One of the frequent issues that I have heard expressed by both speakers and IBMers (who are sometimes both) at Lotusphere over the past few years is that evaluations are not filled out. I think IBM can fix this. Create a completely predictable URL for the evaluations. If you are worried about either spam or astroturfing, make people log in to use it. For example, if you wanted to evaluate BP212, you could use www.securelotusphere.com/sessionevals.nsf/RecordEval?OpenForm&Sessid=BP212 (or whatever).
Have the form pre-filled with session name, time, speakers, whatever you can deduce from your data. Have it simple enough and small enough to allow mobile use. Think Google front page, but without the logo.
This may seem like a simple step, although I have been unable to convince anyone at IBM to do it in past years. But think of the potential benefits:
1) In the Sessions database, I could have a button called Fill Out Evaluation that was hidden until the session start time. Speakers could encourage attendees to click and evaluate, minimizing their chance of escape.
2) Even more potential for the iPhone and Blackberry and other mobile versions. People should be able to click on a button, record their impressions, all before the crowd thinned in the room and they could move on.
3) After the session, if somebody emails or tweets a speaker, or chats to them on Sametime, and says, "Hey, loved your session, but the room was too damn small", the speaker could respond with a URL saying, "Glad you liked it. Have you filled out an eval at
http://bit.ly/hXWnyT to let them know?"
Make it easy to get to, during and shortly after the session. Make the attendee fill out the absolute minimum by using what you already know. Make them know that IBM can work smarter.
Anybody have any thoughts or reactions? Anybody know who might be able to make it happen?
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Tags: Lotusphere