Coworking needs more transparency and Coworker involvement
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Felix Schürholz
Mar 9, 2012, 7:59:45 AM3/9/12
to Coworking
link to article: http://bit.ly/xv94um
As I was just researching on an article on “Free Coworking” , more
precisely on “Free Coworking Grants”, I noticed something that we
should become more aware of. In trying to make a better coworking
world, we run the danger of becoming slaves to an apparently “cozy”
but artificial design world. In doing so, we tend to relate more to
the building and things rather than to our coworkers. To give you an
example. There are a lot of coworking sites now that promote coworking
offers. A lot of them are very nicely done, with very attractive
pictures. One example “SharedDesks”. The example chosen is random, I
picked London, and this is what I found. Very beautiful, I think
everyone will agree, but something is missing. It is not only the
people that are missing in the picture, but more importantly there is
no feedback loop. You cannot comment on this or any other coworking
offer as a user. And this is the same on all the other sites I found
in the net.
In contrast there is a site in the net called “yelp”, where you will
find “real reviews” by “real people” as the site claims. There you
find pictures and reviews of coworking offers. These reviews and
pictures can be nice and positive or more in the “ok” category.*
*[Note: While writing this article one negative review (one star) for
Citizen Space San Jose was deleted, see picture below. So much for
transparency :-(((()]
link to article: http://bit.ly/xv94um
I think we need more of this feedback from coworkers. To get this we
need more transparency and more coworker involvement. Everyone of us
can contribute to this. We started “Free Coworking” to address this
need. We need more collaboration, more team work, more social capital.
Join our Facebook Group, add yourself to the “Skill-Sharing“, start a
local “Free Coworking” campaign. Here is where you can start: Spaces:
http://bit.ly/zzO5wH
, Coworker: http://bit.ly/Input_Free_Coworking_Skill_Sharing
As I was just researching on an article on “Free Coworking” , more
precisely on “Free Coworking Grants”, I noticed something that we
should become more aware of. In trying to make a better coworking
world, we run the danger of becoming slaves to an apparently “cozy”
but artificial design world. In doing so, we tend to relate more to
the building and things rather than to our coworkers. To give you an
example. There are a lot of coworking sites now that promote coworking
offers. A lot of them are very nicely done, with very attractive
pictures. One example “SharedDesks”. The example chosen is random, I
picked London, and this is what I found. Very beautiful, I think
everyone will agree, but something is missing. It is not only the
people that are missing in the picture, but more importantly there is
no feedback loop. You cannot comment on this or any other coworking
offer as a user. And this is the same on all the other sites I found
in the net.
In contrast there is a site in the net called “yelp”, where you will
find “real reviews” by “real people” as the site claims. There you
find pictures and reviews of coworking offers. These reviews and
pictures can be nice and positive or more in the “ok” category.*
*[Note: While writing this article one negative review (one star) for
Citizen Space San Jose was deleted, see picture below. So much for
transparency :-(((()]
link to article: http://bit.ly/xv94um
I think we need more of this feedback from coworkers. To get this we
need more transparency and more coworker involvement. Everyone of us
can contribute to this. We started “Free Coworking” to address this
need. We need more collaboration, more team work, more social capital.
Join our Facebook Group, add yourself to the “Skill-Sharing“, start a
local “Free Coworking” campaign. Here is where you can start: Spaces:
http://bit.ly/zzO5wH
, Coworker: http://bit.ly/Input_Free_Coworking_Skill_Sharing
Enrico Cassinelli | SharedDesks
Mar 10, 2012, 6:07:12 AM3/10/12
to Coworking
Hello Felix,
I'm Enrico from the SharedDesks team.
I usually only read this group, but since you've mentioned us
directly, I'm goint to "step in" for the first time :-)
We have been discussing if we should add a "review" feature a couple
of times, and we did not yet come up with a clear decision about that:
as you noted if you can't guarantee 100% transparency it becomes
useless, and there are also some moderation issues ie. you never know
if a review, both a negative or a positive one, is a true review by a
real user or if it's a fake.
I just wanted to let you know that we are aware of the issues you
pointed out above, and we are taking them in serious consideration.
Cheers
Enrico
I'm Enrico from the SharedDesks team.
I usually only read this group, but since you've mentioned us
directly, I'm goint to "step in" for the first time :-)
We have been discussing if we should add a "review" feature a couple
of times, and we did not yet come up with a clear decision about that:
as you noted if you can't guarantee 100% transparency it becomes
useless, and there are also some moderation issues ie. you never know
if a review, both a negative or a positive one, is a true review by a
real user or if it's a fake.
I just wanted to let you know that we are aware of the issues you
pointed out above, and we are taking them in serious consideration.
Cheers
Enrico
Jacob Sayles
Mar 10, 2012, 11:42:08 PM3/10/12
to cowo...@googlegroups.com
Joel from Deskmag/Deskwanted had a lot of great ideas at GCUC about how to go about connecting members of spaces and we had another talk about software tools for members. I was all over the place so I only heard parts of these conversations but I will say that the best thing we can do is get our members talking. And by that I mean talking about whatever it is they are talking about, not just reviews.
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Craig Baute - Creative Density Coworking
Mar 13, 2012, 12:27:13 PM3/13/12
to Coworking
I think it is important to remember that as coworking owners we see a
lot of our members on a very regular basis and talk to them in person.
If there is not a lot conversations going online doesn't mean there
isn't a lot of conversations happening elsewhere. For example, many
coworking spaces hold town hall meetings where problems and plans are
brought up and discussed openly and transparently.
Craig
Creative Density
lot of our members on a very regular basis and talk to them in person.
If there is not a lot conversations going online doesn't mean there
isn't a lot of conversations happening elsewhere. For example, many
coworking spaces hold town hall meetings where problems and plans are
brought up and discussed openly and transparently.
Craig
Creative Density
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