Enterprise 2.0 – intro & questions

Introduction

This post has been in draft for a few weeks, so I’m making concerted effort to get it live! I’m planning to run further parts so it’s easier to digest…

I believe that organisations are going to change as the impact of Web 2.0 hits them. This post, therefore, is a kick-off to get us going (and get me out of blogger’s block!).

Definition

Having coined the term, Andrew McAfee has recently updated his definition thus:

Enterprise 2.0 is the use of emergent social software platforms within companies, or between companies and their partners or customers.

Social software enables people to rendezvous, connect or collaborate throughcomputer-mediated communication and to form online communities. (Wikipedia’s definition).

Platforms are digital environments in which contributions and interactions are globally visible and persistent over time.

Emergent means that the software is freeform, and that it contains mechanisms to let the patterns and structure inherent in people’s interactions become visible over time.

Freeform means that the software is most or all of the following:

• Optional
• Free of up-front workflow
• Egalitarian, or indifferent to formal organizational identities
• Accepting of many types of data

Photo credit to gordonr

Fyi the Wikipedia entry is mainly focused on Enterprise 2.0 software.

So, what does this mean?

Some thoughts, off the bat, about questions to bear in mind:

• Challenge of operating in a world where the rules are changing
• How to manage a loosely-coupled organisation
• How to manage and motivate an ‘empowered front line’
• What business opportunities are there?
• What gaps are opening up?
• How can business leaders plan for the change?

Join me in the next exciting instalment – I’m planning to schedule the posts over several days. :-)

Related posts:

1. Enterprise 2.0 – so what are your next steps? Introduction Part 4 in a series about the impact that Web 2.0 could make on the organisation / business. In...
2. Series of Web 2.0 articles in bdaily Photo credit to Daniel F. Pigatto If you follow my Twitterstream, you’ll have seen I’m putting together a series of...
3. Enterprise 2.0 – analyst comment Introduction Part 2 in a mini-series about how Web 2.0 is going to change how organisations function. This post gives...
4. Web 2.0 articles in bdaily #8 – Conclusion n.b. This was originally published on bdaily. Photo credit to bootload “Web 2.0: Conclusion With Justin Souter of Souter Consulting...
5. Discover what I read / have read Intro Reading helps me keep up with the latest developments, learn about best practice, and stimulate new thinking. I’ve found...