But now we have Enterprise 2.0 and social networking.  Now, large companies have a great way to create a small company feel.  By just implementing some simple voluntary profile capabilities and basic search, employees in a large company can get back to easily finding the right person that can help them get the job done quicker and better.   No leader running interference, no HR gate-keeping, just simple small company processes:  find the person, contact them and make things happen. 

 I would think that now that company’s have laid off so many workers, adding the Enterprise 2.0 capability to the organization is the least executives could do for their employee’s…. The one’s that are left behind, who now have to double or triple their output.  Doesn’t it make sense to help the remaining employees work more efficiently and effectively?  Oh, and by the way… it also helps with coming up with new and innovative ways of servicing clients, or creating new products.  And, lest we forget that sharing expertise within a company also raises the level of knowledge of the company as a whole.  And let’s face it, your clients want to take advantage of the collective knowledge of your company and what better way, then to allow your employees to learn from each other.

Now, before you think I’m only talking about technology change here, let me say that I realize that the most difficult part for leaders is not the decision to add new technology, but the decision to change how they view workers.  Leaders that are opposed to Enterprise 2.0, I will suggest, are unwilling to “open the kimono” and subject themselves to more open evaluation of their performance.  In my opinion, more transparency on both sides evens the playing field (as it should).   When you talk with leaders about adding new enterprise 2.0 capabilities to your internal technology services, be sure and talk about the cultural changes that will need to happen in order for your company to get a decent ROI.  If you need help with that conversation… just give me a call.  I’m The KM Coach and I’ll help you make it happen.