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Enterprise 2.0 when Enterprise 1.0 doesn't workYesterday

Stephen Arnold has written a lengthy, useful post on conversations with colleagues around defining "Enterprise 2.0". Is it a marketing buzzword? Does it simply mean a specific set of tools, is it just a bunch of new software apps, or is it information management dressed up in fancy new clothes.....? 

Don said, “Enterprise 2.0 is a buzzword. We had Web 2.0, which was meaningless. We had Search 2.0 which was silly. Now we have Enterpriser 2.0. This is a marketing play and it suggests that the next version will be better than the present version. Too bad it takes some companies three versions to get something to work the way it is supposed to. I just ignore the term.”

Stuart said, “I think Enterprise 2.0 is shorthand for moving some of the high profile Web functions into a company. I think the young employees and contractors already use these, but now companies want to get control of instant messaging, services like LinkedIn and Facebook, and mashups. I don’t think most of the people using the phrase ‘Enterprise 2.0′ know what it means, but the implication is that the cool Web stuff can help an organization do some things easier is why the terms is being thrown around.”

So, I am uncertain. Don thinks it is marketing baloney. And Stu thinks it is old people trying to tap what young people do without giving the service much thought.....

Enterprise 2.0 Exec forum - registration now openDecember 1

Ross Dawson has posted full registration details and earlybird offers for the 2009 Enterprise 2.0 Executive Forum - February 24, Luna Park, Sydney.

As said a couple of weeks ago, the 2008 event in February was excellent and featured smart, insightful and practical thinking on the subject of Enterprise 2.0 and the use of social tools in business. It's less the mindless crystal ball gazing and dreaming (as alluded to in my previous post) and more about the real-world benefits, realistic implementation and intelligent cognition on what this could mean for the future.

I'm also pleased to say both myself and James Robertson have been asked to facilitate a couple of the 20 minute mini workshop sessions (mentioned here), which should be good fun. Other speakers for the day include Kate Carruthers,

Putting Enterprise 2.0 into perspectiveNovember 30

Dominique Turcq has written a timely post about the reality of Enterprise 2.0:

"Let’s be realistic, Enterprise 2.0 seen as the sole center of the management revolution is a fallacy, the revolution happening to the enterprise is much more interesting than just the part of it related to web 2.0 elements"

I'm not quite sure about the management revolution, but I do agree and have felt for a long time that the idea of social tools/enterprise 2.0 in themselves revolutionising a business is conceptual and often plays out as idealogical B/S.

Don't be scared of experimenting with Enterprise 2.0 toolsNovember 29

Janus Boye has written a post reiterating that it doesn't cost much money or effort to start experimenting with social software:

"I would recommend that tried-and-tested advice of starting small. You can actually get a few things done in the enterprise 2.0 sphere without spending any money. You can get a free wiki or a free blog and start experimenting. You know you have a success on your hands, when you start getting unsolicited praise from colleagues!"

This is sound advice. To add to it, regardless of whether you do have budget or not to spend, testing and experimenting serves two purposes.

1. It allows you to get a better grasp of such tools and sets the ball rolling for identifying where and how they might work in your organisation. It's vital to have a good understanding of the technology available. If you don't how will you sell it when the time comes to step up from the experimentation stage?
2. Experimentation will also open your eyes to compatibility with your organisation's existing systems. A lot of blog and wiki software is open source and free for non-commercial use, with licences available for commercial use should you decided to go further. But no organisation's technology situation is the same. Every single one has a different combination of legacy systems, database technology, CRM systems etc. You need to get a better idea of how things can plug

Two different perspectives on virtual worldsNovember 28

"Inspired" by my recent social media newsletter on Second Life that looked at the virtual CPA Congress, Natalia has written a post about virtual worlds as venues for meetings. Her overall view? Not good:

"[I'm] supposed to be fascinated by "how detailed it is, how big the island is, how immersive that even this video is? Amazing stuff". Mmmmm...... Well, it may be (in terms of Second Life stuff) BUT what amazed me the most was irritating music. That's it.

Another thing that struck me was the venue. It was indeed nice looking and I thought that it could have been really nice to BE there, to have a bodily experience of sitting in the stylish chairs and looking at such huge screens, BUT it was only a virtual projection of some ideal space by a small group of conference organizers. So there is NO way to escape snowing and cold by attending such a conference. There is NO way to show nice clothes. There is NO chance to taste exotic food. What I should be excited about is sitting at home alone on a couch wearing old jeans and a t-shirt and sipping from a cup of instant coffee. Thanks a lot. I'm SOOOOOO excited by the Second Life conference island."

As I