The Scoble/Mini-Microsoft Debate

First, let me say, clearly that both of these individuals are human beings with families and lives. I point out the stuff they do for the purposes of study not for the purpose of grading or passing judgment. So, no flames on/for either.

I’ve gotten a number of emails asking me various questions on the Robert Scoble vs, Mini-Microsoft thing I laid out in a previous posting.   I’ve tried to put the answers into this one post. Thanks for sending the emails, I appreciate all of them, keep em coming.

I’ve been watching the corporate blogging thing for some time, both from a VC (aka Greed) perspective as well as a management study.  I’ve debated, on/off line with many people the long term value and impact of blogging.

To me, the Scoble/Mini thing is an excellent case study on a number of fronts.

Comments/Conversation.

Robert, for example, calls his comments the mud pit and are not really followed by me. I value the post itself and see the impacts from others who quote/link to his stuff.  Mini, on the other hand, has had some really raging debates inside the comment sections. Reading his posts without the comment section will cause you to miss much. So, for me, it’s an interesting situation. A public, here is my phone number guy (Scoble) and an anonymous, I don’t want to be fired guy (Mini). Both well read, well debated, and both having some interesting perspectives but very different things happening in the comment sections.

Value

Value comes in a number of flavors. Let’s talk about value to the host company (Microsoft in this case). If you were a super smart person with two job offers, does anything of this blogging stuff impact your job choice? In some of the mini comments, you see various insights into the company that might impact your decision. Robert’s blog also might impact your choice because he spends a fair amount of time on products and development activities.

Would either blog be considered must read? Well, if you are developing on a MSFT platform, you might consider Robert’s must read as keeping up on your platform developer is probably important to you. 

There is, of course, the personal brand issues for both bloggers. If Mini decides to do an inside book, does the blog have value? Dunno, but it is interesting.

Other

To answer the question on anonymous v. named, I personally believe that with minor tweaks, like dropping the direct personal attacks, the Mini blog could easily be a named blog. I still believe, perhaps wrongly, that all the blogging has done is expose to a greater public what has been going on since almost day one at MSFT, that being raging debates on everything. Again, I admit that it’s been a very long time since I’ve been there and these are different times, but I’ve always admired the company’s ability to have anybody at any level, talk to anybody else at any other level. So, strictly from that point, it would be a shame if the company had evolved away from that culture to the extent that Mini truly believes he’d be fired if people knew his name. Could be, but that would be a true shame.

To answer the numerous comments about apples/oranges comparision, understood. To me, in order to get a full understanding of your partner, supplier, or competitor, it helps to get a full view of what you are dealing with.  Knowing the thoughts of ex-employees, mini/scoble, and all the other people who choose to blog in/out/about Microsoft, should be of value to you.

To answer the question on who will ‘go out the door’ first, sorry, my opinion doesn’t matter. I’m assuming both of these guys go to work because they want to and will make the changes when they get to the point where it is an ‘un-fun’ thing to do.

On the reading question: I have Robert in my RSS Reader, Mini I hit from time to time for the comments. Yes, I’ve met Robert in person.

Thanks for the emails, I greatly respect/appeciate civil dialog. 

Comments

[Mini-Microsoft]

Thanks for the post, Mr. Segal. I, ah, have sorta pressed the pause button on comments right now. I felt things were getting a bit overheated and needed a cool-down. I look forward to turning them on in the future, but I'll probably be inclined to delete off-topic rants / trolls and such.

I've had some one-off conversations with ex-Microsofties, too. As of late, the burden of process and the review system have been their complaints. Everyone seems to absolutely love what ever they are doing post-Microsoft. Very few would consider coming back unless Microsoft remade itself into a dynamic, fair, workplace-innovative place.

Take care,
Mini.

[Larry Borsato]

Rick, I've worked with startups, medium size, and large companies. I honestly can't think of one that wouldn't fire Mini for his externally visible comments, rather than consider the possibility that he might have some good points.

In fact, I can think of a few companies who would happily restructure you for even bringing up such topics internally, because they don't like people making waves.

In fact, in one situation where the company was experiencing high turnover (>25% in one quarter) people were sending mass emails to let colleagues know they were leaving. Rather than look at the root cause, management's answer was to tell people not to send email any more. There was even a suggestion (tongue in cheek I assume) that there would be a fine for such emails.

Microsoft could be a different kind of company, but nobody likes their dirty laundry aired publicly. Scoble never really attacks Microsoft as a company; he just suggests things they could be doing, but he is far more often hyping the company.

[Rick Segal]

Hi Larry,
As always, thanks for stopping by and offering up the comments. I understand the prevailing view and your comments are well thought out. I'd like to believe the 'good ol days' were true but, you could be right.