New app for online conversations
By Robertson Work

The first class of organizational and managerial development was beginning in two weeks. I invited my 35 New York University (NYU) grad students to an introductory online discussion. First, they introduced themselves to each other. Then, they shared their learning hopes for the course. Finally, they mentioned an organization that could be the focus of a class team. They were able to respond whenever they wanted. Before class, they returned to the site and reviewed their classmates’ responses to the three questions. When they got to class they had already met each other online and were a community. They knew who was in the room, why they were there and they formed eight project teams in one hour. The software that made all this possible was Trusted Sharing, a new app for online, flextime conversations.


Do you want to have a meaningful conversation with family or friends who live far and wide? Does your NGO or company need to do strategic planning with staff in different locations and time zones? How can citizens and their governments share views concerning policy options? How can you follow up on a face to face meeting? How can your students work in a team outside of class while being in various locations?


These are just a few situations where Trusted Sharing can help. The app, now in an alpha phase, will revolutionise the way the world talks to itself. It is a social enterprise and is free. Developed by Duncan Work, former LinkedIn Chief Scientist, and Ty Hallock, CTO, Trusted Sharing may be the next big thing online. (Duncan is my brother and I am advising Trusted Sharing on how it can be used by facilitators, academics, NGOs, the UN and national and local governments – and I am having fun doing it!)


Check it out at www.trustedsharing.com. You can read an overview of Trusted Sharing there.


You can join and start a conversation with anyone about anything. Unlike Facebook, a Trusted Sharing conversation stays intact and does not disappear in the daily roll down. Unlike Twitter, a Trusted Sharing conversation can be much richer and more useful. Many facilitation methods can be used on Trusted Sharing including the ToP Focused Conversation, Workshop and Strategic Planning, World Café, Open Space, Appreciative Inquiry and others.


The value of a flex-time conversation is that people can participate anytime from anywhere. In addition to testing it this spring with my students at NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, I am also introducing it to the UN’s e-governance branch for use at the local, national, regional and global levels. And in May we hope to introduce Trusted Sharing at a continental conference of the International Association of Facilitators.

Robertson Work, adjunct professor of public administration, is founder/director of Innovative Leadership Services and facilitator/trainer for UNDESA, UN Habitat and the East-West Center, among others. He is a long-time colleague of ICA International.




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