Social networks are definitely the hottest topic of the web 2.0 era. What works in the private consumer market usually comes to the enterprise market with a three to five year delay – the adoption of Web 2.0 to the enterprise is called Enterprise 2.0. But unfortunately it’s not just copy and paste.
If you look at the nature of private social networks four main characteristics drive the offerings and their success:
- Fun
- Openness
- Creativity
- Looseness
But looking at the nature of professional work-life in today’s enterprises it’s the exact opposite.
- Seriousness
- Secrecy
- Structure
- Control
I guess bringing more fun into everyday work-life will not be the showstopper but secrecy, structure and control rules are the holy cows of today’s enterprises. The power and the benefits of social networking within the enterprise can only be unleashed if the organization is open for a change. Companies with an open communication and knowledge sharing culture will be the first to harvest the fruits of the Enterprise 2.0 era.
So do the reality check if you and your purchasing organization is ready for Enterprise 2.0.
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Are you open to share best practices with all colleagues within your organization?
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Are you open to maintain and share your personal competence profile?
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Are you open to share supplier relationships with other colleagues?
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Are you open to share insider information on commodities and markets?
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Are you willing to openly share your opinions?
… are you ready for social networking?
