Nathan Wallace provides a case study, adoption & business impact, and lessons learned about his experiment with microblogging in the enterprise. It seems the microblogging is off to a slow start and has “settled into a pattern as our informal news channel.” He suggests blogging may be an easier starting point, “more serious and business like.” He also says microblogging is difficult to position as a business tool. Agree.
Open collaboration and idea sharing are common organisational goals, but that doesn’t mean there is latent demand among the people of the business for the tools that enable it. With any new organisational capability, always stay focused on end users and helping them to solve a problem.
On training this caught my eye:
People have no idea what Twitter is. People have no idea what microblogging is. Most people don’t know what wiki’s, blogs or social networks are either. When explaining Jitter [their microblogging tool], one user was even worried that this meant that all the SMS text messages they sent to anyone would now be published on the Intranet. These technologies are natural and well known to people like us, but for the vast majority of people in the world they are new, confusing and weird. Remember to design your solutions and train people as though your mum is the key user!
Wallace’s organization, Janssen-Cilaq, is making great strides in discovering what new communication tools can mean in the workplace. They are true early adopters. (JC)
Jitter: Experimenting with microblogging in the enterprise | e-gineer | Nathan Wallace | 15 October 2008
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I can attest to people’s ignorance of microblogging. When asking friends or family to follow me on Twitter, I get confused looks. I haven’t found a two to three sentence explanation that really does the trick. Microblogging is a terrific tool for sharing knowledge in the workplace. First, it’s right in line with the communication style of the newest working generation. Second, the purpose of microblogging is to put a big idea into as few words as possible. That gives it instant meaning and purpose, unlike a lengthy email. It reminds me of Haiku, an ancient style of Japanese poetry. Microblogging also works well as a large group instant-message that can be an announcement or a question seeking group input.
Janet is completely right about how to approach training employees on this type of system. Keep it very simple. Use a lot of analogies. Start with a good discussion on why and the benefits (collaboration, instant information, etc) before getting into the how. Then clearly define acceptable vs. non-acceptable uses of the system. Well thought out polices and guidelines should be established before training. Think about email in the workplace and how wack that is.
I’m ready to Twitter and Jitter.
Marguerite Inscoes last blog post..Shortcut Training
Hi Marguerite-
So glad you stopped by and thanks for the comments. I’m placing your blog on the blogroll.
My Dad came by my house and said he was talking to a neighbor and he asked what I was doing. My Dad couldn’t explain. I completely relate to confused looks and the lack of a simple explanation.
Haiku is a great analogy for microblogging. Not sure how good old Dad would respond to, “it’s like haiku” though…probably with a “you get paid for that?” Employees in the workplace who have experienced online learning could probably understand with such an analogy.
And, yes guidelines are important – both for the company and the employee. A couple of people to serve as champions and pave the way is a good idea too.
Send me your Twitter account!