What's good about this Community and how can we improve it?

You're right about that, Anna. That is, the keywords simply help populate the "tag cloud" on the Communities homepage, which is just another way of navigating around the vast number of threads we now have here. I've got a few ideas of how we might make better use of that.

Megan - good to hear from you. I commit, here and now, to preparing some sort of summary of this thread, once it runs out of steam.

When I wrote "I can't promise anything", I meant that some of you might ask for a Rolls Royce, when the CIPD can only supply a Lexus (even when a Rolls would do the job even better). But Lexus are still OK, aren't they?

A note on spelling. It does my head in, too... but I let people off given that they cannot return and edit their contributions. Only moderators can edit posts. We tend to correct errors in thread titles, and any particularly glaring ones that we catch... but it isn't possible (or desirable??) to edit them all out! In the next iteration of the Community Guidelines, I'll recommend that people spell check their comments, before posting. 

Steve

Even an oil change in the engine would be good, not necessarily a new car!!  Thanks very much for the commitment to provide a summation, regardless of comments I think the boards are great and don't really see much that needs changing.

I agree with your point Anna that we can, and should, initiate what we want to see changed/enhanced etc.  However, when CIPD are inviting feedback for me it indicates an intervention and I think it's reasonable to want Steve to have some clout in taking forward any key themes.  After all without us......  Steve, would it be safe to assume that others within CIPD read these boards and use them for some of CIPD agenda setting (ie research, articles, press etc?).

Steve regarding spelling etc, this is nothing I expect CIPD to take on  - perhaps individuals will be interested enough to read  this exchange of views and take it on board themselves.     It's more a reflection on general standards - my view is that I am representing myself on these boards and if my work is full of either typos or incorrect spelling, I don't think it would create an impression of myself as a person who is proud of self and professional discipline.    O dear, does that make me sound very middle aged?

Regards

Meg

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I have been using these forums for the past 6 months or so, I have found them a great way of learning and when I have requested help I have received very useful feedback.

I value the information available from more experienced members and hopefully as my experience grows I will contribute more.  Working in a stand alone role the forum is very useful and helps you see that others face the same kind of problems and issues.

A perspective on the spelling issue.  Some of us can't use the spellcheck facility as our work PCs don't allow us to download the necessary gubbins (yes, Julie that is a technical term.  *grin*).  And given my dyslexia, I sometimes do have trouble spotting and correcting my mistakes before I post, so be gentle with us poor spellers as it may not be just laziness or carelessness.

 I love the Communities - I've learned so much by reading all the posts (and I do read the majority of the HR ones) and hopefully I've been able to help others a little.  The biggest enjoyment for me, is the sense community that reading and responding to all these posts engenders - I've made some very good friends through these boards and I hope to make many more.  And, like Mike, I love the little forays into humour...

Jackie

I also enjoy the communities and find them very helpful.  I've had lots of great advice when I've had a question to ask, and also learn lots through other people's questions.  I usually read a problem and think what I would do, before reading the answers so I can test myself which I find really helpful.

I think the variety of questions, answers and experience is the bets thing about these communities.  Sometimes I find it hard to find a particular topic, but the tricks posted above are all helpful and with the quantity of information, I think it would be a hard task to improve further.

I don't like it when people correct my grammar or spelling!  I've been fairly put off and upset when this has happened in the past, as I felt it completely unnecessary and rude.  As long as the meaning is clear, I can forgive typos easily (although all CAPS drives me mad!)  Lack of searching annoys me but it's a fact of life with forums.  I have to admit I'm not great at tagging, so will aim to improve that!

I still think I ask more than answer, but I find answering helps consolidate my own knowledge and I want to contribute as much as possible as I get so much out of answers from other people.

I have definitely found this an invaluable resource for advice on specifics and information sources in general.  After the CIPD factsheets and FAQs it is the first place I turn to do to a search for answers.

I perhaps have not taken advantage of eth networking element as much as I could.  So this has given me some food for thought there.

Posting for the first time: search! Using several key words if the first one doesn't turn up anything.

Thanks all for your help!

I have only started using the communities since moving to a rather remote area of the country and therefore cannot network with my local branch etc. I find the forum invaluable for keeping up to date with whatever is the latest topic of interest in HR circles.  I would agree with Rachel that I learn a lot from other people's answers.  The reason I started chipping in with my twopence worth was for CPD purposes (since I am quite remote) but I found that I soon got hooked.  I do particularly like the contrasting viewpoints from different people - I feel that my views are rather down to earth and since I am in an operational role my advice is usually of a practical nature so it is always interesting to read a more academic/strategic answer/view sometimes.

Sue

This is all terrific stuff, and very helpful.

Meg - I opened this thread of discussion without being asked, so it's not part of any 'grand plan'. We always hope to make evolutionary improvements to functionality, but I was keen to put a marker in the sand and test the direction the wind as blowing... sort of thing.

I'm particularly keen to hear how the Communities, or a particular thread of discussion, proved useful to members... and in a perfect world, with an unlimited budget, what you would like to see! 

Yes, these discussions are becoming more widely read (and discussed) within CIPD. But that's just the start, I'd say.

Hi,

I have been an avid reader over the years and have gained so much from the boards.  Occasionally I will respond if I feel I can add something useful or perhaps just a different opinion but as I am unable to check in every day it makes it a tad difficult to reply frequently.   I also greatly appreciate when my queries are answered - I am in a stand alone role so it is great to 'bounce off' others. 

Although I am not a regular poster I am an avid lurker and learn so much from the communities.  I find reading about the application of employment law and knowledge 10x more useful than sitting  with a text book or magazine article and the communities are the main way in which I develop my knowledge.

I have the greatest respect for the regular contributors who take their time to share their knowledge and offer opinions and I am aware that I need to post more to make sure that I am giving back anywhere near as much as I am gaining.  I often sit and draft a post only to find that I have answered my own question in writing it down logically and don't need to press submit!  I am sometimes wary to post a response due to a lack of confidence in my ability to put it as well as somebody else.

Leanne

"I am sometimes wary to post a response due to a lack of confidence in my ability to put it as well as somebody else."

While you may well fee this way - your posting here does not reflect that.

Every person has their own style, and one thing I have learnt over the last couple of years is that practice make permanent, and the more you do the easier it gets - and everyone has to start somewhere. Just because a person shares their opinion does not make them right - it is just their opinion. We all have a right to contribute and your contribution may well be in the style that ensures the matter 'clicks' with the reader.

Confidence comes with familiarity.

Warm regards

Mike