Search results matching tags 'Developer Community' and 'MVP'

MVPs and the Community

andyleonard — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:51:00 GMT

Introduction

Earlier this month, David Woods decided to drop his MVP award. The move inspired some interesting comments and discussion among MVPs.

David's points are:

MVP Expertise
Microsoft Technology Products
Microsoft "Listens"
Cost-Benefits for an MVP

MVP Expertise

After mentioning he's encountered MVPs who are not experts, David states: "The way you get in is by contributing to the community."

Honestly, I don't know the specifics of how someone becomes a Microsoft MVP. And I'm ok with that. It's Microsoft's program and they can run it however they please. That's not a complaint, compliment, excuse, or endorsement. It's just the way it is. I've watched others become MVPs. I've nominated several people for the award and some of them have been awarded. They weren't awarded because I nominated them - they were awarded because the good folks at the Microsoft MVP Award program checked them out, vetted them, and agreed they should be MVPs.

What exactly does Microsoft consider? I don't know.

I cannot speak to other programs, but I know a lot of SQL Server MVPs. To a person, they're all experts. Do they all know everything about everything in SQL Server? No. But they know an awful lot about their preferred corner of SQL Server. Some rock on the relational engine and T-SQL. Others are masters of storage and SAN administration. Some know business intelligence, some don't. Quite a few SQL Server MVPs are proficient in several areas or disciplines. Very few are laser-focused on one aspect of the technology.

I can hear you thinking "Why?" I'm glad you asked! SQL Server is HUGE! Database professionals refer to the collection of technologies associated with SQL Server as the stack. The stack includes the SQL Server relational database engine, workstation tools for development and administration (SQL Server Management Studio, Busienss Intelligence Development Studio, SQL Server Profiler, Configuration tools, etc.), SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS), SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), and SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS). There are sub-specialties within technologies as well: Notification Services (SQL Server 2005 only), Extended Events, XML, Spacial data, Data Warehousing, Change Data Capture, and more. In other words, there's a lot to keep up with!

I'm not sure who David encountered in his adventures, but it's entirely possible to find a SQL Server MVP who doesn't know much about some portion of the SQL Server stack or sub-specialties.

One of the coolest things about working with SQL Server is the community. The SQL Server community is chock full of expertise! And - news flash - the expertise doesn't lie solely with SQL Server MVPs. What makes this community so cool is: Everyone shares. If I get stuck on some aspect of the technology, I know who to contact for help. If someone gets stuck on a part of the stack that I know, they contact me.

This happens all the time!

Microsoft Technology Products

If you step back, you realize that Microsoft is a software development shop. They work with others to make devices (Zune, XBox, etc.), but David takes aim at a few software platforms and products.

Being a software development shop means sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. Sometimes your software is the hottest thing on the market; sometimes your software is not so hot. It happens to me, you... and Microsoft. Because Microsoft is larger and more experienced at building software, they're held to a higher standard than you or me. I don't hear them complaining about that. Instead, I see them working very hard to improve processes and the quality of their deliverables. This feeds into David's complaints about...

Microsoft "Listens"

David states "most products you never hear about until it is too late." I understand how this can be frustrating to anyone providing feedback to Microsoft who doesn't understand development lifecycles. I'm not sure I can share what I know about how Microsoft develops software internally.

Aside: MVPs know things that are not common knowledge. This bugs some people. If this bugs you, I'm sorry. Your government is keeping things from you. If you're in business, your competitor is as well. You never know everything, or even everything you want to know. That's part of life.

I know everyone who builds software employs some kind of development life cycle. At some point in this life cyle, there's a feature lock where nothing new is added to the product without major adjustment to the remainder of the life cycle. There are ways to develop software to facilitate for constantly-shifting requirements and these methodologies lend themselves to developing certain types of applications and platforms. But let's take a step back and think about the nature of a constantly-shifting-requirements application: this is messy. Will developing software in this manner lead to improved processes and quality for the deliverables?

