Digital Appendix

This is my last update, as I finished my master thesis last week.

At this link you can download the digital appendix: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/8713423/CD.zip

Thanks for following this blog and my project.

Best regards,
Benjamin

Final Presentation

After a little break of editing and preperation here now the final presentation:

Final Presentation Master on Prezi

Elements to support the social live at HESTIA

The following table shows the elements of HESTIA which support the social life within HESTIA. 

Some of them are avaible 24/7, others just once a year. With this mixture and some regular highlights the social component of HESTIA is stronly supported.

Element	Function	Virtual	Real life	1 to 1	Group
Facebook group	Chat, share updates, links, pictures, events	+	-	+	+
HESTIA live	Meeting other members at travelling.	-	+	+	-
Playing Saturday	Loose meeting were people can play online games together. Brings team together, fun, get-to-know-eachother while playing	+	-	-	+
Live conference	Real member conference with seminars, discussion, networking	+	+	+	+
Internet Day	Virtual member conference with teamsimulation, webinars, discussions, networking,	+	-	+	+

Do you have other ideas how members can get involved in HESTIA to transfer the pub visit after a match into the online world?

Results Focusgroup

Why a focus group?

For the development for new products focus groups are a fast way to get a first impression about the users opinion. In a focus group 4-8 people discuss about a new product or concept. Usually not only one session, but different sessions with different people are hold, depending from the design of the focus group. In case of HESTIA the focus group is a single category design which means that there is only one type of group, not a comparison of different groups (Morgan, 1997, p. 60f). 

Caused by the limits of a master thesis only one session was run at April 19, 2011. The session was moderated by myself. With only little experience it turned out that some questions were to wide and did not support the discussion very well. Also it was hard to show the concept and moderate at the same time. But still there is a lot information and feedback out of this 30minute session.  

Important for the success of a focus group is the choice of the participants. They have to fit into the later target group of the concept. The focus group of HESTIA is international (Irish, Chinese, German, USA), aged between 20 and 40 and all participants have expirience with virtual teamwork.

The participants

The participants were Faith, Chinese, who is a researcher in CIT. He uses no facebook, but a chinese aquivalent. Sean, Irish, is mobile application developer and software assistant for Cork’s radio station “life fm”. He uses facebook, but very carefully because of its data policy and security aspects. Oskar from Germany is student of computing and networking and uses facebook and twitter for private communications. And finally, Eric from the USA who is senior process development engineer was part of the group. He uses facebook “not too often” for private issues, in the business context his company uses more document based collaboration tools.

The focus group was designed after the concept of Krueger & Casey (2000, p. 43ff), after an opening question to get a good atmosphere, the transition question leads to the key questions, the topic of the focus group. At the end the participants should summarize what they think about HESTIA.

Discussion

The feedback is devided in four categories: questions, suggestions. weaknesses, strength,

Questions

One issue which is mentioned twice was about the roles which users can have. What if someone opens a new topic, would he be responsible for it? (11:00min & 15:05min).

Another questions was if HESTIA is free or if the members have to pay. As the focus group couldn’t see a great advantage the wouldn’t pay for HESTIA. Maybe sponsoring of a company could be a solution to enable free HESTIA memberships.

The third big questions concerned the media solution of HESTIA. Why is there a facebook group (18:55min)? Is this really an advantage or is it more confusing to have another platform and homepage to visit?

Suggestions

As the weren’t mentioned in the concept the discussion came to communication issues. One point was, that if a topic is discussed a lot in a forum, a live chat would be needed. (13:50min). Also phone conferences via skype or a browserbased alternative could be a solution for the focus group (15:30min). The focus group confirms the communication concept that is already developed.

To organize the expertise in different fields better expert should define themselves in the registration process (18:22min). That enables other members to ask very specific questions to a small group of experts instead of the whole group where it may stay unanswered (14:40min). Fields of expertise could be software or tools, chinese market, video conferencing, ect..

Concerning the international perspective of HESTIA language barriers are seen as a problem. Faith mentioned, that in China and other Asian countries english is not very common. Sean suggested an automatic translation tool (20:03min), whereas Faith preferes a real translator when speaking with a Japanese contact (22:00min). This ideas both can hardly be realised, but if automatic translation really working at some stage it would be worth to implement it. Also different language versions of the HESTIA homepage could open the door to new markets and countries.

Another suggestion for the possibilities of HESTIA was a kind of idea-section, where members can scratch new ideas, post them and get immidately feedback from others (23:20min). This will enable HESTIA to develop new possibilities in virtual teamwork and expiriment with those at a very early stage.

As alternative use of HESTIA Eric created the idea that if two companies in different countries start to work together, HESTIA could support the collaboration in both, business context on the one hand, but also the private exchange and get-to-know-each-other on the other hand (25:00min).

