Comments on: Wikis, Learning, Teaching and Compliance http://www.compliancebuilding.com/2010/03/04/wikis-learning-and-teaching/ Doug Cornelius on compliance and business ethics for private equity real estate Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:01:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Doug Cornelius http://www.compliancebuilding.com/2010/03/04/wikis-learning-and-teaching/comment-page-1/#comment-5048 Doug Cornelius Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:02:43 +0000 http://www.compliancebuilding.com/?p=6267#comment-5048 Brian - I saw a series of items that encouraged companies to put their youngest employees in charge of their enterprise 2.0 and web 2.0 efforts, assuming that the digital generation knew what to do with these tools. I was going to link to the stories but decided against it. You point out the other side of my position that "age is not a skill set." An older worker may have less relevant experience than a younger one. I agree with you. The right may to is look towards to experience and knowledge, not age. Brian -

I saw a series of items that encouraged companies to put their youngest employees in charge of their enterprise 2.0 and web 2.0 efforts, assuming that the digital generation knew what to do with these tools. I was going to link to the stories but decided against it.

You point out the other side of my position that “age is not a skill set.” An older worker may have less relevant experience than a younger one.

I agree with you. The right may to is look towards to experience and knowledge, not age.

]]> By: Brian Gryth http://www.compliancebuilding.com/2010/03/04/wikis-learning-and-teaching/comment-page-1/#comment-5047 Brian Gryth Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:36:53 +0000 http://www.compliancebuilding.com/?p=6267#comment-5047 Doug, Shouldn’t the real criteria be the level or years of experience? For example, I went to law school when I was 27 and graduated at 30. Thus, I know attorneys younger than me who have 5-10 years experience. Those attorneys’ knowledge and experience are greater than mine despite their age. I generally agree with you position. I just think the more appropriate way to judge who is put in charge of a task is based on experience and level of knowledge. Typically, as you point out, it is not younger employee. Thanks, Brian Doug,

Shouldn’t the real criteria be the level or years of experience? For example, I went to law school when I was 27 and graduated at 30. Thus, I know attorneys younger than me who have 5-10 years experience. Those attorneys’ knowledge and experience are greater than mine despite their age.

I generally agree with you position. I just think the more appropriate way to judge who is put in charge of a task is based on experience and level of knowledge. Typically, as you point out, it is not younger employee.

Thanks,
Brian

]]> By: Doug Cornelius http://www.compliancebuilding.com/2010/03/04/wikis-learning-and-teaching/comment-page-1/#comment-5037 Doug Cornelius Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:02:34 +0000 http://www.compliancebuilding.com/?p=6267#comment-5037 Scott - Good point about age. My position is that younger members should not be put in charge solely because they are the younger members. Age is not a skill set. As you point out, you want to be people in charge who have the best skill set. Usually that's not the youngest members of the team. Scott -

Good point about age. My position is that younger members should not be put in charge solely because they are the younger members. Age is not a skill set.

As you point out, you want to be people in charge who have the best skill set. Usually that’s not the youngest members of the team.

]]> By: Scott Primeau http://www.compliancebuilding.com/2010/03/04/wikis-learning-and-teaching/comment-page-1/#comment-5035 Scott Primeau Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:18:34 +0000 http://www.compliancebuilding.com/?p=6267#comment-5035 Doug, this is a great post. I agree with almost everything you've said, especially the points about younger users not adopting public-facing collaboration tools for fear of showing a lack of knowledge. As for understanding the technology, that probably just depends on who the users are and what tools they're using. Obviously, some tools are easier than others. And, I've experienced the same frustration you have with the lack of user-friendly editing options in wikis or Google Docs. These concerns, however, are not limited to new, younger employees. An older seasoned employee may not be familiar with new technology, may be reluctant to learn new tools, and may be hesitant to expose a lack of knowledge. My only real disagreement is with the suggestion that younger members of a team should not be in charge of knowledge and content production. Creating and sharing knowledge is not solely based on who has the knowledge. Other factors, such as the ability to find information, the ability to discern which information is important, the ability to share information in an understandble manner, and the ability to use technology to does these things efficiently, are integral to knowledge creation. Younger employees who have been using the Internet for research for years and are accostumed to contending with vast amounts of information may be invaluable to the knowledge creation process. Anyway, that's just my opinion, as a fairly younger employee in my agency. Doug, this is a great post. I agree with almost everything you’ve said, especially the points about younger users not adopting public-facing collaboration tools for fear of showing a lack of knowledge. As for understanding the technology, that probably just depends on who the users are and what tools they’re using. Obviously, some tools are easier than others. And, I’ve experienced the same frustration you have with the lack of user-friendly editing options in wikis or Google Docs. These concerns, however, are not limited to new, younger employees. An older seasoned employee may not be familiar with new technology, may be reluctant to learn new tools, and may be hesitant to expose a lack of knowledge.

My only real disagreement is with the suggestion that younger members of a team should not be in charge of knowledge and content production. Creating and sharing knowledge is not solely based on who has the knowledge. Other factors, such as the ability to find information, the ability to discern which information is important, the ability to share information in an understandble manner, and the ability to use technology to does these things efficiently, are integral to knowledge creation.

Younger employees who have been using the Internet for research for years and are accostumed to contending with vast amounts of information may be invaluable to the knowledge creation process. Anyway, that’s just my opinion, as a fairly younger employee in my agency.

]]>