In social networks like FaceBook, applications are embedded in the service itself and are not usable outside the service to keep users in the environment. With iGoogle social gadgets, it’s the future possibility of taking the gadgets in any other environment, because Google gadgets are made to be reusable thanks, in particular, to the OpenSocial standard launched two years ago.

So, it’s the opposite of the strategy of FaceBook that Google sets up, the ability to disseminate massively social functions in (pervasive in English) other web services

Google is faithful to his way of growing.

It is also one more step taken by the realtime web: permanent and real-time interconnection of Internet users through its services.

After having precisely defined the global idea of the project as explained in the previous note, we had to complete the website we were responsible of. We won this part of the contract because of our proposed costs and solution given the short notice (less than 8 weeks for the first version), that were realistic unlike other responses to the tender).

We were able to propose this thanks to:

• An offshore development team (reducing costs)
• An agile method of project management (gain speed and quality)
• The XWiki development platform

The set up of an offshore development team

To provide competitive cost of development, Kimind has been working from the beginning with an offshore development team located in China. We have acquired a great expertise on the subject, tested on many large scale projects. The offshore development is a very current topic… It clearly requires a good knowledge of remote collaborative work  and management, and agile methodologies when you are a small team. Which is fortunate, because everyone is teleworking at Kimind !

In addition to financial benefits, the agile operating methodology used with the development team, needed because of distance to avoid skidding, greatly contributes to fluidify the project progress!

Quality monitoring and compliance with specifications , reporting

Our client did not have to directly deal with the development team. A Kimind’s consultant acted as an interface and has been the single point of contact and project management. This avoids the communication problems associated with offshore.

The consultant acts as a coordinator between the different actors (customers, developers, designers …), supports the definition of detailed functional specifications based on feedbacks and monitors quality and progress.

The reporting was done transparently using a collaborative platform website, Google Sites in this case, since it was possible for our customer to follow the project evolution in real time and to give their feedback when necessary. Indeed, developers reported directly their progress there, specifications and other documentations were stored, avoiding any functional misunderstanding.

By the way, we notice that this way of working often helps to make people more sensitive to the “2.0″ working methods, and they often emerge conquered! (Once the apprehension of the lack of an ultra-detailed specification is exceeded (aka “the umbrella”)) ☺

We were able to show a large flexibility. The agile methodology used, based on short iterations and customers’ feedbacks allow us to anticipate and resolve problems quickly, and also to change the specifications throughout the project if necessary, keeping well in mind the imperatives of time.

Finally

We have managed from start to finish the project, from requirements definition to delivery, providing both functional expertise and technical execution. All this, on the basis of very competitive costs due to the offshore development team and the use of the open source XWiki platform for development.

The client was very satisfied by the result that was shown in a trade show less than 8 weeks after starting the project and has fully covered its expectations (functional, budgetary, delays). Feedbacks on the project progress were very positive, particularly concerning the reactivity of different actors and flexibility.

But all this was possible only because of the mutual trust relationship: no one was hiding behind a rigid 200 pages specifications, and everyone (the client, we, developers, designers …) worked with one goal in mind: keeping responsibilities and completing the project. This is for a light project management: a great confidence and reliability of collaborators.

Kimind delivered at the end of summer the first version of a Web 2.0 site on behalf of one of our customers which specializes in car parts equipment. A project we have supported from requirements definition to delivery passing by its executions.

The context

The technical documentation center wanted to launch a platform enabling them to provide their customers with the documentation associated with their products, that is so far stored in inaccessible places, not really available and in different formats: text documents, presentations, videos … Moreover, their partners needed to easily add content themselves, and that customers can efficiently navigate in it. It should also facilitate interactions (comments, rating system …) to eventually create a community around the catalog and make it a reference, without falling into the complexities of many online catalogs.

Obviously we had to share the draft central contribution of Web 2.0 to this project: social networking, user-generated-content, assessment by users.

The first version should be ready for a trade show scheduled less than 8 weeks later…

The first major phase of the project was to define the project in itself and to choose the best solution to achieve:

We first had to identify needs and to establish general functional specifications.

From an original vague idea, requiring a collaborative and participatory vision of the problem, a Kimind’s consultant conducted a brainstorming session to clarify the project, generate ideas by the participants, define the participatory dimension and define all needs associated. He then formalized it and he generated in few days functional general specifications that gave the outline of the project with its Web 2.0 their dimension.

We could then choose the best solution for the project in terms of cost, time and sustainability.

Following this, Kimind quickly moved on Practice (technical recommendation): choice of a collaborative CMS and/or a programming language, advised infrastructure… all this being based on defined needs carried out. Our thorough knowledge of collaborative tools, through our everyday experience (for our customers but also internally), gives us fortunately a complete picture of opportunities, beyond the single dimension of technology.

Because of the short delay, it became necessary to start with a CMS that have a similar architecture to the expected results, and on which it was possible to graft complex modules. We naturally led to XWiki, a second powerful wiki generation, customizable and suitable for specific developments. In addition, XWiki is a French and open-source product!

In a forthcoming note, we will explain how we have successfully completed this project with short delays and very competitive costs…

Stay tuned!

The following : here

A great announce from SocialText. Read more here… and try it online…

• A new fundraising of 4.7 M€
• A strategic alliance with Dassault Systemes, which now distributes BlueKiwi

Financial consolidation + global trade axis, these are two great steps over BlueKiwi to become a global player software. Is BlueKiwi going to be one of the few exceptions in the french high tech area to succeed starting from France? We hope so, and they provide the means:

• their investor are strongly supporting them
• BlueKiwi’s team is composed of smart people
• two new offices will be opened in September in Boston and San Francisco, mandatory steps to be taken seriously by US businesses and realize the next fund raisings.
• product is improving rapidly
• SaaS solution is online for some months and is affordable
• maturity of the market is growing rapidly despite (through?) crisis
• they have strong customer references
• competition exists, but is not as advanced

All qualities that make BlueKiwi can really become a worldwide leader in this market if the adoption by clients is at the rendez-vous.

So good luck again