Letting some Light in:Challenges and Opportunitiesfor Mainstream EnterpriseSocial Computing (cc) Lee Bryant, Headshift, March 2008

www.headshift.com

headshiftis a social software consultingand development group who apply emerging tools and ideas to thereal-world needs of organisations:

consulting & engagementprototyping and experimentationdevelopment and integration

Social computing in the IT mainstream:

“an architectureof participation”

Public feeds & flows: internal and external RSS feeds based on subject, person, group or search

An introduction to the social ‘stack’

Public feeds & flows: internal and external RSS feeds based on subject, person, group or search

Bookmarks and tags: people store, share, tag, vote or comment on useful links and news

An introduction to the social ‘stack’

Public feeds & flows: internal and external RSS feeds based on subject, person, group or search

Bookmarks and tags: people store, share, tag, vote or comment on useful links and news

Blogs and networks: some items or topics are shared within networks and discussed in blogs

An introduction to the social ‘stack’

Public feeds & flows: internal and external RSS feeds based on subject, person, group or search

Bookmarks and tags: people store, share, tag, vote or comment on useful links and news

Blogs and networks: some items or topics are shared within networks and discussed in blogs

Group collaboration: intimate groups/teams organise knowledge in wikis and group systems

An introduction to the social ‘stack’

Public feeds & flows: internal and external RSS feeds based on subject, person, group or search

Bookmarks and tags: people store, share, tag, vote or comment on useful links and news

Blogs and networks: some items or topics are shared within networks and discussed in blogs

Group collaboration: intimate groups/teams organise knowledge in wikis and group systems

Personal tools: organise your ‘stuff’ by tags; arrange in a portal; manage networks and feeds

An introduction to the social ‘stack’

Simpler, smarter, cheaper enterprise computing

• Enterprise IT is often over-engineered and too clunky for people to use - many internal systems, e.g. Intranets, are better served by lightweight, informal social tools

Better personal productivity

• Less email, more feeds and flows

• Our social network as an information filter

• Better findability of things we use

Network productivity and presence sharing : ‘flow’

• Time is a shared space: presence, signals and feeds

• “Network productivity trumps personal productivity”http://www.stoweboyd.com/message/2007/06/flow_a_new_cons.html

Better informal collaboration and sharing

• Better awareness and peripheral vision

• Collaboration should be easy to do

• Create your own support networks

Collaboration and networking

• project co-ordination with multiple partners

• research/feedback from wider stakeholder groups

• network building among external users

Collaboration and networking

• project co-ordination with multiple partners

• research/feedback from wider stakeholder groups

• network building among external users

Collaboration and networking

• project co-ordination with multiple partners

• research/feedback from wider stakeholder groups

• network building among external users

Open innovation using social networks

• Using social networks to surface good ideas

• Social filtering and iteration of selected ideas

• “wisdom of crowds” applied to internal markets

Internal communications

• more interactive engagement with internal users

• combination of blog, wiki, podcast, videos, etc

• two-way communication, not just broadcast

Recruiting and retaining emerging talent

• Young people come into the workplace expecting to participate, not just ‘consume’

• They are no less serious, capable or ambitious than us, but they can be more self-reliant

In-context, continual informal learning

• Training and conventional e-learning are good for teaching repetitive tasks, but social tools are better for reflection and on the job learning

In-context, continual informal learning

• Training and conventional e-learning are good for teaching repetitive tasks, but social tools are better for reflection and on the job learning

Embracing business online social networking

• finding expertise, people and networks

• social networks as content filters

• engaging with new forms of online communication

Embracing business online social networking

• finding expertise, people and networks

• social networks as content filters

• engaging with new forms of online communication

Getting started...

Start with simple self-powered pilots

• Small, intimate groups, not open to all

• Low investment, low IT overhead

• Grow via invitation - demand-driven

Create conditions for shared meaning

• Sharing bookmarks and tags or ‘social objects’ like photos or links is ultra simple but often very useful

Some challengesfor traditional IT

Enterprise IT needs to change ... fast

• Social tools represent the biggest phase change in IT adoption since e-mail

• Problem: IT are still centralising, whilst the internet is about intelligence at the edges

IT Strategy and Policy

• Try to put IT in the hands of business users

• Support speed, diversity and innovation

• Moving from policing to supporting users

Moving from .doc + email to the wiki way:

• one space per client or project for collaboration

• total audit history for every page with rollback

• open, closed or anywhere in between

Iterative approach, agile development

• 3 month cycles, not 12-24

• Release early and often

• Driven by user feedback

Enterprise Information Architecture

• Personal tagging drives folksonomy

• Individual action >> collective benefit

• ‘Ambient Findability’, not heavy search

Make the most of Information Professionals

• They become key nodes in social networks

• Knowledge guides, not water carriers

• Managing feeds and flows, not objects

Make the most of Information Professionals

• They become key nodes in social networks

• Knowledge guides, not water carriers

• Managing feeds and flows, not objects

Encouraging pioneers...

• Let them share the risks and rewards

• Relax rules about ‘IT standards’

• Allow low-risk pilot projects

... whilst supporting 2nd wave adopters

• Use cases based on real needs

• Support lurking and light participation

• Create intimacy, not all-in debates

Using the Web as your innovation lab

• Exploiting external services and data

• Encouraging users to explore

• Building connected apps not ghettos

3 myths aboutsocial computing

Social Networking is a waste of time?

• Recognise that people’s online life is distributed; don’t make them cut it off when they walk through the door

• Go to where they congregate to have a conversation

Social media poses new security risks?

• Majority of security risks are still human

• Bad IT leads to workarounds and more risks

• Security needs to evolve as tools evolve

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kk/23390123/

http://dilbert.com/comics/dilbert/archive/dilbert-20071116.html

Sharing is dangerous?

• We cannot stem the tide of sharing - it is what the internet is ‘for’

• Teaching responsibility is more effective than trying to block access and ‘police’ usage

The importance of real-world use cases

Information & knowledge sharingAd hoc conversations and Q&AsCompetitive intelligenceEmployee to employee communicationSharing knowledge within groupsStoring and finding informationWorking with contractors or partners

Team collaborationCreating and editing documentsDocumenting and organising workProject collaboration

Innovation and R&DInnovation networksPrediction marketsRapid prototypingSocial newsreading and bookmarking

External communicationIssue managementParticipation via extranet / websiteRecruitmentThought leadership

Internal communicationsInternal issue managementIntranet development/replacementLeadership communicationTraining and personal development

Marketing and PRCampaign managementEngaging with customers and mediaMonitoring brands and marketsPromoting a product or serviceSocial networking

The importance of real-world use cases

lee@headshift.comhttp://www.headshift.com

Except where otherwise stated, photos courtesy of Flickr using Creative Commons license. Thanks to the following photographers:

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Thanks!