Subgroup managers versus groupsite managers permissions within a subgroup
I've noticed that when groupsite's permissions are set to "only managers" for the various parameters, a user with a manager status for a subgroup without a manager status for the groupsite as a whole cannot:
- send email blasts within his subgroup
- send calendar invites within his subgroup
despite the fact that the manner in which the groupsite settings are presented, one would expect that if "only managers" have access to a given feature, a user with a subgroup manager status (without a manager status for the groupsite as a whole) should be allowed to access that feature as it pertains to the subgroup(s) that he manages (while being prevented from using the same feature at the groupsite's main level.)
On the other hand, when groupsite's permissions are set to "only managers", a user account that has manager status for a subgroup without manager status for the groupsite as a whole can, as expected:
- send discussion blasts within his subgroup, while being prevented from doing so at the groupsite's main level
- write blog posts within his subgroup, while being prevented from doing so at the groupsite's main level
(I have not tested for the premium settings "only managers" can:
- post events to the group calendar
- upload files
...nor the yet-to-be release "can create new discussion forums" within a subgroup)
In any event, I wonder if these discrepancies are voluntary (as I doubt that they are desirable from a predictability standpoint) and if so, what is the rationale behind those discrepancies, or otherwise when all the features with a toggle between "only managers" and "all members" will behave the same in the case of subgroup managers without manager status for the groupsite as a whole (i.e. ability to use those features for the managed subgroups but not at the groupsite's main level.)
Thank you in advance for the explanation or bug acknowledgment.
| Topic | Replies | Likes | Views | Participants | Last Reply |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decommissioning A Groupsite | 3 | 0 | 139 | ||
| Suspending vs deleting members | 1 | 0 | 136 | ||
| Need help unblocking a member | 1 | 0 | 125 |
Hi Marcel,
We appreciate your feedback! There are definitely design flaws with Subgroups as it relates to subgroup managers who are not also the main Groupsite manager.
Our system currently recognizes only two categories of users globally in the site, Managers and Members. Subgroup managers do not currently have their own controls and are therefore more closely aligned with members rather than managers. This was initially designed this way to ensure that no one has as much control as a Groupsite Manager (could have done a better job at this).
From the time that we first implemented subgroups, our users have been redefining how subgroups are used. We are doing our best to keep up with the changing requirements, but it is not happening fast enough!
We have made minor improvements to Subgroups as it relates to what subgroup admins/managers who are also NOT main group managers can do:
Subgroup managers who are not main Groupsite managers can now:
1. Create, Edit, Delete Files/Folders in the subgroup
2. Delete topics posted by other users in the subgroups the administer
3. Edit topics created by other users in the subgroups they administer
However, we do have further improvements we would like to see, either addressed through system changes or specifically as improvements for Subgroup Managers.
We currently have several tickets related to Subgroup permissions that will address the issues that you described regarding blasts.
We have a ticket to:
Add Blast Control to Subgroup Admin Page: (This ticket will address the ability for a subgroup Admin to enable blasts (email and discussion) within a subgroup even if the Groupsite has made them Manager-only. We intend to allow the same choice for both, Subgroup Admin Only or Allow All Subgroup Members. We are also considering allowing the Groupsite Manager the ability to override this as well at the Groupsite level if they choose. These issues are being addressed under ticket # 15285963)
We have other enhancements that we are working on to allow GS Managers to give more or less control to Subgroup Managers. I do not yet know the schedule for these enhancements, but they are in the works. BTW, you do not stand alone in this request. The Groupsite.com Support team cannot wait until the subgroup admin/manager functionality is fully implemented. You cannot imagine how difficult it is to explain this functionality and trouble shoot if there is an issue.
I hope this helps.
Celeste Sharper Wooten
Groupsite.com
Director, Client Services/Support
Hi Marcel,
We are happy to report that Subgroup Managers who are NOT also main Groupsite Managers do now have the ability to send Email Blasts and Calendar Invites to their subgroup members even when the Main Groupsite permissions are set to allow only Groupsite Managers to send email blasts and calendar invites.
At this time we did not establish additional Subgroup Permissions to allow this functionality to work. Although we plan to do this on a future ticket. For now, we enabled this functionality by including Subgroup Managers in with Group Managers only as it relates to main Group-level functionality that does not conflict with the Greater Group like Email Blasts and Calendar Invites.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by writing to support@groupsite.com
Sincerely,
Celeste Sharper Wooten
Director, Client Services/Support
Groupsite.com