Should we be social networking at work?
By Jason Slater in Reader
Posted in Management, Internet on July 21, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Whether or not to allow the use of social networking sites at work is a current meme; I seem to be reading about it here there and everywhere. Is allowing the use of these sites really acceptable at work during work?
As part of our ongoing Internet usage policy review we have been evaluating whether it should be allowable to use social networking sites during work hours; and in doing so to try and assess any potential value or benefits to the business that the use of these sites may offer. As part of this investigation I have been spending some of my own time on these sites to explore what is available.
Certainly there is a lot to do and hours can easily be whiled away adding additional applications, customising profiles and finding out what friends are up to whilst challenging them in quizzes, offering them gifts or buying and selling their photos but so far I am really struggling to find business value in allowing access to these sites from the workplace – during work hours.
Whilst it is easier to find value in business oriented networking sites I have real trouble with some of the more social-social sites. I don’t want to be a stick in the mud and of course there is clear value in these sites for example where the aim is to generate leads or advertise a particular product, but generally speaking these sites seem to complement social leisure activities. There is the obvious “a happier workforce is a more productive workforce” argument but from what I have seen so far using social networking sites at work during work simply takes valuable time out of the working day.
Am I wrong here? Can social networks add real business value?
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Loading ...Comment by Jen Mowat - July 21, 2008 on 4:23 pm
You are right to question the relationship between business and social networking sites and it is indeed a very topical theme in the media at present. But rather than be a hindrance, when harnessed properly, businesses can actually benefit from the power of social networking tools.
In many ways, business has been slow to respond to the social networking boom. First, it was ignored as an irrelevance – and now, companies are looking to block the very tools that could help them. Moreover, there has been plenty of bad press around the use of social networking at work, with companies becoming increasingly anxious about procrastination or indiscretion.
But really the tide is turning. Thousands of businesses are already using digital collaboration tools – allowing employees to access meeting times or data from any web connection. What many don’t realise, is that these are merely social networking tools specifically designed for business masquerading under a different name. Similarly, an increasing number of dedicated websites are helping businesses – particularly smaller companies – to evolve and develop with technology.
With the right help, businesses can stop hiding – and start using social networks to their advantage.
It’s just the new age version of that collection of business cards we all wanted that updates itself and makes ‘connection’ so much easier!
Jen Mowat
Director of Online services
BT Business
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