Week Eleven

Assignment: Howard 167-196

As soon as I began reading Chapter 7: Significance in Howard's Design to Thrive, I knew it would be relevant to the current project we are working on with the Oconee Humane Society's website.  According to Howard, the definition of a "significant" network/community is one that is:

• well recognized
• established as the "go-to place" for users
• valued by both frequent users and visitors
• populated by people who are serious and passionate in their field
• distinguished as a reputable brand

These characteristics are exactly what my group hope to make evident on the OHS's website.  The chapter first discusses the paradox of exclusivity, which is actually something we are taking into consideration already.  We just didn't have an actual name for it!  We have suggested to the OHS to allow people to sign up for weekly (or even bi-weekly) emails that will have up-to-date information on volunteer opportunities, product needs (food, cleaning supplies, etc.), and new, adoptable animals.  These emails will allow people to participate exclusively in the overall animal network in the Oconee area.  In other words, people who sign up will have important information before anyone else.

The next section of this chapter that I related to the OHS project was the idea of quality versus quantity. Right now, the website has a great deal of information on the home page and looks busy.  However, our plan is to re-arrange the information in a way that gives the home page more quality and allows people to navigate more easily.  All of the same information will be there, but in a completely different way.

The "influential theory" that Howard discusses can also be applied to the OHS website.  For example, people who seem to know everyone, or "connectors," will contribute to more visitors if they promote the website.  The "mavens" or "salesmen," or animal enthusiasts in this case, will probably be volunteers and workers who want to tell everyone they know about upcoming events and get them to join in.

This reading assignment came at the perfect time in the semester and I cannot wait to implement the ideas presented as a way to promote the Oconee Humane Society overall.