TE08: Support from our partners

re: TE08: Support from our partners

anon — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 01:03:19 GMT

When will Microsoft start enforcing the rules around the MVP program more:

http://blogs.msdn.com/charles_sterling/archive/2008/07/08/recipte-for-making-an-mvp.aspx

“Community contributions delivered in the previous year for which no revenue was received”

How much paid time do the Readify guys put into keeping or obtaining their MVP status? How much financial reward does Readify pay for each employee to keep their MVP?

No doubt you've seen the job ads that say that Readify will help you with your MVP ambitions.

Its a clear manipulation of the system and you guys are only too happy to help out.

I wonder what 'dot points' would remain once you take away all the paid activity that the Readify employees perform. I wonder how long the community efforts would last if they had no MVP's.

re: TE08: Support from our partners

Graeme Strange — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:11:58 GMT

Just came back from having my head read. Definately saw community leadership, thought leadership and solid partnering behaviour. Sorry Anon (aka 'Nick' again I suspect)- didn't detect any cronyism.

Best comment I saw today (not here). "Does Nick work for Readify? Great exposure" - .... ROTFL

re: TE08: Support from our partners

Terry — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 08:26:41 GMT

I'm also impressed that Readify spent so much sending their staff to TechEd. Most of the companies that whinge about them don't want to make that sort of commitment.

What was disturbing this year though was the number of speakers that had to pay for their own flights and accomodation when speaking at TechEd, even speakers with some of the best sessions. That's poor form from Microsoft given what attendees are charged and what they wasted on some of the lousy international speakers this year.

re: TE08: Support from our partners

Terry — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 08:19:04 GMT

For the guys knocking Microsoft for calling on Readify when needed instead of you, you need to look in the mirror rather than whinging to Microsoft. There are lots of ways to get noticed by Microsoft. For the people that asked to speak at TechEd and didn’t get a chance, what evidence did they have that they could do the job? Have then been speaking at user groups, codecamps, delivering MSDN webcasts, etc.? These things have a much lower barrier for entry and you need to establish a track record before anyone’s going to call on you.

I'm more interested in their corporate culture and why they can't seem to keep good people once they have them.

re: TE08: Support from our partners

anon — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 04:22:30 GMT

The issue is not that there was more Readify presense at TechEd. The issue is that others were not given a chance. Look at the comment by Andrew Parsons on Roger’s blog.

“And so many last minute "oh we have a hole, can a Readify guy fill it please?" guys too - awesome work, Readify! :)”

How do you explain this? ‘...can a Readify guy fill it please” You need to have your head checked if you cannot detect favorism here.

Here are few comments from http://www.crn.com.au/News/84433,microsoft-blog-sparks-criticism.aspx

Other side of the coin, Microsoft Australia is rife with cronyism; hang around the lobby while waiting for an appointment and you will see "pal" after "pal", "mate" after "mate" coming for meetings with the same people. I've seen blog posts and Flickr streams of Microsoft employees holidaying and socializing with Microsoft "Partners", only to see those same "Partners" being ushered into deals ahead of any kind of vetting process. It's not only unfair, unconscionable, and unconscientious with regards to other partners, but to some degree, Microsoft staff hold a responsibility to the customers to act impartially and in the fair interest of all partners and customers, by giving friends favors or requesting support from a closed group, such as asking Readify staff to fill presentation slots, before opening that invite up in a public or partner forum, they essentially cheat other partners, and the attendees. And let’s be honest, it's not like the Microsoft staff are naive to the impact a speaking slot at Tech.Ed has on a Partners reputation and brand. It's simply cronyism at its worst, or, Microsoft Australian best.

AND

I once worked at Microsoft North Ryde as a contractor through one of their providers. The buddy culture is rife. They could not stop talking about the same new people. If there was an issue then the first thing you'd hear was Oh! let's call so and so Readify guy. I think that their so called evangelist are doing a disappointing job on the entire community scene. I wonder what their KPIs are. Oh! let me guess. How many favors did we do to Readify or our other crony."

I will leave it upto you guys to explain this. Moreover this is not so much a Readify problem as it is a Microsoft problem.

re: TE08: Support from our partners

Bob — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:54:19 GMT

You forget Nick, someone's gotta do da brown-nosing, might as well be Readify! Look at all the Readify responses here backing themselves up. Gotta laugh. Must be a real love-fest at Readify.

re: TE08: Support from our partners

James McCutcheon — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:33:05 GMT

I thought I would chime in here ... being a) not a microsoft person b) not a readify person in fact far from it c) a competitor to readify that would be happy to employ some of their staff. d) a MVP

I can understand Nicks perspective but I dont agree ... Microsoft gives other companies one being my company nsquared a fair oppertunity and believe there are some great opperunities if you want to take them

re: TE08: Support from our partners

Graeme Armstrong — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:15:34 GMT

Nick, rather than a criticism of Readify’s genuine and considerable support of community, I was hoping your comments were a challenge to other companies to contribute equally and encourage their staff to do likewise. I would be happy to share our experiences with any other Microsoft partners who would like to understand and invest in community more fully.

re: TE08: Support from our partners

Anonymous — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:58:15 GMT

I see your point re:perception, Nick. But then Readify has so many MVPs that even if one MVP does just one presentation in an event like Tech.Ed, it still turns out to be a large over all number. Just out of curiosity - Do you have any MVPs in your company and did they do any presentations at Tech.Ed?

Leaving that aside, I wonder if working at Readify sometimes works against you - Like having a reverse effect on your chances at presenting in an event like Tech.Ed. i.e., you have proven credibility, but there are so many Readify folk presenting that you don't get a chance because Microsoft want to be seen as being impartial.

Just a thought.

re: TE08: Support from our partners

Rob Sanders — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:33:03 GMT

There are quite a number of people who are not affiliated with Readify who participate and contribute to Tech.Ed and other community events.

Perhaps Readify just has a large group of community leaders in its employ?

There are plenty of non-Readify contributors, just ask Peter Ward, Rob Farley, Nick Weinholt, Adam Cogan, Greg Linwood etc etc..