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260

Dell: recognize the NATURE of IdeaStorm - don't STIFLE it!

260 points posted to IdeaStorm by phubert Apr 8

Dell seems to think "suggestions" are static things, hence ONE reason why we are no longer permitted to EDIT our own ideas!

Dell has also identified submissions variously as "ideas", "suggestions", and "articles".

In fact, submissions by IdeaStorm participants have varied widely, from specific, static requests, through protests and informative postings.

SINCE we can COMMENT on submissions, it is only reasonable that the submission, itself, should be able to CHANGE with the DISCUSSION.

Dell SAYS IdeaStorm is INTERACTIVE, but then turns around and stifles the interaction!

**

Oh, also note that THIS box is titled "Editorial summary".
If we have a "summary", where, then, is the DETAIL?

In the COMMENTS?

phubert
Apr 8		 From the very start, a number of us have noticed that Dell has seemed to have ongoing difficulty adjusting to _our_ use of what they created.

I think they are still struggling with that.

Like my complaint about the inflexible Service Call SCRIPTS, it seems to me that Dell best understands fixed environments with clear, immutable rules.

Now, I DO believe Dell has been trying very hard and that Mods, generally, have tried to be very responsive.

There's been hostility from participants and even abusive remarks... largely out of frustration.

However, although Dell can and must, to a certain extent, point to the Terms of Use (TOU), in another sense that misses the point.

In other words, the TOU provide basic 'ground rules' largely to protect Dell, but also to promote general civility, but do not address the dynamic nature OF the site.

It is that dynamism that results in nuances which are more difficult for "form or formula-oriented" individuals to deal with.
It also puts the site, based on the interests and purposes of its participants, at times, at conflict with the very purpose of Dell as a publicly traded corporation.

Dell may or may not have realized how 'courageous' this venture was.
Whenever any of us puts ourselves out into public view for open comment (and each of us does so whenever WE comment anyplace we may be critiqued in return), we put our very selves in (ego) jeopardy.

Dell has done so for itself in creating IdeaStorm!
phubert
Apr 8		 Still, haven't many of us continued to participate because we WANT Dell to be better and desire its success?

Do we each define Dell's "success" differently?

THAT may be the rub. The point of greatest conflict. Different and conflicting views of what Dell's success means.
jervis961
Apr 8		 OK, I can't resist posting this video again. Check out around 4 minutes in where she talks about moderation. :D

dawn_l
Apr 8		 Morning all- The changes to the editing was part of a work around for lacking site functionality. Had nothing to do with trying to limit the ability of the users. We are working on getting both with the Salesforce.com development team. Of course Jackie is happy to make any edits you would like to an idea. Simply send her a note with the contact a moderator at the top of the page.

Thanks,
Dawn
jervis961
Apr 8		 Lacking site functionality? Explain please.
dawn_l
Apr 8		 As Kara mentioned a couple of weeks back, we are trying to have the Dell response easier to get to/ see. We added the status boxes to help with this issue. When we added them, we lost the ability for users to edit. We found that very few ideas were edited by IS users and hope to fill this need by editing them for you. Jackie mentioned she has gotten a couple of requests and has edited them promptly.
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