I started working with Navision in 1990 and since then I've done almost everything in this industry.
In 1995 I started the Dynamics User Group, formerly Navision Online User Group and Microsoft Business Solutions User Group. Here on my blog I write mostly about the Dynamics Community, my experiences with Microsoft and especially the Dynamics NAV and Navision projects I'm working on, but also how it is to work as a self-employed Navision freelancer, Navision contractor or whatever you call it.
But what is Twitter? Twitter is not new, but has been around for quite a few years. Basically Twitter is a very simple program that "only" has a status message as it's basic. The "thing" is that you can follow your frinds, but also make it update your status on Facebook also.
As you all (hopefully) knows, then we are currently running the "Dynamics User Group Member Survey 2009". This is the first time we are doing this on http://dynamicsuser.net and we do it to try to get feed back from other users than the ones who posts in the normal forums.
The way DUG has evolved since 1995 has always been based upon user input. When I started it was my wish to run this site and user group as a "real" democratic organization. In 1998-99 (or there around) we tried to change to this. We were setting up by-laws and arranging for a online election to the board of directors. But in general no-one was interested in this. The users was happy enough about how it was running and didn't really want to change it. So that's the way it's been ever since.
But in my mind I'm still just the administrator of the user group. And what the users want, that's what they get. More or less. So with the survey I really hope to hear replies/requests from some of the members we usually don't hear too much from. And so far (about 30 days after we started the survey) 300 people have completed the survey. I'm not quite satisfied with this as I have sent out invitation to the 1000 newest members who have been active (either posting and/or signed up). Besides it has been posted to the site for every one to take the survey. So the survey will run at least until the end of March.
To make a "mid-term" status, then we are getting a lot of great feedback from the members and users. Especially the open ended text answers are great, as it's here we are getting the input we didn't think about ourselves.
Some of the "interesting" feedback we've been getting so far are:
Well these could really look like they are going in other directions. More Dynamics AX and more of everything. I think I understand the AX users on the site. They are more or less drowning in Dynamics NAV questions and answers. And it has been something we have discussed over the last 5-6 years.
According to the survey then over 50% of the respondents are focused on Dynamics NAV. About 15% on Dynamics AX, 10% on CRM and the rest on the other Dynamics applications and other applications like SQL and SAP. So do you think that DUG should be the Navision Online User Group again? And we should say goodbye to the AX, CRM and other members?
Or how should we make a community site where everyone feel at home?
I would really love to hear what you think about this.