Social networks have permeated our lives and have changed the way we interact with others as well as the way we communicate in general. What was first a means to keep in contact with family and friends has now become also a way to communicate with companies’ customer service centers, find employment opportunities and receive news and information.
What might not still be known is that social network technology is now having a major impact on the business world as well. Enterprises have realized that social networking can be beneficial for organizations as a way to keep employees informed and involved in the organization. Social networks can provide a fast and efficient way for employees to connect, share information across the board, stay organized, solve problems, and be able to get more work done, together.
The technology is seen not only as a way to disseminate information and carry out tasks, but also as a means to make employees feel part of a larger organization. By connecting with each other, workers can go beyond their small unit and feel part of the company as a whole.
This use for social networks is still a fairly new idea in the business world and, therefore, not all companies are still on board with it. One issue when thinking of an Enterprise Social Network (ESN) is that many remain uncertain whether it is, “a load of hot air generated by the industry to sell services? Or a technology that big businesses need to sit up and take notice of?”
A recent study by the International SharePoint Consultancy Brightstarr focused on, “Attitudes to Enterprise Social Networking,” showed that many businesses are pushing to implement Enterprise Social Networking. In fact, 42 percent plan to use it for their collaboration needs and as a way to boost organizational productivity. The survey reports that less than 10 percent of respondents have already implemented some kind of solution, whereas, 22.5 percent said they have a definitive plan to do so.
The fact that not all businesses are still seeing the opportunities given by this technology is explained by Will Saville, CEO of BrightStarr, who believes that, “the two biggest blocks to enterprise social networking are coming from concerns about privacy and governance and the management's attitude to social networking.” He emphasizes, however, that these are not unsurmountable problems, and that security precautions and solid governance are all it’s needed for a safe implementation.
Most of the IT professionals that have embraced enterprise social networking claimed they did so because it was a way to “break down barriers between organizational units.” Enterprise social technologies allow them to empower employees to find ways to work smarter with each other. What is more, 93 percent of respondents also noted that an additional driver is the possibility to increase “knowledge transfer between geographically disparate employees […and…] within the organization”
Social networking in business is still not as widespread; however, companies really need to look into the new technologies as in the current economy, innovation is one of the most important factors in maintaining an advantage over the competition.