Weakness

The greatest weakness of HESTIA is the missing value. Is there really a benefit (7:55min) or would it not just be easier to google the questions which are discussed in HESTIA (24:02 & 26:25min).

The motivation, an important factor when using clubs, was not clear to the focus group. It is hard to be better then the whole internet, even if there are experts (compare classical enzoclopydia and wikipedia). 

The combination of forums and live chats with experts could solve this problem, but still it is difficult to convince people to discuss in the club.

Strength

As strong points the media solution with the combination of moodle, the homepage and facebook to keep in contact outside of the official meetings was seen as a good concept (22:50min). It brings the different communication tools together (25:28min) which allows fast and clear communication.

What is a focus group? - Information for tomorrow

A focus group is a form of qualitative research in which a group of people are asked about their perceptions, opinions, beliefs and attitudes towards a product, service, concept, advertisement, idea. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focus_group)


I will introduce the concept of a virtual club, a club meeting online with members from all over the world and I want to hear your opinion about it. 
There will be no audience, we will be 4-8 people and you can discuss and criticize the concept in the group. 


The whole discussion will be recorded that I can analyse it.


We meet tomorrow, Tuesday, 6pm at the front of the Library at CIT campus, which is here: 

If you have any questions feel free to ask, my mobile number is 089 434 7862


See you tomorrow,
Benjamin

Volunteers for focus group needed

On Tuesday, 19th of April, 6pm I plan a focus group in the CIT (Cork, Bishopstown) to get feedback about my project.

I will introduce you my concept and after that there will be a group discussion about it.

Workload will be about 30minutes.

Please send me an email to oblaender@gmx.de or a text to 089 434 7862 if you want to participate.

What is it about? I plan a concept for a foundation of a virtual club for project managers. Meet others online and discuss current topics in virtual teamwork, get to know each other and make contacts all over the world.

Current State Presentation April

2011_04_08_CurrentState_oblaender

Update: Redesign of prototype

After first feedback here now a slightly redesigned version of the clickable dummy.

HESTIA Prototype on Prezi

moodle
For the functional part of the prototype please access http://moodle.gepros.com/course/category.php?id=1, the passwort is "HESTIA"


facebook
The facebook page can be seen at http://www.facebook.com/pages/HESTIA-club/136003336466504?ref=ts  Therefor you DON'T need an account.

Elements in Clubs and the transformation to HESTIA

The thesis is now more and more going into two elements. Structure and functions of the club on the one hand, the design aspect on the other hand. 

With my background the structure and functions of the club will be more important for the success of the club, so I will focus on that.

Design is important as well, but this can easily changed by grafic designers who are real experts in that area.

To get a better understanding of the functions here are the main elements of a normal club transfered to HESTIA: 

	Sport Club	HESTIA
Motivation	·   Passion for the aim of the club ·   Support others (charity, self-confidence) ·   Benefits from being a member	·    Passion for the aim of the club ·    Support others in forums ·    Benefits from being a member
Benefits	·   Possibility to do the sport (fun) ·   Training ·   Social Aspects	·    Training in virtual teamwork. ·    Culturally exchange ·    Business contacts ·    Private contacts
Training	·   Group of younger people get trained by experienced ones. ·   End of the training: Match for fun ·   At least once per week.	·    Webinars ·    Support in forums ·    Collaborative Games ·    weekly chat meeting
The “Game”	·   Benefit from training to compare with other clubs. ·   Passive members come to support club	·    Virtual Teamwork Simulators.
Social Aspect	·   Private exchange after official programm in the clubhouse ·   meeting others privately ·   celebrate (e.g. birthdays) together	·    Facebook as “clubhouse” ·    “HESTIA live” to meet in reality
Charity/PR	·    Engagement in local activities, Christmas market, Parades to become known in the city or/and attract funding	·    Yearly conference about virtual teamwork to present to results of the last year. ·    Charity Events. Support of poor countries as part of cultural exchange.

Prototype: Clickable Dummy

HESTIA Clickable Dummy on Prezi

Facebook: Group or Page

facebook's groups and pages cannot be combined. 

The article of O’Neill (2010) on the page allfacebook.com shows the differences between both:

For the internal communication of HESTIA a group is the better solution. With membership restrictions the administrator can control, that only HESTIA members join the group. Mass messaging allows to send a message to all members. If the limit of 5,000 members will ever be reached HESTIA will have enough resources to re-structure its media solution.

With the “event inbox messaging” the group members get direct information what is going on in the group. That is important to encourage them to get involved and take part in discussions. A page is designed to read and consume, whereas a group is made for a real dialog, where every member has the same publishing rights. But the administrator can delete comments if it is necessary. Another important function of a group is the group chat, which allows life conversations between the members when they are online.

The advantages of a page, targeted updates and stream posts, promotional widgets and vanity URLs are not needed for the internal communication. Those elements are very useful for marketing and advertisement to reach a huge audience. The facebook page could present the club to an external audience.

