would suggest an instructional PDF that has yammer examples for some category of users.

I personally think we should follow friendly approach than making it mandatory. convincing each other by having some testimonies this could be us or others. Friendly approach helped quite a lot in Addis campus.

Maybe we have to have a re-evaluation of what we are really looking to get out of Yammer instead of just having people post updates and then have people 'like' them. Sorry if this is a tad candid. Maybe this comment is a bit more introspective than constructive…. Clearly an ʻidea ʼ that is open to discussion still. --> Indeed clearly an idea and this is sthg we'll also partly cover in the M&E of KM work I'm starting to undertake.

__More corporate announcements - possibly from Jimmy__

I think this idea is definitely worthy of exploration and do not think it is too hard to implement as long as Peter can get a direct line to Jimmy to encourage this. I don ʼt know how it is possible, but maybe this push shouldnʼ t be confined to Jimmy but other high-level staff. Pur vi for example has talked of an interest in greater internal communication. I personally do stand up and take extra notice when a new face posts on Yammer, even more so if it ʼ s someone in upper mgt. Bruce Scott for instance following ParComm2012 made some interesting posts I definitely took notice of. However, I accept I may not be as attentive as other ILRI staff in following Yammer, and so I might be an outlier in this respect. --> Again, agree, but how to make this work? I'm hoping to get a special session with Mario and some other senior scientists in NBO to address some questions, fears and criticisms re: Yammer (and other platforms).

__Possible prize incentives for Yammerer of the month__

I am really not sure how this will be achieved. Especially from a regional perspective, as I am not sure how staff here could possibly be rewarded. Tangible gifts wouldnʼt work for obvious rea sons. I think moving in the direction of prizes is too far against the current work cult ure of ILRI. If we were going to move in this way, a smaller incremental step might be possible verbal recognition from Jimmy via his Yammerings regarding staff that have been noticeably been Yammering more could be a step in the right direction? --> I would strongly encourage any other incentive that is not about energy. Recognising the good practice is the best thing we can offer. ANy incentive tends to add a strong bias...

I completely agree with giving some incentives for the best yammers once in every 1/2 months or...?, it should exclude the comms people unless we will end up on receiving all.

__Consistent follow- up with individuals or groups__

Again, I am not sure how this idea will work as individuals most likely won ʼ t be ʻtrainedʼ at the same time, and so how do you schedule follow ups, and if you do, do we need to have a formalized follow up procedure so it isnʼ t ad hoc? Perhaps we could just have a set of questions regarding Yammer use/non-use since they first logged on which we can then build upon? --> Check Tsehay's plans for Komms Klinic. They address this. In essence we want to offer a lot more team training for various comms activities/needs, including guidance on specific tools such as Yammer.

Definitely we should do this at the background. The new KommsKlinic approach mainly address this issue. So that leaves us with the following concrete options:
 * Ask Peter to push management to use Yammer for corporate messages (which Peter already did btw but we can still do this again)
 * Develop a guide with pictures - only if after checking the 3 vids by Hannah Guedenet there is still a perceived need for it;
 * Indeed develop a simple system of praising a yammerer every month, from various categories: the most original yammerer, the most interactive, the most thoughtful, the most prolific etc. (preferably outside of KMIS)
 * Address potential fears one by one on Yammer in a series of short posts including links from literature backing up the solutions offered (Ewen)
 * The statistical side of Yammer (only posts and likes for now) needs to be addressed as part of the broader M&E of social media work (Ewen / Kara)
 * If possible I will also try and organise that session for Mario and other top scientists to find out their fears and aspirations re: use of social media - possible preamble for a Komms Klinic session with them.
 * I would also add another activity: interview our staff (30 sec max) about using Yammer and giving an overview of the use of Yammer by our staff to a) inform everyone about different uses, potential benefits and challenges b) map where things are going well and where they need support (either for Komms Klinic to address or other ways)... This could be a very good background work for the series of posts on the fears that I mentioned above. A number of us could be involved in this.