The document discusses using social networking tools internally within organizations. It describes how social media is commonly used for external engagement but is now being applied to internal processes. Emerging approaches include Enterprise 2.0 and Social Business which integrate social platforms into intranets and extranets. While benefits are difficult to measure due to new technologies, social tools may help with information gathering, canvassing opinions, understanding employee sentiment, boosting creativity, transforming processes, and self-development. The author's organization piloted an internal social network that reduced time finding answers, email levels, and improved meetings.

1. The Internal Use of Social Networking Tools Martin Howitt DCC ICT Strategy & Partnerships Officer

3. From Engagement to Process Most social media discussion has focused on external factors such as engagement, public relations, and (naturally in the private sector) marketing. Using social media to grease the wheels of internal processes has had less attention … but the buzzword vultures are circling!

4. Emerging social disciplines Enterprise 2.0 "the use of emergent social software platforms within companies, or between companies and their partners or customers“ (Andrew Mcafee) Essentially integrating social technology with the intranet or extranet Social Business “ harnessing the collective power of online communities and social interaction to drive real business outcomes” (IBM) There’s a power struggle going on about the real meaning of the term

5. Does it work?

6. Evidence – the long wait Benefits are difficult to measure We are still finding out what works Technology moves faster than us User communities switch tools regularly (anyone remember MySpace?) Compliance and process risks will force us to act Perhaps we can’t afford to wait?

7. What, Why and How “ Social Software capabilities may include user profiles, discussion forums, shared workspaces, wikis, blogs, social tags and bookmarking, people search, content rating and document sharing…. On internet, extranet or intranet infrastructures” (DCC “BlueKiwi” Business Case, January 2009) … But there’s a simpler way to look at it.

8. We are stronger together Because having other people around helps you think and do stuff.

9. Information gathering Need facts? Ask the people who know. Fast, reliable, up to date. Why bother searching the intranet? TOOLS: Yammer, message boards, Communities of Practice

10. Canvassing opinion We can use social tools for instant reactions to things Need to take care in interpreting the results, balance positive and negative But we often find our services are not perceived the way we imagine… TOOLS: external social media (Flickr, Twitter, Facebook); Yammer and message boards

11. Understanding sentiment An emerging area. Sentiment analysis tools analyse social networks to understand how people feel about a topic use natural language processing and other clever algorithms to unpick people's language can use them on one social network or combine results of internal and external potential as a proactive management tool TOOLS: Trackur, Sprout, Thrive and many others – but the market/business case is not yet mature enough

12. Creativity stuck for ideas? Too close to the issues to break out? Can't see the wood for the trees? All practitioners have this problem. Fast feedback from people in other areas can open up possibilities and free your stuckness. Crowdsource or simply consume someone else's point of view TOOLS: all internal and external

13. Process transformation Opening up processes to others Eg our ICT project proposals Next phase: social voting on proposals? Location-based services and workflow An emerging idea Messaging in processes TOOLS: Yammer, FourSquare, external tools

14. Self-development mentoring knowledge transfer recommended reading particularly for knowledge workers, understanding best (and next) practices can be hugely motivating TOOLS: Diigo, Mentorwell, Twitter, Google Reader

15. Others? Better relationships Engagement and broadcasts More manageable conversations than email

16. DCC’s BlueKiwi Pilot In 2008/9 we piloted an internal social networking tool. Benefits were Reduced time looking for answers Reduced email levels Reduction in meetings (and improvement in meeting quality) by taking discussion onto the platform

17. Conclusion You could do anything you do now using social software. But that doesn’t mean you should!

18. Thank you I love a natter Twitter.com/@martinhowitt