Facebookgroup: HESTIA’s club pub

Most elements which are provided by facebook are already included in joomla! or moodle. The facebook group should be used for the unofficial conversations. Compared to a normal club the facebook group could be seen as the club’s pub, where to members meet after the official events. If a member decides to don’t use facebook it can still participate in all official activities, but is excluded in the private exchange. 

Interview Jason Brower

Here you can find the Interview with Jason Brower, club member in the Dungarvan Rugby Club.

This time I interviewed an active player to get a different perspective. For Jason, the social aspect, chatting before and after trainings and matchs is more important then the sport as such.

Also interesting: He didn't came to the club because he was activly searching for a rugby-club, but because a neighbour invited him.
HESTIA should give a possibility to invite new members with an advantage for both, inviter and invitee.

Difference between Group, Community and Club

Before starting some definitions and terms need to be made clear. Especially the question, why HESTIA is a club and not only a community should be answered in the next passage.

Definition Group

Encyclopedia Britannia defines (social) groups as “set of human beings having some interrelation with each other.” (Benton, 1974, p. 245). This excludes a common interest; it could also be the same background like family or living in the same village.

Not an activity makes you a group member, but the background. If someone joins a group (like on a social network) he/she can stay passive.

Definition Community

The Encyclopedia Britannia from 1974 (no online communities existed in that time), defines a community as “a group of people with common characteristics and interests living together within a larger society.” (Benton, 1974, p. 47) 

The current definition of the online encyclopedia Wikipedia defines “In biological terms, a community is a group of interacting organisms sharing a populated environment. In human communities, intent, belief, resources, preferences, needs, risks, and a number of other conditions may be present and common, affecting the identity of the participants and their degree of cohesiveness.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community, 2011)

Internet communities are only mentioned in the small sentence “To a growing part of people the meaning of the word "community" indicates a smaller or larger group of internet users signing up to become members of a community page/system on internet.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Community#Internet_communities, 2011), which leads to the conclusion that online communities are per definition not different from offline communities. 

Compared to a group the members of a community are active, the work for the community.

Definition Club

A Club is defined by the Cambridge Encyclopedia as “an establishment where people associate to pursue social, political, or sporting activities. In the US, country clubs and women’s clubs are well-established. In London, clubs for men developed in the 17^th-c from the taverns and coffee houses where men met to do business. These clubs (…) were used by members of the aristocratic and professional classes, and excluded women. Some have relaxed their rules, most continue to provide meals, library facilities, and overnight and accomondation.” (Crystal, 1990, p. 272)

This definition mentions three important facts which distinguish clubs from communities. First, the clubs are only opened to a certain group (in the definition men of the aristocratic and professional classes). HESTIA fulfills the same, by being only opened for project managers (or future project managers) working with virtual teams.

Second most of the clubs still have rules and structure. HESTIA will be a closed group, which gives advantages to its members. Also a structure will be developed in chapter 5.3 Structure.

Third clubs provide accomondation. Whereas communities (especially online communities) are spread all over the world clubs are very often locally based, with a club house, pub or hotel. In that case HESTIA seems to be more like a community, but with the online portal the club house of HESTIA moves into the internet. In the media solution will happen, what usually happens in the club house, decisions will be made, current topics discussed, but also private exchange.

A club allows members to be either passive (by joining to club and support it with money) or active by campaigning for the club.

Definition HESTIA

Following the definitions HESTIA is defined as a closed business society of project managers associated together for social intercourse and for the promotion of finding better ways to deal with virtual teams. 

Note: The detailed sources will be delivered with the thesis.

Conclusion Platform

The platform analysis showed, that non existing platform fulfills all needs of HESTIA.

Facebook seems to be almost perfect, but this is mainly caused by the combination of groups and pages, which is not possible at the moment. But facebook is the most common network worldwide, which is important for the international perspective of HESTIA. And it allows mobile access from almost every mobile phone and tablet device.

Furthermore it is the platform which performs best in the field of communication, which is an important factor in the virtual club. Also it enables the members to get to know each other beyond the business context by sharing profiles, pictures and common interests. With groupchat (in groups), instant messaging, messages and the wall it is predestinated for the real-time and almost realtime-communication.

Beside that it is important to have to possibility to organize and save knowledge in a secure place. Therefore moodle performs best. With plug-ins like wikis, forum and glossaries, which can be edited by every user, the collective intelligence of the club-members can be stored and found again very efficiently. Moodle is a closed system, which allows only members of the club to see the content and archive.

Finally beside the closed facebook-part and the closed moodle part an open platform for non-members is needed. The CMS joomla! will be the webpage of the club with representing the club for outsiders, providing information about the club and how to become a member and it is the entrance-portal to the closed sections of facebook and moodle.

Platform-mix of HESTIA