CIMAsphere is opening up to the public to read and join soon [UPDATE: we launched publicly on 13th July], so when you're contributing to the community it's worth thinking about how that content reflects back upon you, both now and in the future...
Perhaps you hadn’t realised yet that CIMAsphere's login-to-view status is only for the duration of the pilot. We've covered this before - here, here and here for example - but it might have passed you by. We started with a closed pilot, as before we opened the community to the world we wanted to give members and students a chance to use it for themselves and feedback (here and in the survey linked to on the login page) on what we’d done.
So how can we all benefit from openness? Or to look at it another way, how will it impact you when things you say on CIMAsphere can be found through Google and other search engines?
Top 5 benefits of opening CIMAsphere:
1. You'll be able to tap into the expertise of a much wider audience. Knowledge and advice can be exchanged with accountants, students, researchers and business practitioners more generally. The focus is still on management accounting, but input from a broader network of professionals will enrich discussions on CIMAsphere and multiply its value.
2. Networking opportunities will increase. The CIMAsphere community will be a place to make contacts, develop a profile and build your career. Our bloggers will connect with external bloggers and a much wider readership. Employers and students will mingle and learn more about each other. Companies will spot talented participants, and those on the lookout will learn more about employers, places, topics and sectors they're interested in.
3. Allowing CIMAsphere content to be accessible through search engines like Google will help us all find the content more easily. It’s common to use search engines to search for content, even if we know the website has its own search facility. Convenience is a powerful thing. In turn, making the content discoverable through search will support the community’s growth and its reputation.
4. The global and local needs of accountants and business more broadly will become clearer - as professionals have a place to articulate the issues and challenges they face. CIMA will learn more about what students and members require to be successful in both their studies and their professional lives, and use this insight to improve CIMA's service.
5. Public awareness and understanding of management accounting will be expanded by our conversations. As a supportive platform, CIMAsphere will embody the professional and educational journey.
TIPS FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN CIMASPHERE:
Here are our top tips for managing your online reputation - or what's known as your "digital footprint".
- When you're talking about sensitive issues such as unemployment, re-location, or work-related problems, be aware that prospective and current employers may be reading - should they know that you're out of work, dissatisfied, or planning to leave?
- If there is a clear benefit to hosting private or restricted conversations, private groups can be set-up in our Groups area. But the benefits of being closed and private need to clearly outweigh those of being open before we host such a group. [10/7/09 update: our groups have been changed - now you must join a group to see its content]
- Google and other search engines have a long memory, and in years to come what you say now may still be available on the internet. Even when websites re-launch or disappear, old content can still be accessed through archives and copies made elsewhere on the web.
- Difficulties with exams or studying? It's not unusual. Exams can also be a time of panic, stress, excitement and worry, but take care not to write or make casual remarks about your studies in a way that makes you seem less capable than you are.
- Careers last longer and are more varied than they used to be. Criticising a company now might seem harmless to you, but in 1, 5 or 10 years you might want to work for them. Don't prejudice potential employers (or recruits) against you. Companies research the people they interview, and vice versa. Constructive criticism is of course welcomed - and more likely to impact companies for the better. But think about how you chose your words.
- We don't recommend publicly sharing personal information that can be abused by others such as email addresses, phone numbers, etc (see this post). Use the website messaging system to contact people. If you're determined to share details publicly - do it in your Profile page where you can change, edit and control your privacy settings. But be aware that email addresses may be picked up by spammers.
Getting to grips with public conversation isn't unique to CIMAsphere - many other websites and organisations are shifting to a more open approach. Once you've weighed-up the benefits and reviewed the implications, we hope the open conversation will help and benefit you.
Your "digital footprint" doesn't have to be risky - so make it work in your favour! Lots to think about here. Let us know what you think on the Using CIMAsphere board or in the comments below...
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