Using Social Software in the Workplace: IBM Beehive Research Findings
by Jenny Ambrozek
Via Twitter and Headshift’s Penny Edwards comes this IBM research paper that is a must read for anyone using, or considering, enterprise social software.
Authors Joan M.DiMicco et al report their investigation of Beehive, an internal social networking site for IBM employees. Launched in 2007 the Beehive space is ”designed to blur the boundaries of work and home, professional and personal, and business and fun.”
Paper highlights include:
1. “A general model for conceptualizing how research is done on social software.”
It advocates examining 4 areas: adoption, usage pattern, motivations and impact on the workplace
2. The differences in relationship building in a closed Beehive space versus Facebook usage patterns
3. Motivations to participate that go beyond simply desire to share, to career advancement and gathering support for projects and ideas.
Clearly, as a leading enterprise social software provider, IBM has an interest in research revealing positive outcomes from such platforms. Still, what’s your take?
Have you experienced the positive relationship between use of enterprise social networking platforms and increased social capital as the IBM paper finds?
Thanks for taking a moment to share your perspectives.
Thought...
