When the idea of Web 2.0 first surfaced, many businesses found themselves facing new challenges and opportunities. The new internet landscape was more collaborative and more user-oriented, and the new audience was more keen to try out the new tools at their disposal. As these tools are integrated into the business world, work processes change – along with workplace culture.

Organizations have polarized attitudes to Web 2.0. Generally, businesses either embrace Web 2.0 tools completely or consider them distractions or security risks. Both reactions are, of course, justified. Web 2.0 afficionados are disappointed when they are working with a team who isn’t as tool-savvy as they are. On the other hand, evangelists of traditional communication stick to familiar ground, rolling their eyes when they see coworkers spend hours on instant messaging or social networking. If there’s no proper dialogue established, this makes the workplace seem like a battlefield of Technology versus Tradition.

There’s a struggle to combine old tools with new ones. Workers who are eager to try a Web 2.0 approach to collaboration find themselves awkwardly stuck halfway, usually because of the steep learning curve of new technologies, being caught up in an undeserved hype, or because of the resilience of time-tested processes.

The important thing to remember is that you shouldn’t ditch one system for the other. Instead, find a way for them to work together and slowly integrate them until you find a seamless, more efficient workflow. There is no such thing as the perfect tool or process – it’s all about what your business needs. Don’t fix what’s not broken, but if something can be improved, don’t let it stagnate. What are the pros and cons of each approach and how do you strike a good balance?

The lines between ‘personal’ and ‘business’ are blurred. Look through an average professional’s MySpace or Facebook page. Usually, you’ll find that they’ve added both personal and business contacts to their friend lists. Web 2.0 has made it possible for our supervisors to view our family photos, and our friends to see what we’re up to at work. True, you can create a different account for each of your worlds, but doing so is hardly worth the trouble.

There are some bonuses that come along with having your personal and professional life mix. Establishing a tighter rapport with your colleagues and supervisors can help improve your standing in the company. However, there are times when personal can get too personal, creating awkward situations that are detrimental to your team’s work. Take advantage of the customizable privacy settings of the social networks you belong to. This ensures that your colleagues won’t view items that were intended for friends or family.

If we want Web 2.0 to work within our businesses, we need to be aware of these changes and how to deal with them accordingly. Since technology changes so rapidly, we should also make room for the changes that will arrive as a result of Web 3.0.