Ed is a dedicated employee at a credit union who likes to stay informed about industry news and updates. However, he finds it difficult to keep up with everything. Using online tools like RSS feeds allows important information to come directly to his desktop. This makes it easier for Ed to do his job. Ed also uses online resources like CreditUnions.com to learn about industry news and collaborates with peers on ideas using tools like an internal intranet and the Ownership Community.

1. Meet Edward

2. Ed is a dedicated credit union employee . On his way to becoming a credit union CEO .

3. Ed likes to be in the know …

4. But he has a hard time keeping up with everything that is happening.

5. Like… Alerts News & Updates Current Projects Promotions

6. That’s why Ed keeps up using Online Tools .

7. Online Tools make knowing what’s going on easier . And that makes Ed’s job easier .

8. Ed doesn’t go out looking for the news.

9. He lets the news to come to him .

10. Using RSS, important updates come right to his desktop .

15. Just think, if Ed’s credit union had an Intranet … the news would show up there , too.

16. Ed also reads about industry news from CreditUnions.com

17. And watches what’s happening in CU*BASE.

18. Ed can see what ideas his peers in other credit unions have.

19. Wait. Ed has an idea.

20. Wouldn’t it be cool if Monitor had RSS feeds so that news would come to him too?

21. Ed fires off an Idea Form to Randy.

22. Ed and Randy will discuss this idea via email.

23. Randy discusses the idea with his team.

24. Randy discusses the idea with his team. We’ll see what Randy says.

25. While looking through the projects on Monitor, Ed came across a great idea by one of peers.

26. Ed logs into the Ownership Community so they can collaborate .

27. That way, anyone else who wants to contribute can and everyone benefits . Even if they are competitors.

28. Ed read in a book, this is called co-opetition .

29. Sometimes, Ed has questions.

30. Sometimes, Ed’s members have questions.

31. At work , Ed uses the Internet to find answers.

32. At home , Ed also uses the Internet to find answers.

33. But he’s been using social networking sites too. So Ed has a network of friends and colleagues to help.

34. Sometimes, it’s friends of friends, people that he doesn’t know that help him out.

35. In return, he helps them out.

36. How do people he’s never met know he can help ?

37. Ed keeps his profile updated .

38. After all, how do people know what you can do of if you don’t tell them?

39. Now, his boss , his colleagues , his friends , and every other unseen relationship knows what Ed can do.

40. If Ed had a social networking at the credit union, he might know that the person only 2 desks over could help him right now .

41. Or, Ed could connect with someone 3 states away who has the answer he needs .

42. So for a guy who likes to be in the know…

43. Seems like Online Tools and Social Networks are the way to go.

44. More Information Scott Gavin - Enterprise 2.0 Evangelist -- scottgavin.info (with apologies) Linked In – linkedin.com Facebook – facebook.com MySpace – myspace.com Wikipedia – wikipedia.org Flickr – flickr.com Twitter – twitter.com WESCO Net Web Services – ws.wesconet.com Many, many more…