Page 50 - Warwickers Communication Counts v2015
P. 50
50 COMMUNICATION CHANNEL - TECHNOLOGY channelchoose your
technology
Evolving technology is having a major impact on business communication especially with its accessibility,
interactivity and speed – especially mobile technologies. This technology should be an enabler, to provide
solutions that can help businesses, to reach the dispersed audience they want to engage. We need to
remember it represents new channels of communication that are useful to many but not to everyone – it
is just part of the mix. However do not ignore it as it represents a massive culture change within society
especially mobile technologies. However be careful of ‘new shiny object syndrome J’ – it can be fatal.
There have been significant changes in employee attitudes, values and behaviours in recent years. With
the technologies employees use at home there is an expectation to use them at work. It is changing
people’s behaviour, the way they connect, collaborate and share their opinions, ideas and experiences.
Influence comes through relationships and social networking is an integral part of building these
relationships.
Connection and participation
Web 2.0 is associated with web applications that facilitate information sharing, collaboration and
user centred design on the web including hosted services, web applications, social networking sites,
video sharing sites, wikis, blogs, mashups and tagging. These intranets/ websites allow users to
interact with each and change content rather than just passively view them. (e.g. SharePoint, Face
Book, YouTube, Twitter, Flickr, Bebo, LinkedIn). There are so many tools available. Choose carefully
and if possible involve IT and your younger colleagues to support you.
1) Ensure the tools you choose are relevant to people and are useful in their work. Ask people
what they want to achieve, listen to their ideas and seek to solve business issues.
2) Keep it simple and develop a limited toolbox of useful tools with guidance/ examples on how to
use them. Let people decide which ones will help them with the support of local technology and
social media champions.
3) Publicise the tools internally on a regular basis and hold events/ training sessions to promote
how to use them – make the fun and useful. Take action to show you are listening.
4) Establish guidelines on content, confidentiality, etiquette and standards for internal and external
social media usage.
technology
Evolving technology is having a major impact on business communication especially with its accessibility,
interactivity and speed – especially mobile technologies. This technology should be an enabler, to provide
solutions that can help businesses, to reach the dispersed audience they want to engage. We need to
remember it represents new channels of communication that are useful to many but not to everyone – it
is just part of the mix. However do not ignore it as it represents a massive culture change within society
especially mobile technologies. However be careful of ‘new shiny object syndrome J’ – it can be fatal.
There have been significant changes in employee attitudes, values and behaviours in recent years. With
the technologies employees use at home there is an expectation to use them at work. It is changing
people’s behaviour, the way they connect, collaborate and share their opinions, ideas and experiences.
Influence comes through relationships and social networking is an integral part of building these
relationships.
Connection and participation
Web 2.0 is associated with web applications that facilitate information sharing, collaboration and
user centred design on the web including hosted services, web applications, social networking sites,
video sharing sites, wikis, blogs, mashups and tagging. These intranets/ websites allow users to
interact with each and change content rather than just passively view them. (e.g. SharePoint, Face
Book, YouTube, Twitter, Flickr, Bebo, LinkedIn). There are so many tools available. Choose carefully
and if possible involve IT and your younger colleagues to support you.
1) Ensure the tools you choose are relevant to people and are useful in their work. Ask people
what they want to achieve, listen to their ideas and seek to solve business issues.
2) Keep it simple and develop a limited toolbox of useful tools with guidance/ examples on how to
use them. Let people decide which ones will help them with the support of local technology and
social media champions.
3) Publicise the tools internally on a regular basis and hold events/ training sessions to promote
how to use them – make the fun and useful. Take action to show you are listening.
4) Establish guidelines on content, confidentiality, etiquette and standards for internal and external
social media usage.
