One rotten apple can so easily spoil the bunch... - A world apart from the everday ...

A world apart from the everday ...

Assert.IsTrue(Entries.Count == 0);

One rotten apple can so easily spoil the bunch...

So with the MVP summit currently under way in Redmond I am once again reminded of the different caliber local MVPs out there.

Some of the guys are brilliant and do fabulous work in the communities for their respective areas of speciality. They blog constantly with interesting posts, tips and tricks that they've picked up from their daily experiences using the technologies. They host community events, deep dives, training sessions; often free to the community. Even now as we speak, whilst they're off hot knobbing with the big brains out there at the MVP summit they constantly blog, letting us know what is happening and where they can let us know about the new exciting things we can be expecting down the road. These guys are clearly passionate about their areas of speciality and do what they can to share their knowledge and enthusiasm with the rest of the community.

I am talking about Willy-Peter Schaub for Team System and Zlatan for Sharepoint  in particular... well done guys; you do a great job! These guys host user groups, blog regularly with very valuable information, host training sessions etc. It is in part due to their constant knowledge sharing in respective areas that I have personally found a new interest in these technologies.

And then...

Then you get those on the opposite poles to the category mentioned above...

Well, what can we say about them? These are the guys that year after year get voted into their roles yet you NEVER hear about them. In fact one particular case I did not know we even had a local MVP until one of the foreign MVPs I had been interacting with often suggested I contact the local guy ... what we have a local MVP? Jeesh blow me over ... These guys head off to MVP summit year after year yet never seem to share any of the knowledge gained with the guys back home. You never see them presenting at events, you never hear of them doing anything in the communities and even their blog sites are dead with not a single post in the last 6+ months. I shall refrain from mentioning individuals from this group in a public space like this, for obvious reasons but I am sure we have all had our dealings with them.

quoted from http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) are exceptional technical community leaders from around the world who are awarded for voluntarily sharing their high quality, real world expertise in offline and online technical communities

So they are meant to be leaders in the community; imagine that...

quoted from http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

MVPs tend to be early adopters of new technology and actively communicate their experiences to millions of other technology users. Through their extensive community activity, MVPs help others solve problems and discover new capabilities, helping people get the maximum value from their technology.

They're meant to volunteer their time and knowledge helping out other professionals!?!

Yeah granted it's not an easy job! We all understand that you yourself are holding down a regular day job; but I guess that's the price you gotta pay for fame and fortune. Some are doing it really well, and others seem to not even try. In fact some are down right negative when it comes to their involvement with community events and user groups.

So what I want to know is how year after year some of these guys get voted in?

quoted from http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/mvpawardintro

In order to receive the Microsoft MVP Award, MVP nominees undergo a rigorous review process. Technical community members, current MVPs, and Microsoft personnel may nominate candidates. A panel that includes MVP team members and product group teams evaluate each nominee's technical expertise and voluntary community contributions for the past year. The panel considers the quality, quantity, and level of impact of the MVP nominee's contributions. Active MVPs receive the same level of scrutiny as other candidates each year.

So that is how it is meant, but how does the nomination process and voting system really work?

Do you think I am being harsh and unfair? I would love to hear from the current SA MVPs or those in the know....

Should a few rotten apples be allowed to spoil the bunch?

PS. There are other great local MVPs (past and present); so if I did not mention you specifically then for that I apologise; but you know who you are.

And for the rest ... If the shoe fits...

Share this post: email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | reddit! | kick it! | live it!
Posted: Apr 16 2008, 06:31 PM by Ryan CrawCour | with 8 comment(s)
Filed under:

Comments

Willie Roberts said:

I tend to agree with you regarding some of the MVP's being very quiet. However I am aware of two that recieved their status because of what they do behind the scenes. One in particular spends every year training and mentoring one under priviliged student and helps him complete his MCPD exams through tutoring and one and one training twice a week.

As for the how. No one knows, not even Ruari is privvy to the voting process. The nomination form gives a slight indication however it only remains a guideline, there is no sure way of receiving the reward. Also there is actually a very small set of people that even know about the MVP channel or what it even means.

# April 16, 2008 9:27 PM

Ruari said:

Hi

Thank you for your comments and observations, I have in the past presented on the MVP program and the nomination process at sadeveloper events thanks to the leads inviting me to do so. I am more than willing to do this at any time.

The process is intense and I agree there is NO tick list as the more active people are, the higher the bar becomes. So the community folk actually set the bar through nominations and contributions on various levels. (bear in mind all community work [like university] also counts that many might not be privy to you unless you are also active in that area. (are you active in all community spaces? as MVPs can't be expected to be visible in every community ;-) )

Invite me to one of your meetings and I'll share my knowledge with you all.

# April 17, 2008 7:33 AM

Ryan CrawCour said:

Willie;

Thanks for your input. I completely agree that an MVP helping students pass their MCP exams is definitely GOOD community work.

Like I said, if the shoe fits ... in this particular case the shoe clearly does not fit.

# April 17, 2008 8:41 AM

Ryan CrawCour said:

Ruari;

Thanks for you input, very valuable in terms of clearing some things up. I agree with you and Willie, there might well be the odd MVP that works their butt off behind the scenes but can you honestly say that every MVP out there today is worth their weight in stature (so to speak).

If you say the commnity folk drive the process, can the community (and I do mean the extended community) nominate and vote? If not then it isn't really community driven.

I am most certainly not active in all community spaces, and I agree nobody can be omnipresent, but some never step out of the shadows (IMHO).

# April 17, 2008 8:54 AM

Simon Stewart said:

Hey

First a little disclaimer.  I was a C# MVP 2003-2005.  I was nominated and awarded as a result of being involved in the MDUG user group and having co-started and run SADeveloper along with Ruari Plint and MS SA.

I didn't put my name forward for renomination for numerous professional reasons.

Now, back to this post:

I know several of the local MVPs and have the upmost respect for the ones I know.  Dont know many of the new ones so can't comment.

PLEASE remember that the MVP award is just that ... an award for *past* achievements.  So, just because someone is an MVP doesn't necessarily mean that are still involved.  It's uncommon, but still valid.

The best litmus test MS can use after having awarded someone as an MVP is when they don't need to introduce them - i.e. everyone knows them before hand and knows the hard work they've put into their community - case in point, Mario.

As Willie pointed out, MVP's get awarded for diverse reasons - not always visible to the community at large.

I think that MS should promote the local MVPs more.  I know all the info is on the international MS site, but some biographical info on the MS SA site would be good IMHO.

If you think that one of the local MVPs is acting in a way that is not becoming of their award, contact MS.  It's one of the things in the MVP agreement.

Summary: agree with your post, but bear in mind that MVP = award.

# April 17, 2008 12:32 PM

Rudi Grobler said:

Excellent post!

Rudi

# April 17, 2008 1:34 PM

willy said:

Happy to see that our passion for the technology and community efforts are adding value to your world. Your efforts, passion in BizTalk and your experience in the technology, by the way, is not going unnoticed! In South-Africa, Ryan==BTS, in terms of an immediate association.

# May 16, 2008 7:43 AM

Willy-Peter Schaub's Cave of Chamomile Simplicity said:

On our recent tour visiting universities and evangelising TFS, VSTS and integration with Java environments

# July 25, 2008 7:34 AM
Leave a Comment

(required) 

(required) 

(optional)

(required) 


Enter the numbers above: