How SMBs Can Leverage Social Media Tools to Improve Workplace Learning Wednesday, April 1, 2009 By Janet Clarey, Analyst & Sr. Researcher Brandon Hall Research

Ways to Participate E-mail your questions and comments to [email_address] TWEET! – send Twitter messages to your followers, and to me at @jclarey - use #BrandonHall in your tweets so I can find them Text Chat during the webinar – use NOTES (upper left)

E-mail your questions and comments to [email_address]

TWEET! – send Twitter messages to your followers, and to me at @jclarey - use #BrandonHall in your tweets so I can find them

Text Chat during the webinar – use NOTES (upper left)

Agenda About You Definitions Benefits & Challenges for SMBs How SMBs are using social learning technologies How your organization can get started with social learning technologies

About You

Definitions

Benefits & Challenges for SMBs

How SMBs are using social learning technologies

How your organization can get started with social learning technologies

You? Learning & Development Human Resources Information Technology (IT) Learning Services Provider Other

Learning & Development

Human Resources

Information Technology (IT)

Learning Services Provider

Other

How Many Employees in your Organization? Under 100 100 – 500 500-1,000 1,000-2,000 More than 2,000

Under 100

100 – 500

500-1,000

1,000-2,000

More than 2,000

Primary learning delivery channels Instructor-led classroom training Instructor-led online training On-the-job training Self-paced E-Learning Courses Other

Instructor-led classroom training

Instructor-led online training

On-the-job training

Self-paced E-Learning Courses

Other

Where are your learners physically located? Employees at one location Dispersed employees Unknown (customers) Combination of any of the above

Employees at one location

Dispersed employees

Unknown (customers)

Combination of any of the above

Your current goals Rapid E-Learning (consumption and development) Reduce Costs Support Informal Learning Improve Productivity Other (type in chat)

Rapid E-Learning (consumption and development)

Reduce Costs

Support Informal Learning

Improve Productivity

Other (type in chat)

Acronyms and Buzzwords for $1000 SMB Social media

What are social media? © Photographer: Geotrac | Agency: Dreamstime.com Participatory online media that utilizes the group to write and direct content, rather than a read-only media. Allows for direct contact between participants. (Early List Servs but faster) – Urban Dictionary, a participatory online slang dictionary

What does SMB stand for ? © Photographer: Geotrac | Agency: Dreamstime.com Small-to-Medium Business (also known as Small-to-Medium Enterprise, SME) are defined based on size (and there is no universal size definition). – Wikipedia, a participatory online dictionary

Quote “ Because they can respond so quickly as business conditions change, small and midsize companies have an advantage in a volatile and uncertain economic climate. The right information technology tools and solutions lets them build on this advantage by helping them cut costs and improve productivity today, while enabling them to stay focused on innovation so they will be poised for growth when the economy begins to turn around.” Steve Ballmer, CEO, Microsoft

Challenges to SMB Resources (Cost, People, Training) Culture (Blocking, Management Style) Loss of control of information Fear of loss of productivity / abuse Security

Resources (Cost, People, Training)

Culture (Blocking, Management Style)

Loss of control of information

Fear of loss of productivity / abuse

Security

Benefits to SMB Faster Response Resilient Lower costs without sacrificing learning Increased productivity Supplements other training

Faster Response

Resilient

Lower costs without sacrificing learning

Increased productivity

Supplements other training

Where we are today

First Generation Learning Model (SMB) Hosted Learning Platform Content Developer (Location A) Content Developer & Learner (Location C) Learner (on-the-road) Learners (Location B) Learning Lab (Location X) Source: Bryan Chapman

Next Generation Learning Model (Connections and Networks) Hosted Learning Platform Content Developer & Learner (Location C) Learner (on-the-road) Learners (Location B) Learning Lab (Location X) Content Developer (Location A)

Supports Source: Joe Kristy, IBM Global Business Services Why the change

New Tools to Foster Learning

Social Networking Services 16 Find experts Get fast answers Build relationships Informal learning

Find experts

Get fast answers

Build relationships

Informal learning

Blogs 16 Capture knowledge Reflection Feedback Professional Development

Capture knowledge

Reflection

Feedback

Professional Development

Wikis 16 Manage information Provide documentation Share resources Knowledge repository

Manage information

Provide documentation

Share resources

Knowledge repository

Virtual Worlds 16 Greater social presence compared with other learning technologies Enhanced interaction Realistic 3D objects and environments

Greater social presence compared with other learning technologies

Enhanced interaction

Realistic 3D objects and environments

Microblogging

Tagging / Bookmarking

Presence

Does your organization have a strategy for social media?

Strategies for Using Social Learning Technologies As part of a blended learning strategy To provide a community for learning professionals To provide a collaborative learning environment among cross-functional groups For knowledge management

As part of a blended learning strategy

To provide a community for learning professionals

To provide a collaborative learning environment among cross-functional groups

For knowledge management

Strategies for Using Social Learning Technologies As part of a blended learning strategy To provide a community for learning professionals To provide a collaborative learning environment among cross-functional groups For knowledge management

As part of a blended learning strategy

To provide a community for learning professionals

To provide a collaborative learning environment among cross-functional groups

For knowledge management

Strategies for Using Social Learning Technologies As part of a blended learning strategy To provide a community for learning professionals To provide a collaborative learning environment among cross-functional groups For knowledge management

As part of a blended learning strategy

To provide a community for learning professionals

To provide a collaborative learning environment among cross-functional groups

For knowledge management

Strategies for Using Social Learning Technologies As part of a blended learning strategy To provide a community for learning professionals To provide a collaborative learning environment among cross-functional groups For knowledge management

As part of a blended learning strategy

To provide a community for learning professionals

To provide a collaborative learning environment among cross-functional groups

For knowledge management

Strategies for Using Social Learning Technologies As part of a learning plan To create a place for informal learning For leadership development For professional development To develop and retain talent

As part of a learning plan

To create a place for informal learning

For leadership development

For professional development

To develop and retain talent

Strategies for Using Social Learning Technologies As part of a learning plan To create a place for informal learning For leadership development For professional development To develop and retain talent

As part of a learning plan

To create a place for informal learning

For leadership development

For professional development

To develop and retain talent

Strategies for Using Social Learning Technologies As part of a learning plan To create a place for informal learning For leadership development For professional development To develop and retain talent

As part of a learning plan

To create a place for informal learning

For leadership development

For professional development

To develop and retain talent

Strategies for Using Social Learning Technologies As part of a learning plan To create a place for informal learning For leadership development For professional development To develop and retain talent

As part of a learning plan

To create a place for informal learning

For leadership development

For professional development

To develop and retain talent

Strategies for Using Social Learning Technologies As part of a learning plan To create a place for informal learning For leadership development For professional development To develop and retain talent

As part of a learning plan

To create a place for informal learning

For leadership development

For professional development

To develop and retain talent

Summary There are benefits and challenges for SMBs in today’s environment. Social media tools for learning are a cost-effective solution for maximizing effectiveness. There are an abundance of social media tools available. There are multiple strategies for using social media. A supportive culture is the most significant factor for implementing social learning technologies.

There are benefits and challenges for SMBs in today’s environment.

Social media tools for learning are a cost-effective solution for maximizing effectiveness.

There are an abundance of social media tools available.

There are multiple strategies for using social media.

A supportive culture is the most significant factor for implementing social learning technologies.

Good Use Case Distributed Learners Information / Knowledge Workers Need for Peer-to-Peer Collaboration Need Easy/Anywhere Access to Information Need Access to Subject Matter Experts Supportive Culture

Distributed Learners

Information / Knowledge Workers

Need for Peer-to-Peer Collaboration

Need Easy/Anywhere Access to Information

Need Access to Subject Matter Experts

Supportive Culture

Action Plan

Action Plan Start small. Find opportunities where social learning tools will foster learning. (blended with instructor-led, etc.) Become an expert on the learners within your organizational communities. Use the tools yourself. Join a social network. If you’re already a member of one, connect with someone in this presentation. Develop a strategy. Incorporate into people’s daily work. Make it “real work.” Action Plan

Start small. Find opportunities where social learning tools will foster learning. (blended with instructor-led, etc.)

Become an expert on the learners within your organizational communities.

Use the tools yourself. Join a social network. If you’re already a member of one, connect with someone in this presentation.

Develop a strategy.

Incorporate into people’s daily work. Make it “real work.”

Follow-up questions? E-mail your questions and comments to [email_address] TWEET! @jclarey

E-mail your questions and comments to [email_address]

TWEET! @jclarey