Comments on: Enterprise Social Computing: What will happen in 2008?

By: Rachel Cox

Rachel Cox — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 15:39:31 +0000

By: Duncan Work

Duncan Work — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 15:38:44 +0000

Re your first prediction, Facebook and LinkedIn both have value for organizations – though very different kinds of value. Integrations between the large, ‘consumer’ platforms and enterprise platforms are needed for realizing the full potential of both types of platforms.

I’m seeing your post late, but it has inspired me to make my first real post to my blog. So please read more there. http://100trillion.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/facebook-linkedin-and-usefulness-in-organizations/

By: Peter-Anthony Glick

Peter-Anthony Glick — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 15:37:38 +0000

Good prediction Charles. However, you from all people as an ethnograph, should have resisted the temptation to use the word “computing”. Wouldn’t “Enterprise Social Systems” for ex. be better? Systems will include people as computing tends to focalise on the technology only, and as you write above, words are important! On another topic, I find your Sonar solution really interesting. I would like to know how you dealt with the (potential) issue of privacy in an Organization (the “big brother” syndrome)?

By: Steve Ardire

Steve Ardire — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 15:36:40 +0000

I agree with Nick Carr that the biggest impact of Enterprise Social Computing is the informal organization (collaborative and non-hierarchical) becomes as visible as the formal one (very hierarchical, procedure oriented, highly political).

The informal organization has the greatest impact on companies, since this “governs the real flow of information and influence in a company, that defines who’s in the loop and who’s not, what’s important and what can safely be ignored”

The key challenge will be determining the more enlightened companies who are receptive vs. the luddites who will have resistance from many within management ranks especially at the top of the org chart.