Ambition Technology Blog

Typically a “User Group” is a program designed to encourage and support communities who want to hold regular meetings in their area; to discuss their particular specialty in the technology field. The purpose of these gatherings is to provide a forum in which technical specialists can share best practice and expertise and can in turn obtain feedback from the user community.

Take for example, Grant Paisley who is responsible for running the “Sydney SQL Server User Group” www.sqlserver.org.au

When asked how and why he got involved in running the SQL Server User Group, this is what he had to say…

Questions:

1. How and why did you become involved in running this User Group?

I’ve run a lot of user groups in my time; it is something I’m very passionate about. I’ve always been the one left standing when everyone else steps back.

www.sqlserver.org.au was previously run by Microsoft. I own and run a company in Sydney called “Angry Koala”, which specialises in the SQL field, specifically in Business Intelligence – we turn data into knowledge. Angry Koala took over the SQL Server User Group over five years ago, and we now have between 40- 80 guests per meeting (in Sydney). Other states like Melbourne have up to 120 guests at a time and we also have user groups in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart and Perth.

2. What is the purpose of a User Group?

The purpose of the user group is to build branding and community. For example, one of our members went to work in the UK for 12 years, and the first thing he did upon returning to Australia was join the SQL Server User Group. This allowed him to reconnect with other SQL Server specialists, find out what was going on in the market, the hot topics and employment opportunities etc. Glyn Llewelyn is now my GM as a result of joining the group.

3. What are the current hot topics in SQL Server?

I will be speaking at our next meeting next week about new technology that allows you to get over 100 million rows in excel. If you visit our website at www.sqlserver.org.au and click on the link 100 Million rows – instant access – your desktop – Self service BI is here (Grant Paisley) you can find the detail.

4. What is the best result you have seen from this User Group, i.e. solutions via open discussion, employment opportunities via networking/ referrals etc?

At one of our recent meetings, three speakers got up at once to talk about the same technology – Integration Services. They spoke about the same solution, but all had different techniques to achieving it. It was a very informative learning experience for a lot of us who had only ever tried one of the techniques, but could now walk away knowing there are other ways of doing it. It encourages you to think outside the square and out of your comfort zone enabling you to open your eyes to other ways of doing things.

5. What advice would you give to someone wanting to start their own user group?

I strongly believe you need to be passionate about what you are presenting. I love technology and sharing my ideas and experiences. It’s not just a branding exercise, but something I get a lot out of and enjoy sharing with others. I often walk away from a presentation on a bit of a high.

I would also encourage user interaction. User groups are not just about one person getting up and speaking, but the whole group getting involved, sharing their thoughts and ideas, and feeling like part of the group. We have people write their names on a name tag just so everyone knows who they are, and it can spark a conversation.

I also invite vendors to come along and speak at the meetings- I often have guests from Microsoft attend our meetings and I personally have been a guest speaker at the New Zealand user group. The point here is that I approached them. If you want to be known in the market and get your group out there, you have to be willing to seek branding opportunities and not be afraid to contact people.

Grant can be contacted at grant@angrykoala.com.au