May 2013 update:
SCN is now enhanced with extensive game mechanics! This is fun, this is driving engagement in the community!
Please read the updated Reputation Program Overview and the Frequently Asked Questions documents, as well as Chip Rodgers' blog.
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2012 is here! After some time off with my family I am excited to be back because I feel 2012 will be a great year professionally. As part of the SCN Collaboration Team, I focus on member reputation and I wanted to share interesting developments we are working on for 2012. Here is an outlook.
The new SCN
As you may know, we are mark.yolton/blog/2011/08/11/behind-the-scenes-of-the-new-sap-community-network. It means great new features, easier collaboration, and a more social SCN. You will be able to connect with your peers in an easy way, follow their content and encourage them for the quality of their contributions. There are functionalities in the new SCN that will help you grow your reputation and shine on SCN. Stronger, brighter and longer!
Reputation on SCN
Various terms are used in the industry to describe your reputation in an online community and I am explaining below what they mean for SCN members.
Expertise
Expertise is the knowledge that you have gained in a certain area over time, and the best way to become a recognized expert on SCN is to contribute good content, engage with other members and learn as you do so. You learn as you help others, this is what makes the community spirit powerful and positive in many ways.
In the new SCN you will get points in the areas you contribute in: around topics, products and industries. If you make it to the top you will be prominently featured in the area of contribution and, most importantly, your name will be known to others and you will see more and more people follow you and your content to be kept in the loop on your latest contributions. Your peers will recognize your expertise by liking, rating and sharing your quality content. This is a key step on the way to a good reputation as an SAP Professional!
Points, Badges and Levels
On SCN you accumulate points for your contributions on SCN. The Active Contributor status reflects the amount of points you received over the last 12 months, with a first threshold of 250 points. There are different levels and corresponding badges: bronze, silver, gold and platinum. The Active Contributor badge is an indicator of activity: how involved you are on SCN.
The Active Contributor badges as well as badges such as SAP Employee and SAP Mentor badges will live on in the new SCN.
Recognition
Recognition is an acknowledgment of an achievement. It is not only about a particular achievement, but also a series of achievements over time that deserve a special shout-out. Recognition comes from the SCN Team but also from your peers in the community. Beyond the obvious rewards such as the Active Contributor badge, recognition can be a tweet, an encouraging comment to your blog, a featured blog, you being brought on stage at SAP TechEd, an email from the SCN staff, etc.
Reputation
Consider reputation an aggregate of everything I described above. Reputation is your image, what others think of you. Points and badges are a start, and with time and as you collaborate quality content on SCN your image as an expert will grow and you will become the "go to" person in your area of knowledge. If one day you write a book, someone who knows you from SCN will buy it. Or if you give a session at TechEd, someone who is active on SCN will know your name and approach you to meet in person. This may be the beginning of a friendship!
Here are a few reputation statements that can help you understand what reputation is - in your daily personal life and professional life as well:
‘Stanford is a good university, I'd like my son to attend one day’
‘This restaurant has three Michelin Stars and I can tell you it was worth the price!’
‘Michelle Crapo is a sweet lady who encourages bloggers with her thoughtful comments’
‘Otto Gold is a gentleman’ (the statement comes from me, I met him at TechEd in 2010!)
‘Sylvia Santelli rocks the SCN twitter scene’
‘Moshe Naveh is the wiki guru’
‘You’re Thorsten Franz? Oh yeah, I know you! You wrote Kiss of Death for Web Dynpro Java – The Follow-Up Questions…’
-- Feel free to add to the list 😉
Reputation Program enhancements
You know we are always working to bring you the best and sometimes it means a phased approach. When we go live with the new SCN, everything I described above will be available in phase 1. More will come in later phases and I invite you to follow me on the new SCN when we go live, and also look out for a blog that will detail the new features in SCN so that you use them wisely to grow your reputation.
Make sure you watch How to Build Your Reputation on the New SCN now to get an overview of the new SCN and how it will help you grow your reputation.
I am looking forward to hearing from you - now and later as we launch the new SCN. Your feedback is, as always, very helpful: It is always spot-on, it keeps me on my toes, it challenges me and inspires me. Thank you!
