You've just got yourself a job. You set the targets and monitor progress and report it back to Central Headquarters. Allan Raymond -----Original Message----- From: John Fairlie <john.fairlie@blueyonder.co.uk> To: FREEBMD-DISCUSS-L@rootsweb.com <FREEBMD-DISCUSS-L@rootsweb.com> Date: 25 January 2004 13:13 Subject: RE: Was.. comment re changes to submitters progress graphs >FreeBMD is a BIG project and as such, some transcribers may wane from time >to time, as even the largest of contributions can be lost in the sheer size >of the task. I am not therefore surprised that some transcribers may look >for ways to give themselves incentives, and league tables of who did what >each month, may appear on the surface, to be one such incentive method. > >But as has been seen on the list, this method is likely to dis-incentivise >as many as it would incentivise others, and should therefore NOT be adopted. >Anyone who wants to make a league from the data currently available, and >then compare this months to last months, to see who is active and how much >so, can do it if they want for themselves. But FreeBMD should NOT do it >centrally. > >But I do believe that the central management should consider incentive >systems. All projects, whether it is constructing the channel tunnel, or >putting landers on Mars, have targets set and time-scales to meet other than >the final one of project completion. Why not have a target to get Marriage >years 18xx to 18yy done by a certain month? Then ANY contribution, however >small, that helps towards this goal, may be done with an incentive to >achieve that goal. Doing all years, all events, and first and second >keying - all at the same time, means there is currently only one target - >project completion - so far in the future - that this is not a target that >serves any incentive purposes at all for most day to day subscribers. > >Secondly ANY transcriber can set their own goal of how many records they >want to transcribe each month. For some, it may be tens of thousands of >records, for others a challenging incentive may be just a few dozen records. >I see no problem in that. The latter is a valuable contribution. > >Even though the project is moving forward fast, and everyone is doing >brilliantly, I still fell the oil of incentive can (and should) be applied >from time to time, in the RIGHT way. > >John Fairlie >Mail us at ..... john@fairlie.plus.com > john.fairlie@blueyonder.co.uk >Home page... http://www.fairlie.plus.com > > >-----Original Message----- >From: Allan Raymond [mailto:allan_raymond@btinternet.com] >Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2004 7:57 PM >To: FREEBMD-DISCUSS-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: Re: comment re changes to submitters progress graphs > > >I've moved this to the DISCUSS list as the topic is discussing the "what we >should be doing" aspects of FreeBMD. > >Almost anything is possible regarding production of new progress graphs. > >I still think we are getting away from the main reasons for the existence of >FreeBMD, one of these isn't the production of more graphs. > >Those transcribers who produce a small number of records shouldn't feel any >pressure by checking to see how well they are doing compared to other >transcribers. They should be allowed to go at their own speed (within >reason) unhindered by thinking or knowing they are in the bottom x% of >transcribers. > >Allan Raymond > >-----Original Message----- >From: Colin Cruddace <c.cruddace@ntlworld.com> >To: Allan Raymond <allan_raymond@btinternet.com>; >FreeBMD-Admins-L@rootsweb.com <FreeBMD-Admins-L@rootsweb.com> >Date: 24 January 2004 12:45 >Subject: Re: comment re changes to submitters progress graphs > > >>Allan, >> >>I think David Jones has raised a valid point about producing some >statistics >>based on the latest update to the database. Would it not be possible to >>produce a graph/chart based on individual uploads in particular bands? ie. >>Numbers of transcribers submitting - (say) <10 records, 10 -99, 100-199, >>etc. >> >>It would give an interesting picture of transcription resources without >>reflecting on any particular individual, and would give us all an idea of >>how we fitted into the overall scheme. It might also re-assure those not >>able to contribute very much that they are not alone, and ALL contributions >>are important. >> >>Perhaps something like this is already available, but I haven't seen it. >>Not that I spend a lot of time browsing! >> >>Regards, >>Colin >>----- Original Message ----- >>From: "Allan Raymond" <allan_raymond@btinternet.com> >>To: <FreeBMD-Admins-L@rootsweb.com> >>Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2004 11:07 AM >>Subject: Re: comment re changes to submitters progress graphs >> >> >>> Helen >>> >>> I hope you are not assuming I agree we should compare the output of one >>> individual with another? >>> >>> I did say in my response "Personally, I think FreeBMD is in the business >>of >>> transcribing the index rather than statistic production" >>> >>> If there is anything in my previous response which indicate otherwise >>please >>> let me know? >>> >>> I answered a specific query about adding the the