[Sigia-l] announcing the launch of the AIfIA Job Board

[Louis Rosenfeld]

On 6/21/03 8:03 AM, "Dr. Marios Pittas" <marios at pittas-associates.com>
wrote:

> Louis
> 
> Based on the feedback about job boards, it is obvious that the "AIfIA Job
> Board" was designed somewhat with a different rational/model/idea than what
> could-be users of the board would have expected. Based on the information
> received about some of the other job boards (UPA, ACM etc.) it is obvious
> that those also differ from the "AIfIA Job Board".. which brings me to this
> question:
> 
> "Before one designs something, one reviews what currently exists.. features,
> business models, what has been successful, what do users expect etc..
> 
> One then decides what to keep what to change.. Not meaning to devalue the
> work done by the AIfIA <bold>volunteer</bold> staff, whould it not be a good
> contribution to this list for the AIfIA to share such information with the
> list..
> 
> After all we do practise what we: preach, educate, put customers through,
> ask customers to pay for.."
> 
> Many thanks
> 
> Marios


Marios, thanks for your constructive feedback.  The group that assembled the
job board certainly spent time considering this and other models and
reviewing other sites.  I'll leave it to them describe their decision-making
process if they choose to, but as you correctly point out, this is a
volunteer effort; expecting perfection is unreasonable, especially when we
don't expect it from paid staff.

Those who are unhappy with what this set of volunteers have done might
consider developing an alternative approach, whether through AIfIA or some
other channel.  Of course, that requires thinking creatively and
volunteering one's time; we know that the loudest complainers won't bother
making this effort, as has been clearly demonstrated by the behavior on this
list over the past year.  So none of us should hold our breath and await the
arrival of that Alternative And Obviously So Much Better IA Job Board any
time soon.

That aside, I wouldn't consider the single day's worth of feedback we've
been receiving on this particular mailing list the final word on the
viability of the job board's model by any means.  First, there have been a
handful of negative responses, some clearly so unconstructive,
unprofessional, and bilious as to not merit considering.

   http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=bilious

Other comments, like yours, have been quite constructive and helpful and are
appreciated.  But it's highly unlikely that they are collectively a
representative sample.  They are no more representative than the many new
AIfIA members who have signed up since this initiative was announced.  In
fact, we've received more new memberships than negative comments.

Additionally, many of us have learned over the past year that SIGIA-L by no
means represents the IA profession.  It may be the single largest forum, but
if you attend the IA Summits and cocktail hours, work with other IAs, talk
with AIfIA members, IA teachers, and students, you'll find that there are
many, many IAs who've *never* heard of SIGIA-L.  Perhaps three or four years
ago, SIGIA-L was more representative, but since then the value of the list
has eroded while other IA community venues have grown along with the
profession.  Really, it's become pretty hard to take this list very
seriously.

OK, enough; AIfIA's job board will continue and will improve, thanks in part
to constructive feedback that we receive from all kinds of sources.  More
constructive feedback welcome; the unconstructive stuff comes from cannibals
who are welcome to go and starve.

cheers

 

Louis Rosenfeld :: information architecture
     consulting :: http://www.louisrosenfeld.com
        seminar :: http://louisrosenfeld.com/presentations/seminars/eia/