The Financial MySpace
Segueing from my previous post, Microsoft recently launched what they are calling, the “Financial MySpace” Microsoft Dynamics Live. I would love to meet the people who come up with the names of Microsoft products and ask them one question, ‘WHAT ARE YOU THINKING WITH THESE RIDICULOUS NAMES???” 
Anyhow, according to Microsoft, Dynamics Live is a community built around financial professionals.
Now even though I cannot even balance my checkbook, I went ninja and signed up and entered the community. Being that it is Microsoft, I started with mixed feelings, but I have to tell you that for certain areas I was pretty impressed. They really built in a number of social features into this product, most notably, a tagging system for all articles, posts, etc and the ability to search via a tag cloud for anything and everything. They also have an interesting “digg like” rating system for most popular posts as well as discussion boards with operators standing by for feedback and thoughts.
My only issue with the product is the same issue I have with most every product of Microsoft, which is the customer experience. I never have understood why Microsoft does not focus more on the user experience in everything they do. Microsoft architected and built this community like they build everything else; how they think it should be built without understanding who the target audience is and how they like to work.
I believe this is going to be the challenge for many of the players that are jumping into the community arena. They need to understand that no matter if you have the greatest back end technology in the world, if no-one enjoys and accomplishes tasks by using it, it has absolutely no value. This is where I differ with a number of posts I have read recently, I do not believe the technology will be deciding factor on who wins and who loses these community races. It will be the companies that best integrate and understands their target audience and delivers that experience online will be the last ones standing.
Technorati Tags: Microsoft, MySpace, Microsoft Dynamics Live, community
Well stated – very true. It’s a great reason why there is such a high failure rate for companies. Many technology companies are started by people with a technological aptitude and essentially think that because they love it everyone else should as well (in the same format). That’s why engineers need marketers – lol.
I agree, Cord– and I think it’s a failure of leadership at Microsoft that explains its historical disconnect with Joe User.
Regarding Microsoft’s behavior in the past, I always saw it as a reflection of the face of Bill Gates.
The strange obtuseness about product names and lack of empathy for the user experience is a character trait of Bill Gates, judging from what I’ve seen.
My interactions with MS products too often make me feel as if I’m dealing with an alien entity.
Clay – You hit on a good point which is there always has been this terroritory fight between the tech marketing guys. It needs to be communicated and understood, that both groups are needed to be successful.
Vince – I am continually amazed at either the total lack of user experience design in Microsoft products or just the lack of knowing how things should work. Or maybe it is that Microsoft believes they know best and it is there decision and not their customers? Who knows.
Thanks to both of you for your comments as always.
I thought you didn’t use a checkbook Cord?
LOL, Jud, you have been waiting for the day you could say something like that huh??
Well congrats my friend. And yes, I do not have a checkbook, but I do try to balance things online. One point for Judson!