Contributing To The Microsoft Community
An important part of the time spent by IT technicians on Internet is used to research solutions to problems they face. That is why companies like Microsoft have huge knowledge databases where they can find solutions on a timely fashion manner when somebody calls its Customer Service. Microsoft through its engineering staff creates all this information based on multiple sources; and an important part of that knowledge comes directly from online communities, so non-Microsoft employees.
This is where the TechNet forums play an important role. Having a big active knowledge community has been always considered as one of the core supporting systems of every important company. This is how knowledge is built and shared across the entire Microsoft community, customers and technicians; and how Microsoft through non-official support procedures generates additional value to customers.
People can post current issues to the corresponding product forum and they are assisted and guided by Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCPs) around the world. I’ve been participating on the Latin-American and Spanish forums since September. It is being such an incredible experience, and it helps me to stay in shape on different Microsoft disciplines (Active-Directory, Update Services, Remote Desktop, etc.), getting in touch with other professionals around me. That being said, I recognize that it requires an important time dedication, specially with more complex cases.
Fairly, Microsoft recognizes with the Microsoft Community Contributor (MCC) all this effort to those professionals who voluntary contribute with their time and energy on helping others. MCC is an accreditation that recognizes notable contributions to Microsoft online community forums such as TechNet, MSDN and Answers; and it is awarded on a monthly basis.
To all those MCCs and MCPs who contribute every day, thanks!