Comments on: Economist Finds True Believers in Business Value of Social Software http://www.fastforwardblog.com/2008/12/21/economist-finds-true-believers-in-business-value-of-social-software/ Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:38:51 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: MarketingResearchTexas http://www.fastforwardblog.com/2008/12/21/economist-finds-true-believers-in-business-value-of-social-software/comment-page-1/#comment-217113 MarketingResearchTexas Tue, 24 Mar 2009 23:30:18 +0000 http://www.fastforwardblog.com/?p=1237#comment-217113 It's been nearly 3 months since the last post and I still believe that social media will have only a limited impact on business. While it will grow in use and popularity, business will continue to see social networking as an avoidable inefficiency and potential nightmare to police. IT and HR certainly don't want to police it. For those reasons, I would not expect it to magically appear on every CSR's desktop in the next three five years. It’s been nearly 3 months since the last post and I still believe that social media will have only a limited impact on business. While it will grow in use and popularity, business will continue to see social networking as an avoidable inefficiency and potential nightmare to police. IT and HR certainly don’t want to police it. For those reasons, I would not expect it to magically appear on every CSR’s desktop in the next three five years.

]]> By: Bill Ives http://www.fastforwardblog.com/2008/12/21/economist-finds-true-believers-in-business-value-of-social-software/comment-page-1/#comment-202506 Bill Ives Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:38:12 +0000 http://www.fastforwardblog.com/?p=1237#comment-202506 Thanks to all of the above commenters for adding to the discussion. I could not find anything I disagree with. i think the social media will become commonplace in the workplace as the phone and email. It is only a matter of time. As Hadley said, it is time to redo the data and I would predict the numbers are even more positive. Bill Thanks to all of the above commenters for adding to the discussion. I could not find anything I disagree with. i think the social media will become commonplace in the workplace as the phone and email. It is only a matter of time. As Hadley said, it is time to redo the data and I would predict the numbers are even more positive. Bill

]]> By: Daria http://www.fastforwardblog.com/2008/12/21/economist-finds-true-believers-in-business-value-of-social-software/comment-page-1/#comment-202488 Daria Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:16:08 +0000 http://www.fastforwardblog.com/?p=1237#comment-202488 I guess, that the "Web 2.0" term is just familiar to more people, than the "Enterprise 2.0" term. Then the Web 2.0 tools are generally free, there are more examples of their successful use. That's why corporations are more open to blogs and wikis. Besides, people inside of a company already know how to use these tools and even use them in their personal activities. Enterprise 2.0 systems are more sophisticated, they will need more time to penetrate into companies. But on the other hand, these systems also offer more benefits than generic tools like blogs. It's a good thing though that more and more companies are turning to Enterprise 2.0. I'm sure many experts will say that the economic downturn helps a great deal. I guess, that the “Web 2.0″ term is just familiar to more people, than the “Enterprise 2.0″ term. Then the Web 2.0 tools are generally free, there are more examples of their successful use. That’s why corporations are more open to blogs and wikis. Besides, people inside of a company already know how to use these tools and even use them in their personal activities. Enterprise 2.0 systems are more sophisticated, they will need more time to penetrate into companies. But on the other hand, these systems also offer more benefits than generic tools like blogs. It’s a good thing though that more and more companies are turning to Enterprise 2.0. I’m sure many experts will say that the economic downturn helps a great deal.

]]> By: Nara http://www.fastforwardblog.com/2008/12/21/economist-finds-true-believers-in-business-value-of-social-software/comment-page-1/#comment-202358 Nara Tue, 23 Dec 2008 02:49:48 +0000 http://www.fastforwardblog.com/?p=1237#comment-202358 Bill, it's definitely interesting to see Execs gravitating toward Social media. At Appirio, we think this is something companies are going to figure out in 2009, not only in terms of connecting better with customers but also in terms of better leveraging employee networks. Whether this takes the form of social networks informing sales/leads (<a href="http://www.insideview.com" rel="nofollow">InsideView</a>) or <a href="http://www.appirio.com/blog/2008/12/2009-prediction-enterprises-will-figure.php" rel="nofollow">employees using their social graphs for better referrals, the possibilities are endless</a>. Bill, it’s definitely interesting to see Execs gravitating toward Social media. At Appirio, we think this is something companies are going to figure out in 2009, not only in terms of connecting better with customers but also in terms of better leveraging employee networks. Whether this takes the form of social networks informing sales/leads (InsideView) or employees using their social graphs for better referrals, the possibilities are endless.

