Of all the things they could have disabled (i.e. redundant badges), why choose the influence score? I was just about to contact PM experts to partake in a study/survey, and my criteria for "experts" included a high influence score. Saving Changes...
I was not aware of this measure being taken. I do not agree. Despite some people misused it by posting irrelevant questions or by adding "thanks for sharing" to every possible post, those were just a few individuals.
Influence score was a good way to identify people with the highest influence within the projectmanagement.com community, nothing wrong with that.
Dear Eduardo,
I agree it is a good metric to see who has the greatest influence in the project management community.
For me I found it hard to move the dial on my own popularity which was somewhere around the mid table :-)
I wonder what alternative PMI will propose in its place. Maybe they will increase the diversity of badges available only making some badges for the more popular folks amongst us :-)
Agree. Although the rating factors were (to my knowledge) never published, it was a useful indicator.
Hi John. The algorithm always had me perplexed. Members with little activity mainating high scores; others we a lot of activity not being able to break the ceiling. Saving Changes...
The Influence score has disappeared from my profile page.
I do not know if it is connected but I did get and email from PMI at 06:33 am IST titled "Share your good influence".
Maybe it is only a temporary measure to stop the spread of the Coronavirus :-)
Daire
Hi Daire, it's permanent I'm afraid, unless they wake up and realize it was one of the attractions for member engagement, love it or hate it. You don't build gamification into websites, increase engagement, only to pull key attractions in that gamification process from under members' feet.
...
1 reply by Daire Guiney
Mar 31, 2020 9:23 AM
Daire Guiney
...
Dear Sante,
The fact the used the term 'retire' for removing and discontinuing the use of influence means that they must think that it has some how lost it relevance and is not a true reflection of a members engagement and content generation within the community.
As others have said the algorithm they used seemed to apply in varying degrees and longevity caused you score to go up and down depending on you level of engagement. It seemed harder and harder to move the dial. Instead it was about maintaining your existing score.
I was hoping to take a screenshot of my #2 position...
Maybe one of our helpful Community Engagement Specialists could do me a favor and find a way to do that for me :-) (hint, hint, Laura & Kimberly).
Kiron
Hi Kiron, kind of like taking screenshots of old badges that still appear in the badge list. Does taking a screenshot of the number two position really do anything for you, given that you should have been number 1 for over a year given your engagement with the community?
...
1 reply by Kiron Bondale
Mar 31, 2020 1:39 PM
Kiron Bondale
...
Thanks for the kind words, Sante! You are right, that a historical snapshot is of limited value - maybe I can get the screenshot which Luis kindly sent me yesterday silk-screened onto a t-shirt for posterity :-)
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Sante
Unfortunately PMI decided to retire the Influence Score. There was a blog by Laura about this (Check Kiron's comment).
I know it might not be a great decision and we all feel sad about it but at the end, it is just a number and there is northing much we can do about it now anyways. We have bigger COVID19 problems to deal with :-)
RK
...
1 reply by Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
Mar 30, 2020 3:04 PM
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
...
Hi Rami. I agree, but when they include gamification into a website, of all the things they could take out, they decide on the number 1 gamification feature that most people (of any real influence) care about. Like most autocracies, there was no engagement or discussion with the community about it before deciding. They keep the largest network, most disucssions and comments indicators, but delete the influence score? Insane in my view. It would be interesting to see the metrics on the engagement of the (former) high influencers to see if it drops.
I was not aware of this measure being taken. I do not agree. Despite some people misused it by posting irrelevant questions or by adding "thanks for sharing" to every possible post, those were just a few individuals.
Influence score was a good way to identify people with the highest influence within the projectmanagement.com community, nothing wrong with that.
The only reason I can think of is they have appeased the masses to create a level of mediocrity amongst the hordes. When the surfs can see the noble's eating mutton and chugging wine, while they toil over a loaf of bread and cup of rice, the masses become uneasy and envious. That's when the Lords sweep in and offer some respite from their woes by diverting their attention from what is really offending the surfs - the influence score of the nobles - and make them feel like they are the same, but without putting in the same level of effort, engagement and knowledge. That's my little medieval analogy.
Unfortunately PMI decided to retire the Influence Score. There was a blog by Laura about this (Check Kiron's comment).
I know it might not be a great decision and we all feel sad about it but at the end, it is just a number and there is northing much we can do about it now anyways. We have bigger COVID19 problems to deal with :-)
RK
Hi Rami. I agree, but when they include gamification into a website, of all the things they could take out, they decide on the number 1 gamification feature that most people (of any real influence) care about. Like most autocracies, there was no engagement or discussion with the community about it before deciding. They keep the largest network, most disucssions and comments indicators, but delete the influence score? Insane in my view. It would be interesting to see the metrics on the engagement of the (former) high influencers to see if it drops. Saving Changes...
George FreemanThought Leader | Author | Architect| Florida, United States
Although I will also miss the influence score, I tend to believe that it is part of a strategy for taking the site/platform to a new level. PMI knows more than anyone the patterns of behavior on the site related to specific features/functions, as it is fully measurable and would be part of routine site management.
Would they remove a feature if they thought it would detrimentally impact the value and draw of the site? I do not think so; therefore, its part of a plan that we should see unfold over time, hopefully, near-time.
Food for thought.
...
1 reply by Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
Mar 30, 2020 6:25 PM
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
...
@George, a new level is correct. Up or down remains to be seen. No, they wouldn't remove a feature if they "thought" it would impact the value/draw of the site. But thinking it doesn't make it so. If they had asked the community (especially the top 100 influencers) they would havae received a resounding NO to removing that feature. So the best way to avoid hearing "no" is to have zero engament or discussion with those affected by the change, and remove the feature anyway. Rather than ask will the change be detrimental, they should ask will the change benefit the site and increase engagement. I suspect no, but time will tell on that one.
Community Champion
