3 Experiments to Try Right Now!

Back when I was running an IT department as CIO, I used to encourage mini experiments using new technologies. We did this for several reasons. First, our developers and infrastructure tekkies were always interested in trying new things out. Secondly, allowing some personal time to experiment with new technologies was a great personal development opportunity and (selfishly) a great retention strategy. Thirdly, you never know where that next great idea or breakthrough is going to come from. Without experimentation, you are destined to follow.

So with that entrepreneurial spirit in mind, here's three experiments I'd have going in my IT department today.

1. Start a wiki. It doesn't have to involve a lot of people. Just pick a technology or a project and dive in. Learn the social skills of group collaboration on a common document. Find out what works (and what doesn't). Use any free Wiki software and just get started. Begin with as few rules as possible and dive in.

2. Experiment with a mash-up. It can be anything.. Link your helpdesk system to Google Earth and map when your helpdesk calls are coming from. Do it in real time. Just try it. Then show it to somebody. The perspective you gain will generate more terrific ideas than you can imagine. And the experience will pay off (somehow), down the road. Need inspiration? Check this out..http://www.globalincidentmap.com/home.php

3. If you have an energetic ERP (SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, JDE) support team, give them IM. Make sure that their business counterparts have it as well. Watch what happens. Trust me, you'll like it.

These experiments don't have to be costly or take a lot of time. But make sure you have 3 or more going at any one time. Once the trials are completed, buy some pizza for your team and over lunch, have those involved in the experiments demonstrate the results to your entire team.

Need a fourth experiment?

4. Develop a "Microsoft free" desktop. Download a copy of Linux, install Firefox, OpenOffice 2.0 (or trial any web based application suite - Google, Zoho). Use it in the real world. Chances are, you'll be able to build a pretty robust suite of applications that might work pretty well for the majority of your users. Think about how much of a current PC's price is made up of the Microsoft "tax" and you'd be shocked at the potential savings opportunity.

Happy experimenting. Let me know how it all works out!