The Online World resources handbook

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Getting an edge over your competitors http://home.eunet.no/~presno/bok/11.html The Online World resources handbook Chapter 11: Getting an edge over your competitors Project coordination Making online meetings work Watching what others do Monitoring your own business Monitoring other people's Web pages Build your own, local 'database' Clipping the news (Current Awareness services) 'Clipping' on the Internet 'Clipping' on CompuServe [INDEX] [Expanded Index] [Search] [NEXT] [BACK] Clipping the news (Current Awareness services) Other clipping services When clipping is impossible Subscription services Databases and forums with an international orientation Census data Market data Ways of doing business Stock/financial information Legal resources International organizations Locating country specific information More on how to monitor your competitors Using the net as a marketing tool Strategic considerations International trade Electronic mail We must be willing to risk change to keep apace with rapid change. The key is moderation and balance, supported by enough information to allow meaningful feedback. Going online requires adaption by management and staff in developing the necessary skills and vision. This chapter starts with how to use the networks to manage projects. Next, we will show you how to watch competitors, prospects, suppliers, markets, technologies, and trends. It winds down with marketing and sales by modem. Project coordination Several services offer private online conference areas to businesses. It is an efficient solution when coordinating a group of people geographically far apart, or when team members are constantly on the move. Some claim people are more candid and meetings more efficient when they communicate online. They favor online discussions for brainstorming and productivity tasks, even when individuals and facilities are available for face to face meetings. Applications range from tight coordination with suppliers and subcontractors, to development of company strategies, and new organizational structures. Renting an online conference area has advantages over doing it in house: The company does not have to buy software, hardware, expensive communications equipment. It does not need to hire people to operate and maintain the conferencing system. The more international the business, the better the external alternative. Many Internet access providers offer email based distributed conferencing for private groups. Take it Offline offers it for free. Some also offer interactive, live chats 1 of 14 23.11.2009 15:47
Getting an edge over your competitors http://home.eunet.no/~presno/bok/11.html in private virtual meeting rooms on the net. For ideas about how to set up and operate a coordination conference, study how volunteer organizations do it. One place to check is KIDPLAN, a coordination conference used by Kidlink. Browse the discussion that took place between May 8, through May 28, 1991. Agreeing on a time for your meeting across time zones may also be a challenge. Check "Agreeing on a time for your meeting" in Chapter 4 for solutions. Making it work Making online conferences and task force meetings work, can be a challenge. Most of the dialog is based on the written word. The flow of information can be strong. This may cause an information overload for some members. To overcome this, consider appointing a moderator organizer for your online conference. This person: Adds value by setting agendas; summarizing points; getting the discussion(s) back on track; moving on to the next point; mediating debate; maintaining address and member lists; acting as general sparkplug/motivator to keep things flowing by making sure that contributions are acknowledged, relevant points are noted, new members are welcomed, silent "Read Only Members" are encouraged to participate, and the general atmosphere is kept appropriate to the goals of the conference/task force meeting. Great online conferences do not just happen. Those set to get the meeting fired up and keep the discussion rolling must work hard on it. The meeting's organization may depend on the number of participants, where they come from, the exclusivity of the forum, and the goal of the meeting. In large meetings, with free access for outsiders, the best strategy may be to appoint a Moderator Editor. This person filters contributions, gathers new information, summarizes scattered contributions, does background research. Filtering may be desirable when conferences are open to customers and media. Its main purpose, however, is to help participants cope with the absolute flow of information. A conference can have an educational purpose. You can bring in someone who can add value by bringing experience and expertise to the group. You also need someone to do the dirty jobs everyone expects to be done but never notices until they are not. This person keeps the show running by serving as a benevolent tyrant, sheriff, judge, mediator, general scapegoat, and by playing a role in setting the general policy and atmosphere of the meeting. To support the work, you may use an online PIM (personal information manager) like the one offered by AnyDay. It offers calendar, task list, and contacts through the web. Now, back to the 'normal' applications of the online resource. Watching what others do Peter Drucker says (Forbes ASAP 8/29/94, p. 104): "Most CEOs still believe that it's the chief information officer's job to identify the information he requires. This is, of course, a fallacy. The information officer is a toolmaker; the CEO is the tool user. ... the information you need the really important information you cannot truly get from your information system. Your information system gives you inside information. But there are no results inside a business." At the heart of any profit making company is sales. No matter how wonderful the technology or how dedicated the manufacturing staff, without sales, the company fails. 2 of 14 23.11.2009 15:47
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Will going online make me rich? htt
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The Online World: What is it? http:
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Using online services http://home.e
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Hobby, games and fun http://home.eu
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Your personal HealthNet http://home
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You pay little for a lot! http://ho
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Automatic communication http://home
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Selected online services http://hom
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Getting started http://home.eunet.n
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Services offering access to the Int
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