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190

Think OUTSIDE THE BOX! The IdeaStorm site is STILL broken!

190 points posted to IdeaStorm by phubert 11/14/07

Dell HAS made real progress in the integration of IdeaStorm and Direct2Dell.

Dell HAS LISTENED to IdeaStorm participants in some areas and responded.

Still, frustration with the IdeaStorm SITE continues and the site seems to remain fairly inflexible.

Key problems:

Visibility of Ideas - evidenced by the constant REPETITION of older ideas.
Navigation through submissions
STATISTICS ON ideas and USER statistics

Please add your own take, everyone... I'll revise accordingly!

phubert
11/14/07		 One problem I've thought existed from the beginning was Dell's own 'culture challenge'. When such a large entity tries to reinvent itself, it must first deal WITH itself... its own static organization, its own cultural perceptions and blindness (after all, our culture naturally tends to blind us to OTHER cultures until we PURPOSE to LEARN about them).

Self-challenge is a good start, but one difficulty is that one is starting FROM within, which, again, has its own limitations. Getting on the OUTSIDE in order to look in is another challenge altogether.

IdeaStorm has -some- potential to provide some 'looking in', but it, too, has its limitations. Especially, so, since the IdeaStorm participants really do not see INSIDE DELL.
jmxz
11/14/07		 I don't think repetition of older ideas is a key problem.

The correct Fix for this problem is for Dell to either
(a) Address the Idea by Implementing it - in which case it won't be repeated, or
(b) Address the Idea by clearly communicating why they won't implement it - in which case it'll be rarely repeated.

Navigation through submissions would also be a much reduced problem if most Ideas could be closed as "Implemented".

Do we really need more statistics? Regardless of what metric you use; it's pretty darn obvious that No OS, XP, and improved Linux support across more systems and countries are among the most requested Ideas. Until Dell can handle those, I'm not really sure I want them wasting time on second-tier ideas.
jervis961
11/14/07		 We could gain more insight into Dell if they would post links to 3rd party interviews. :D sorry phubert couldn't help myself.

There are many reasons that IdeaStorm is broken.

1. The software stinks
2. Lack of participation from Dell
3. Duplicates make it hard to find the interesting ideas(because the software stinks)
4. Not enough feedback (because of lack of participation from Dell)
5. Did I mention the software stinks and Dell doesn't participate enough?
premcv
11/14/07		 lack of participation, no feedback, loads of duplicates... the list could be endless, if we start to chart it out...
phubert
11/14/07		 My initial comment may address Dell's participation sufficiently.
premcv
11/14/07		 I hope it does, phubert, I surely hope it does.
jmxz
11/14/07		 Even the best software would make IdeaStorm suck if Dell is as bad as they are at *implementing* the ideas.

Even the worst software would make IdeaStorm great if Dell were quick to implement many IdeaStorm ideas.
premcv
11/14/07		 Absolutely true! But getting the software to work is a good start.
spratleywa
11/14/07		 FYI All, Take a look at Dell's Buy Online interface. It is broke and appears abandoned. All it would take is some basic programming to fix that interface, but it has been broke for a long time. So, if Dell does not seem concerned enought to maintain the interface that makes them money, then what effort do you think they are going to place in maintaining this interface?
phubert
11/15/07		 Dell needs some new programmers? Have they outsourced their web functions???? There are likely THOUSANDS of Linux-based web programmers ... many who are only doing it as their HOBBY ... who could do the job better than what we've been seeing here!

varlinux.org isn't exactly a web developers site, but I KNOW there are a few participating THERE (including the site's owner, Nick Petreley) would could do the job!

Didn't I tell Dell they should try to HIRE him????? :-(
premcv
11/15/07		 Yes, you had that mentioned in an idea a while ago.
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