Today was the initial meeting with the client.
From the outset, it seems that my initial fears of communications infrastructure restrictions were unfounded. Access to social media platforms such as Facebook, LinedIn, Twitter are not blocked at all, however it appears that the number of staff that know how to use them appears to be very low in number. Also, there appears to be no known social media or communications policy developed by the organisation, and although at the early stages of experimentation, the reluctance to engage appears to be based around prior procedural approval from management, rather than one of case study and evidence of external engagement.
Topics discussed included
CoG Structure- clarification was presented by the client regarding the way that the cluster operates. Focus on innovation, market links, communication and collaboration were highlighted as the client’s key output indicators.
Environmental Technology sustainable priorities were listed towards: energy, waste management, water and waste water management, and environmental consultancy.
An integral part of external-facing communications should be the successful dissemination of European news about funding and regulations. The organisation is attempting to move away from traditional broadcast techniques, and is trying to encourage open communication in the public domain.
Also, the organisation is about to commission a new CoG website to be designed and built, to integrate into the existing Tridion system.
AWMist
Discussions then moved on to the AWMist mapping system (http://www.awmist.org/). Drawing upon my experience with online video, audio and tagging, this facility will hopefully form an important and integral part of the shape that this Production Lab project takes. During discussions, it was explained to me that the resource was originally commissioned by the IT cluster, with the long-term aim being that the system will be integrated into the Tridion website system, across the AWM clusters.
The natural progression developed into how the AWMist system could make full use of the tagging technology offered by smartphones, and how audio and video could be tagged with geolocation information, that when the website visitor clicked the clien’t link, it offered a pre-produced piece of audio or video to play.
Event
Tomorrow, the ET cluster management team are attending an event in Grantham, East Midlands, which relates to wind-generated power sources, development and industry-leading techniques. I have asked if an attendee list can be collected, so I can try to see who, if any of the delegates are already communicating via social media platforms.
Communications Team Links
Towards the close of the meeting, I was introduced to Sarah Bridge, the ET cluster communications team manager. Sarah appears to be very familiar with the world of Twitter, and appeared to understand the technology terms I was explaining. Sarah explained that it was her department that was developing the social media strategy with the AWM senior management and communications team, and was very much looking forward to being involved with applying technology to help the team communications as a whole.
Partners Identified
Key stakeholders, working partners and individuals already identified at this early stage include:
Gareth Stanley- AWM
Lis Broome- AWM
Mike Musson- AWM (IT dept)
David Terry- RESCO/ Business Link WM
Sarah Bridge- AWM Communications Team
Matthew Rhodes- Staffordshire University
Stuart Whitehill- AWM IT strand manager
Amaze- current web development provider (AWM website)
Possible Partner Developments
The AWM team were keen to investigate how mainstream media could use the developing lab as a potential showcase.
Suggestions of invitation to the April event were welcomed positively.
Further Links
It was requested that I speak with the exhibition stand designer/ manager about technical requirement at the NEC, which I shall do in early March