How SMBs can use social media tools to support workplace learning. Several tools discussed. Focus was on the social vs. the media - keeping it about people and strategy because, if you don't have one in a corporate learning & development department, you're probably not going to get any support for implementation. Discussion of LMS trends in the corporate arena today (more people centric vs. course centric).

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

2. Ways to Participate
1. E-mail your questions and
comments to janet@brandon-
hall.com
2. TWEET! – send Twitter messages
to your followers, and to me at
@jclarey - use #BrandonHall in
your tweets so I can find them
3. Text Chat during the webinar –
use NOTES (upper left)

3. 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

4. You?
1. Learning &
Development
2.Human Resources
3. Information Technology
(IT)
4.Learning Services
Provider
5.Other

5. How Many
Employees
in your
Organization?
1.Under 100
2.100 – 500
3.500-1,000
4.1,000-2,000
5.More than 2,000

6. Primary learning
delivery channels
1.Instructor-led classroom training
2.Instructor-led online training
3.On-the-job training
4.Self-paced E-Learning Courses
5.Other

7. Where are your
learners physically
located?
1.Employees at one location
2.Dispersed employees
3.Unknown (customers)
4.Combination of any of the above

8. Your current goals
1.Rapid E-Learning (consumption and
development)
2.Reduce Costs
3.Support Informal Learning
4.Improve Productivity
5.Other (type in chat)

9. Acronyms and Buzzwords
for $1000
SMB
Social media

10. What are social
media?
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
© Photographer: Geotrac | Agency: Dreamstime.com

11. What does SMB
stand for?
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
© Photographer: Geotrac | Agency: Dreamstime.com

12. 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

13. Challenges to SMB
1. Resources (Cost, People,
Training)
2. Culture (Blocking, Management
Style)
3. Loss of control of information
4. Fear of loss of productivity /
abuse
5. Security

14. Benefits to SMB
1. Faster Response
2. Resilient
3. Lower costs without sacrificing
learning
4. Increased productivity
5. Supplements other training

15. Where we
are today

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

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

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

19. New Tools to Foster Learning

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

21. Blogs
• Capture knowledge
• Reflection
• Feedback
• Professional Development
16

22. Wikis
• Manage information
• Provide documentation
• Share resources
• Knowledge repository
16

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

24. Microblogging

25. Tagging /
Bookmarking

26. Presence

27. Does your organization
have a strategy for social
media?

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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

36. 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

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

38. Good Use Case
1. Distributed Learners
2.Information / Knowledge Workers
3. Need for Peer-to-Peer Collaboration
4.Need Easy/Anywhere Access to Information
5.Need Access to Subject Matter Experts
6.Supportive Culture

39. Action Plan

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

41. Follow-up questions?
1. E-mail your questions and
comments to janet@brandon-
hall.com
2. TWEET! @jclarey