Via Michael Clarke's "Lazyboy blogging" post a terrific collection of interesting sites. (If this is "Lazyboy" blogging clearly Michael sets a high posting standard.)
I was inspired to start a "Tumblelog" and will see if Tumblr delivers on their promise of:
"the refreshingly simple new way to share anything you find, love, hate or create".
What really caught my attention was "TheyRule" briefly explained this way:
"They Rule allows you to create maps of the interlocking directories of the top companies in the US in 2004.
The data was collected from their websites and SEC filings in early 2004, so it may not be completely accurate - companies merge and disappear and directors shift boards."
I found the interface a little confusing at first but how intriguing are the searches.
"TheyRule" and the transparency into boards it provides reminded me of Forbes recently launched Corporate OrgChart Wiki. (My colleague Victoria Axelrod blogged about the special Forbes 90th Anniversary edition on "Networks" that announced the Orgchart wiki.)
Has anyone seen traditional media coverage of either "TheyRule" or the Forbes Corporate OrgChart Wiki for I haven't and I'm wondering about this. I rather imagined the Forbes Wiki would make corporate executives uneasy.
Searching for reactions to both I did find an interesting BusinessWeek blog comment by Stephen Barker who found the OrgChart Wiki disappointing. Why? Because:
"I'm more interested in the informal structures of companies. OK, sew-and-sew is supposed to report to this person, but she actually has most of her interaction with that one. And in fact, there's a whole cluster of people who appear to be under the influence of... Is that an outside contractor?
Those are the sorts of relationships I'm looking for. The org charts in the Forbes Wiki outline the sidewalks and flagstones of corporate world as they're designed from on high. But how about the short cuts people take, those pathways where the grass has been worn away? Those show where people are really walking. They point to real power inside a company. How do we get that information up on a wiki?"
Great point and I have to believe David Krackhardt and Jeffrey Hansen would agree.
~ Jenny Ambrozek