IS YOUR ORGANIZATION READY TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA? Dennis D. McDonald, Ph.D. Web: http://www.ddmcd.com Email: [email_address] December 2, 2008 for the National Association of Business Political Action Committees

The focus of this presentation... ... is not on the public's use of social media. ... is on assessing organizational readiness to adopt social media.

... is not on the public's use of social media.

... is on assessing organizational readiness to adopt social media.

What good are social media? They... ... simplify content creation, communication, & collaboration. ... are part of a healthy mix of new & traditional media. ... are standards-based, easy to use, always available. ... have low start up costs. ... build on personal & professional relationships. ... make it easier to locate & share knowledge. ... help overcome institutional and organizational barriers.

... simplify content creation, communication, & collaboration.

... are part of a healthy mix of new & traditional media.

... are standards-based, easy to use, always available.

... have low start up costs.

... build on personal & professional relationships.

... make it easier to locate & share knowledge.

... help overcome institutional and organizational barriers.

Adoption challenges are real. Command and control. Public vs. private sector priorities. Intersection of formal, informal, & secure communications. Elusive costs & ROI. "Is it a dessert topping or a floor cleaner?"

Command and control.

Public vs. private sector priorities.

Intersection of formal, informal, & secure communications.

Elusive costs & ROI.

"Is it a dessert topping or a floor cleaner?"

To slay the Resistance Dragon, you must assess the dragon.

11 assessment questions: What is the organization’s management approach? How responsive is I.T. to the organization? How much collaboration already occurs? How close is the organization to its constituents? How receptive is the organization to innovation? Are there specific "pain points"? How receptive are user demographics? How engaged is the leadership? Is the technology easy to use? How receptive are customers/members/constituents? Does the organization know how to manage projects?

What is the organization’s management approach?

How responsive is I.T. to the organization?

How much collaboration already occurs?

How close is the organization to its constituents?

How receptive is the organization to innovation?

Are there specific "pain points"?

How receptive are user demographics?

How engaged is the leadership?

Is the technology easy to use?

How receptive are customers/members/constituents?

Does the organization know how to manage projects?

Conclusions: Set specific goals. Have leadership support. Focus on real problems. Use simple technology. Know your costs. Be agile, open, and honest. Change takes time.

Set specific goals.

Have leadership support.

Focus on real problems.

Use simple technology.

Know your costs.

Be agile, open, and honest.

Change takes time.

Thank you! Text of presentation copyright (c) 2008 by Dennis D. McDonald, Ph.D., an independent management consultant based in Alexandria, Virginia. Email: [email_address] Web: http://www.ddmcd.com Twitter: @ddmcd

Text of presentation copyright (c) 2008 by Dennis D. McDonald, Ph.D., an

independent management consultant based in Alexandria, Virginia.

Email: [email_address]

Web: http://www.ddmcd.com

Twitter: @ddmcd