Subtle changes afoot with workplace communication
We recently came across an interesting article at The Globe & Mail that looks at how an increasing number of employers are using social media technology to improve communication in the workplace.
These tools do provide the potential, after all, of not only getting the word out to employees, but hearing from them as well.
The author provides an example of a company using Wikipedia tools to create an internal knowledge base to which everyone can contribute:
Staff use the application to challenge each other, think communally and post content that’s insightful and relevant, says ThinkWrap CEO Steve Byrne. Postings can include updates on what projects staff are working on, or requests for advice or ideas. It’s even used occasionally for personal stories or messages.
Indeed, there is now a staggering array of potential tools for companies to use, ranging from blogs to podcasts to videocasts to discussion boards to … well, you name it!
Underlying this might be an interesting shift in hierarchy. It would seem that the traditional top-down approach is gradually moving to a more interactive model, where the opinions and knowledge of an entire workforce are valued, not just the folks at the top. It’s downright democratic!
Tags: communications, facebook, office, social media, twitter, wiki, wikipedia, workplace