Cost-Benefits for an MVP

I honestly don't know how to address this complaint. It smacks of what-have-you-done-for-me-lately. Maybe I'm being harsh - that is not my intention. I will share this: I know lots of people who aren't MVPs that travel to events to share their passion and expertise, and they do so at their own expense. I know plenty of MVPs who do the same, and all I know did so before they were awarded MVP. It may very well be part of the reason they are MVPs today, but (again) I do not know the criteria Microsoft uses to award MVPs.

Personally, I don't look at the expense. I don't (usually) drop in, present, and leave. I also receive training while attending events - especially events like the PASS Summit, Code Camps, and SQL Saturdays. I always learn something!

I also know of a lot of non-MVP community people who work behind the scenes to manage User Group meetings and the events listed above. They're all volunteers. I'm not sure of all their motivations, I can't see their hearts. But I see their tireless actions.

Volunteering isn't for everyone. And even those who enjoy volunteering can burn out. Perhaps that's what happened here. If so, I hope David takes a well-deserved break and returns to his community.

Conclusion

My experiences with the Microsoft MVP program have been positive. That's not to say there hasn't been the occasional bump in the road, but even during rough patches I've been treated with trust and respect by my peers (MVPs or no) and Microsoft.

:{>

Project Phoenix

andyleonard — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 11:00:00 GMT

Introduction

A few years back, Microsoft gave MVPs MSDN Subcription cards they could pass on to others. The cards gave recipients access to a full-year MSDN Ultimate subscription - a $12,000 value.

At the time, I was nominated for MVP but not awarded. So an MVP gave me one of the cards. He told me he believed I would be an MVP one day and then I would know what it's like to help make someone's dream come true. He was right. Earlier this year I also received three MSDN subscription cards. I gave one to a local community volunteer who does a ton of free work for local non-profits, a second was a prize at a Richmond SQL Server Users Group meeting, and a third was given away as part of a contest held right here on my blog.

Enter Project Phoenix

Arnie Rowland (Blog | @ArnieRowland) set out earlier this year to put his MSDN Subscription cards to good use, and he enlisted the support of several MVPs in this effort. In his first post on the topic, Arnie wrote There will be no 'Free Lunch' -just great feelings of accomplishment. The idea is elegant and awesome, and Arnie says it best:

This year, I will be seeking proposals from unemployed (or under-employed) developers that would use the tools to improve their skills with .NET, SQL Server, and Windows 7 Phone. The proposals should be for a project for a non-profit -either a new project or an upgrade to an existing project. In addition to the Microsoft MDSN Ultimate subscription, Pluralsight will provide a three month subscription to the training content available in their On-Demand!™ .NET Training Library, O'Reilly Press will provide three (3) books of the winner's choice, APress will provide three books(3) of the winner's choice, ComponentOne will provide Studio Enterprise components and tools, DevExpress will provide a one year subscription for DXperience Enterprise w/CodeRush, RedGate will provide a license for ANTS Performance Profiler, and Quest Software will provide a a license for Toad® for SQL Server.

The idea is to provide the recipient access to all of the tools needed to improve his/her skills, an opportunity to gain practical experience, the potential to earn a recommendation and/or referral –and to positively contribute to society as a form of 'give-back'. No free lunch, just sweat equity –the kind that makes us all feel good for the effort.

What a great idea!

Conclusion

If you're unemployed or under-employed, Project Phoenix is offering a win-win scenario for you and deserving non-profits.

An eligible developer may submit project proposal information here.

An eligible non-profit may submit a project proposal here.

:{>

Congratulations MVPs - New and Renewed!

andyleonard — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 11:00:00 GMT

Microsoft recognizes Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) on the first day of each quarter and yesterday was an "MVP Day."

Some people had a great day yesterday. Congratulations to new and renewed MVPs! Others were disappointed. I've been there and want to encourage those nominated and not awarded. You're not doing community stuff for an MVP award - you're doing it for the community. Keep doing what you're doing. Recognition will come and go. Satisfaction isn't in awards, it's in watching the community grow.

Keep doing that.

:{>