]]> By: Hadley Reynolds http://www.fastforwardblog.com/2008/12/21/economist-finds-true-believers-in-business-value-of-social-software/comment-page-1/#comment-202280 Hadley Reynolds Mon, 22 Dec 2008 20:51:12 +0000 http://www.fastforwardblog.com/?p=1237#comment-202280 Hey, Bill, The study you are commenting on was sponsored by FAST and published in April, 2007. It was also the subject of a joint keynote by Jeannette Borzo with commentary by Andy McAfee at the FASTforward event in February 2007, as well as the topic of a well-attended special lunch session at that event. Many FASTforward blog contributors were major participants in that discussion. The report is available on the FAST site and was the subject of multiple posts here around the time of publication. I'm glad it can still draw crowds (as at Social Media Today), but it's probably time to re-do the data! Hey, Bill,

The study you are commenting on was sponsored by FAST and published in April, 2007. It was also the subject of a joint keynote by Jeannette Borzo with commentary by Andy McAfee at the FASTforward event in February 2007, as well as the topic of a well-attended special lunch session at that event. Many FASTforward blog contributors were major participants in that discussion. The report is available on the FAST site and was the subject of multiple posts here around the time of publication.

I’m glad it can still draw crowds (as at Social Media Today), but it’s probably time to re-do the data!

]]> By: jacob morgan http://www.fastforwardblog.com/2008/12/21/economist-finds-true-believers-in-business-value-of-social-software/comment-page-1/#comment-202244 jacob morgan Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:00:56 +0000 http://www.fastforwardblog.com/?p=1237#comment-202244 Hi Bill, Thanks a lot for linking to my post, I'm glad you found it valuable. I think in the future we are going to move closer to seeing social media or web 2.0 as a standard medium that companies will engage in. the challenge a lot of executives and companies are having is understanding exactly how social media can benefit them and where it can add value. however, simply being able to hear what your customers are saying about you and being able to engage with them is already quite powerful. It's great that we are seeing several large companies make use of social media but I think we still have quite a long way to go. There are many great examples and case studies out there that support social media in the enterprise. thanks again for the link Bill, Jacob Hi Bill,

Thanks a lot for linking to my post, I’m glad you found it valuable. I think in the future we are going to move closer to seeing social media or web 2.0 as a standard medium that companies will engage in. the challenge a lot of executives and companies are having is understanding exactly how social media can benefit them and where it can add value. however, simply being able to hear what your customers are saying about you and being able to engage with them is already quite powerful.

It’s great that we are seeing several large companies make use of social media but I think we still have quite a long way to go. There are many great examples and case studies out there that support social media in the enterprise.

thanks again for the link Bill,

Jacob

]]> By: Jon Husband http://www.fastforwardblog.com/2008/12/21/economist-finds-true-believers-in-business-value-of-social-software/comment-page-1/#comment-202238 Jon Husband Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:41:24 +0000 http://www.fastforwardblog.com/?p=1237#comment-202238 I also suspect that, if put in useful and practical terms, many line managers will understand that a lot of Enterprise 2.0 dynamics are really more closely aligned with the way(s) people actually do things and get things done .. together. IMO it's always useful to remember that "teamwork" took about ten years to become a pervasive means of organizing and doing work. I suspect that interest and engagement with Enterprise 2.0 issues will accelerate and spread rapidly over the next two or three years. I also suspect that, if put in useful and practical terms, many line managers will understand that a lot of Enterprise 2.0 dynamics are really more closely aligned with the way(s) people actually do things and get things done .. together.

IMO it’s always useful to remember that “teamwork” took about ten years to become a pervasive means of organizing and doing work. I suspect that interest and engagement with Enterprise 2.0 issues will accelerate and spread rapidly over the next two or three years.

]]> By: Bill Ives http://www.fastforwardblog.com/2008/12/21/economist-finds-true-believers-in-business-value-of-social-software/comment-page-1/#comment-202175 Bill Ives Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:20:37 +0000 http://www.fastforwardblog.com/?p=1237#comment-202175 Russell. Thanks for your comment. Middle manager support is essential for success. The middle managers were not too far behind the execs - 75% to 85%. I would more concerned if it was 45% to 85%. That said, hopefully peer pressure plus top down and bottom up surround for E 2.0 will help the final 25% to come around. Regardless of the current support, the E 2.0 implementations need to be targeted at real business issues to sustain the support. I wish we had this level of support in the early days of KM. Bill Russell. Thanks for your comment. Middle manager support is essential for success. The middle managers were not too far behind the execs – 75% to 85%. I would more concerned if it was 45% to 85%. That said, hopefully peer pressure plus top down and bottom up surround for E 2.0 will help the final 25% to come around. Regardless of the current support, the E 2.0 implementations need to be targeted at real business issues to sustain the support. I wish we had this level of support in the early days of KM. Bill

]]> By: Russell http://www.fastforwardblog.com/2008/12/21/economist-finds-true-believers-in-business-value-of-social-software/comment-page-1/#comment-202118 Russell Mon, 22 Dec 2008 09:39:13 +0000 http://www.fastforwardblog.com/?p=1237#comment-202118 Great review of the report. One of the big questions for me is how the gap between the managers and the C-level is closed, as without the former's support we may not see the full potential of 2.0. Any thoughts Bill, on if this really is an issue and if so, what might be done to reduce the gap and win over the middle managers? Great review of the report. One of the big questions for me is how the gap between the managers and the C-level is closed, as without the former’s support we may not see the full potential of 2.0. Any thoughts Bill, on if this really is an issue and if so, what might be done to reduce the gap and win over the middle managers?

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