numerical total >somewhere >>> on the progress graph for individuals. This was the situation pre the >>> automatic production of the graphs following the last update. >>> >>> Quality is far more important than quantity. >>> >>> I only use the progress graphs as part of my own administration functions >>to >>> establish if a volunteer is active or not , rather than how many records >>> have been uploaded per se. >>> >>> I have copied my response across to the Discuss list as this is the >>correct >>> list should others have any follow up queries on how we present progress >>> graphs. >>> >>> Allan Raymond >>> >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: Helen Verrall <hverrall@ihug.co.nz> >>> To: FreeBMD-Admins-L@rootsweb.com <FreeBMD-Admins-L@rootsweb.com> >>> Date: 24 January 2004 07:21 >>> Subject: RE: comment re changes to submitters progress graphs >>> >>> >>> >Alan >>> > >>> >This information being made available to all, concerns me, not all of us >>> >are able to transcribe on a regular basis, as have other commitments in >>> >transcription of records, but do what they when they can. If the amount >>> >a transcriber has uploaded each upgrade, is going to be made available >>> >for others, than your Syndicate Leader, I for one will pull out >>> >entirely. I do what I can when I can, as have other commitments besides >>> >BMD, and will not allow my work quantity to be judged by others . >>> >Surely it is the quality rather than the quantity which more important. >>> >Please note I have also sent a copy of this to my Syndicate Leader. >>> > >>> >Helen Verrall >>> >New Zealand >>> > >>> > >>> >-----Original Message----- >>> >From: Allan Raymond [mailto:allan_raymond@btinternet.com] >>> >Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2004 1:30 PM >>> >To: FreeBMD-Admins-L@rootsweb.com >>> >Subject: Re: comment re changes to submitters progress graphs >>> > >>> >If I understand the first question, you would like to see the actual >>> >number >>> >of records uploaded by a volunteer to be shown on their progress graph? >>> >At >>> >present they have to read the total from the y-axis of their graph. >>> > >>> >I assume this can be done and I have put a task on the system to cover >>> >this >>> >requirement. >>> > >>> >Personally, I think FreeBMD is in the business of transcribing the index >>> >rather than statistic production, although it is still important that we >>> >have sight of statistical information to see how FreeBMD is progressing >>> >. On >>> >this basis the current progress graphs provide an indication of how well >>> >a >>> >volunteer is doing regarding their uploads and negates the need for >>> >separate >>> >information on the number of records transcribed since the last update. >>> > >>> >I think it is impossible to produce Syndicate graphs for a number of >>> >reasons. The main reason which comes to mind is that some volunteers >>> >belong >>> >to more than one Syndicate and hence it wouldn't be possible to >>> >attribute >>> >their efforts to the correct Syndicate especially where the volunteer >>> >belongs to the two Syndicates involved in double keying the same >>> >event/period. >>> > >>> >Allan Raymond >>> > >>> >-----Original Message----- >>> >From: David Jones <underowl@yahoo.co.uk> >>> >To: FreeBMD-Admins-L@rootsweb.com <FreeBMD-Admins-L@rootsweb.com> >>> >Date: 23 January 2004 07:43 >>> >Subject: comment re changes to submitters progress graphs >>> > >>> > >>> >>Hi, >>> >> Its a great site thanks to all your hard work but I >>> >>noticed after the last update (Dec 2003) the total of >>> >>number of records transcribed vanished from the >>> >>submitters progress graph. Yes the upward line is >>> >>positive reinforcement but for those with a large >>> >>number of entries the scale does not enable one to >>> >>compare monthly productivity. Yes I appreciate the >>> >>individual total of records transcribed is available >>> >>in the public area but time spent going to locate it >>> >>could be better used transcribing. >>> >> >>> >>As new transcribers are daunted by others totals a >>> >>list of individual total records transcribed since the >>> >>last update might encourage them to complete that >>> >>extra page. >>> >> >>> >>Also an update on the progress of the new syndicates >>> >>would inspire their members. Possibly syndicate graphs >>> >>to encourage group identity. >>> >> >>> >>BW's >>> >>Julie2 >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >>_______________________________________________________________________ >>> >_ >>> >>Yahoo! Messenger - Communicate instantly..."Ping" >>> >>your friends today! 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Click to learn more. >>> http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 >>> >> >> > > > >============================== >Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration >Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. >http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > > >============================== >Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration >Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. >http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237