Rationale for the Yammer survey A relatively significant
network: 191 members and over 2000 messages in 2011 Rationale: How
to understand the current use of this network and its members
communication preferences? How to improve the relevance of this
network? 39 survey respondents (20.4%) with many comments
Results
Results (1): Personal use A majority (28%) check Yammer 1x/day.
13% never check it 51% lurkers 28% part-time and 13% active
participants Nearly half access Yammer on the web interface or
(41%) via email digests
Results (2) Others use of Yammer (Very) useful: to get updates
on activities (73.7%), for sharing info across CPWF (71.8%), to
follow events (59.4%), to hear about links and ideas (69.5%).
(Really) not useful: to discuss issues (47%), to share what Im
doing (37.2%) to obtain feedback from others (35.3%) Comments:
Useful for things that escaped our radar, and across basins but
needs more participants. To some, feels like flooding people with
comments
Results (2) Others use of Yammer
Results (3) Barriers and incentives Barriers: Time!!! (56.8%)
Not sure what to write (21.6%) Not confident in posting (16.2%)
Nuisances: Small talk/chatter (34.2%), Lack of focus in posts
(30.3%), Too many posts in a day (15.6%). Also long messages and
auto-congratulatory tone Incentives: Better discussions (43.2%)
More relevant content (37.8%) Training and improved usability not
an issue nor request
Results (4) Alternative channels/uses 44.4% think Yammer is
useful to share information 66.6% when (very) useful Most useful:1.
Face to face (97.2%),2. Email (94.4%)3. CPWF e-letter (75.6%)4.
Yammer (66.6%)And also Skype, Dropbox,FlickR, GoToMeeting
Results (4) Alternative channels/uses Comments received Too
much information! More guidelines to write on Yammer More emphasis
on technical / expert content More updates from basins Have smaller
groups? For me the current yammer service is flawless. More people
should provide updates and basin leaders should encourage the use
of Yammer
Reflections
Reflections We are time- and attention-starved How to
prioritize use of Yammer to show the value? Some are not authorized
to post on Yammer How does management see the use of Yammer? Too
many communication channels? How to make sense of what to post
where? Too few people provide inputs In order to work, Yammer needs
everyones presence/inputs Good (technical) content, lessons learned
and stimulating questions are needed to fuel good discussions How
can we invest in this? Have we explored all the uses of Yammer? Do
we understand how to converse on Yammer?
Reflections:Lessons learned CPWF-CRP5 Yammer works to share
information, CPWF updates, links, ideas. Perhaps not so useful for
discussions, feedback, personal updates Rather than comms to
researchers it should be seen as a peer network: researchers to
researchers Find champion researchers who are willing to post
Yammer etiquette matters: Post short, crisp, focused posts Lurking
is a normal phenomenon: many dont post but read Everyone should be
on Yammer or it doesnt deliver its potential Training only required
initially. Coaching might help afterwards Emails and face-to-face
contact still rule complementary in nature? Building trust to share
more confidently
Recommendations
Recommendations (1) At Basin level: Each basin (comms person?)
to share updates once / week Form smaller groups to kickstart
discussions in trust / branch off into specific basin networks
(e.g. Nile/Andes BDC) Look for research/MT champions to post see
this as a peer network not as comms dissemination network. At
global level: Tease out questions and issues that matter for all
basins and post them on Yammer Continue with targeted emails
(E-letter) Organize webinars (outside of Yammer) to stimulate
critical technical discussions
Recommendations (1) At everyones level: Invest in face-to-face
contact to build trust among Yammer users More coaching (by comms)
for better use of Yammer Encourage critical questions and lessons
learnt? Turn CPWF Yammer into a reflexive network Communication
specialists to share information on Comms4Uptake Yammer more, to
avoid overcrowding the CPWF Yammer Give it a try before judging
Share your opinion about how to use/improve Yammer in whatever way,
including on Yammer ;)