Trying to sell Web2.0 to C-level execs - Update

I got a few comments here on the blog and some via email regarding the original post, so I wanted to give everyone an update.

To answer so of the questions I received, the resistance was from management at a divisional level. The biggest push back was "we can't allow users to make changes on a website". That's when some of us started making comparisons to Web2.0 sites on the internet. We gave the example of Google's customizable home page. User's can add gadgets, change the theme, change the order, etc. but they are far from able to "break" the page. SharePoint isn't necessarily aimed at creating Web2.0 websites, but I felt that the move away from static websites to sites where users can customize their experience had a certain relevance.

Another comparison was used that management would not get into the habit of telling staff how they could set up their desk, what format they use to take notes, or micromanage things that made the person more comfortable in their work space as long as they were able to get their work done.

Management is still on the fence, which is better that the flat out no they had started with. We are working on getting more specific feedback from users that shows the lack of customization options as a major stumbling block to user adoption. I'll keep everyone up to date.