How Microsoft’s Human Insights Library Creates a Living Body of Knowledge: A Guide to Curation in Community

How Microsoft’s Human Insights Library Creates a Living Body of Knowledge: A Guide to Curation in Community

In today's digital age, information is abundant and easily accessible. However, the challenge lies in curating and organizing this vast amount of data to create a valuable resource. Both Microsoft's Human Insights Library (HITS) and community curation offer unique approaches to address this challenge. By connecting individual insights and fostering a culture of knowledge sharing, these practices enable researchers, product teams, and community builders to unlock the collective power of user experience (UX) and create a living body of knowledge.

HITS is a network of connected evidence and insight that research and data science teams at Microsoft author and curate. This library serves as a repository of individual insights, recommendations, study reports, and curated collections of high-level knowledge based on user research. The connections between nodes in HITS represent references made by researchers and data scientists, linking insights to the evidence that supports them. This interconnectedness allows for a deeper understanding of the relationships between different insights and facilitates the traceability of insights back to their sources.

Similarly, community curation involves the process of curating content shared by community members. This practice goes beyond creating a resource for members to access; it is an exercise that creates immense value for both the community builder and its members. The act of curation forces the community builder to process and understand the information being shared. It becomes a learning experience that allows the individual to gain insights and knowledge about the community they serve.

One significant advantage of curation is its ability to generate new ideas and facilitate their spread within the community. As the community builder curates content, they may stumble upon new concepts or trends that can be shared with the community. This constant learning and dissemination of information create a dynamic and engaging environment for the members.

However, it is crucial to approach curation with discernment. Not everything shared within the community is valuable or worth saving. The community builder must evaluate the content before saving it and ask themselves if it provides value. This level of scrutiny ensures that only the most valuable and relevant information is curated, maintaining the quality of the resource.

Both HITS and community curation demonstrate the power of connecting the dots. In a business context, having a repository of information can be helpful for anyone. However, the true power lies in the ability to connect these dots and draw meaningful insights from the curated content. This ability to synthesize information and identify patterns is what sets apart a valuable curation resource from a mere collection of data.

Furthermore, both practices emphasize the importance of putting people first. HITS enables researchers and product teams to optimize their user experience efforts, while community curation focuses on serving the community members. However, it is important to note that community curation also extends beyond the immediate community and can benefit every employee in a company. By sharing curated content and insights, community builders can contribute to the growth and development of the entire organization.

To harness the full potential of both HITS and community curation, here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Foster a culture of knowledge sharing: Encourage researchers, data scientists, and community members to actively contribute to the knowledge base. Create an environment where sharing insights and information is valued and rewarded.

2. Embrace real-time curation: Incorporate curation into daily research practices or community management. Provide tools and resources that support the curation process, making it seamless and efficient.

3. Prioritize quality over quantity: When curating content, prioritize value and relevance. Avoid the temptation to save everything and focus on curating only the most valuable and insightful information. Remember, if everything is considered special, nothing truly stands out.

In conclusion, both Microsoft's Human Insights Library (HITS) and community curation offer powerful methods for curating and organizing information. By connecting individual insights and fostering a culture of knowledge sharing, these practices enable researchers, product teams, and community builders to unlock the collective power of user experience. Embracing these practices and following the actionable advice provided can lead to the creation of a living body of knowledge that benefits both individuals and organizations.