IT meets the new kid on the block

Social Networking Meets the Business World

00:17:13 09.03.2008 added by usb

The business world seems to be on a constant collision course with new technologies, some of which are beneficial to the organization and some of which are not. Recently, the workplace has been colliding with that burgeoning technology-based phenomenon known as social networking.

The mass adoption of social networking tools, including instant messaging, is causing a lot of CIOs to grapple with the question: do tools used for social purposes have any place in the office?

Many organizations have taken the firm stance that they do not. They ban instant messaging applications and restrict visits to popular social networking sites, causing resentment amongst the "Generation Ys" entering the workforce. Other companies have welcomed the collision of the social world and the work world by adopting networking tools that enhance productivity and engage employees in a positive and enterprising way.

This article presents perspectives from three organizations that have chosen the latter course.