Social learning
In this article, Hartley argues that social media supports social learning in workplaces. By encouraging the use of social media in workplaces, organizations are able to promote individual learning. Social media also provides employees with an opportunity to augment their informal knowledge. Definitely, the management could use social tools to encourage employee-driven and learning-in-real-time approach. The article gives us real examples of how social media is being used to promote employees’ productivity and the interaction between employees and their organizations. The article utilizes a case study of Southland Industries, a company that uses social media for informal learning. The article clearly illustrates how social media tools can be used as a way of motivating employees. The article challenges managers to adopt a developmental approach to their employees and also address their emotional needs. In this regard, the article provides useful insights on how managers can capitalize on social media as a “pull” strategy.
Hauptmann, Stefan and Steger, Thomas. “A brave new (digital) world.” Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication 13, 1(2012): 210- 310
This article gives us a clear analysis about the workplace changes that have been brought by the social media. Hauptmann and Steger use the term computer aided communication to refer to the communication methods that do not require virtual presence of the sender and the receiver. In Hauptmann and Steger’s views, social media has a great potential of influencing employees’ behavior than traditional organizational IT environments. The article utilizes two case studies to analyze the constraints and the possible benefits of the social media. The article suggests that social media can be used for knowledge management purposes. At the same time it can be used to bring together employees who work in fragmented workplaces. In addition, the article suggests that due to its continuous data storage and easily accessible history function, social media can be used in making important decision-making in an organization. However, the article points out that social media platform can blur the line private work and private life. The article is right on this issue bearing in mind that some organizations have banned the use of social media platforms in their workplaces. In order to reap the benefits of social media, Hauptmann, and Steger, advises that organization should create an adequate environment and put in place rules of conduct to guide the communication behavior. While the article provides us with clear insights on the likely benefits of social media in an organization, it does not use a strong methodology framework. In particular, the researchers used scanty data to compare the difference between social media frames and face-to-face interactions.
Jacques, Bughin and Michael, Chui. “How social technologies are extending the organization.” McKingsley Quarterly 1(2013): 34- 35
Discarded Articles
Kaplan, Andreas and Haenlein, Michael. “Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of social media. Business Horizons 53(2010): 59-68
This article defines the concept of social media and the common social media platforms. It is interesting to note that despite the existing social media policies, some of the employees still use their devices to access to visit social networks. Although this article gives us some useful facts it fails to give any details on the potential advantages and disadvantages. Even then, the article challenges the management to come with concrete policies to guide how social media resource is utilized the company. In addition, the article provides pieces of advice for companies deciding to use social media.
Olguin, Daniel., Waber, Benjamin., Kim, Taemie., Mohan, Akshay., Ara, Koji., and Pentland, Alex. “Sensible organizations: technology and methodology for automatically measuring organizational behavior.” Cybernetics 39, 1(2009): 43-55
The article uses has a strong methodology of how human behavior can be measured in an organizational setting. Using some tools, the researchers were able to measure the intensity of social interactions, group behavior and organizational dynamics. The purpose of the study was to analyze individuals’ processes and then use the data to enhance their job performance. Such data could be utilized in job designing, and in the improvement of quality of organizational communication. The article discusses in length the application of socially aware systems, electronic budges, and sociometric badges. Although the article gives us some useful insights it veers of from the subject of social media. As a matter of fact, the subject of social media is given less attention in the entire article. In addition, the authors seems not to be qualified enough and the paper contains too may technical details that are not related to the subject under study. That’s why this article was discarded.
Non-Research Based Articles
Clapperton, Steve. “Social media software provides real benefit to the corporate culture.” Engineering and Technology 7, 5(2012): 30
The article looks at changes in the business landscape in the world. This article offers us simple facts about human beings as social animals but does not use primary sources or data to corroborate its findings. The article warns against trivializing social networks such as Twitter. At the same, time Clapperton revisits some of the likely constraints of social media in an organizational setting. According to the article, the major disadvantage is distraction. Using psychological facts, carter goes ahead to explain why human beings are easily distracted by technological innovations. Another problem cited is waste of corporate time. On the other hand, social media platforms could lead to innovation through a phenomenon Clapperton calls “accidental space.” The article is a good read for people who appreciate simple facts. However, it is not suitable for in-depth analysis as it lacks the necessary data and fails to use primary sources.
Norris, Sharon and Porter, Tracy. “The changing face of leadership: Making an impression in the technically mediated landscape.” Journal of Leadership Studies 4(2012): 69-76
In this article, Norris and Porter argue that leaders must make the first impression when it comes to the use of social media in an organization. This article relies on simple facts. It also gives precise details on how social media can be used to improve leadership in an organization. A case in point, Norri and Porter suggest that social media is a great way of facilitating social media marketing initiatives. The article further gives us details on how Facebook and other social sites can be used to setup virtual offices. Most importantly, the article looks at how leaders can utilize social media in role modeling. In order to become a good example to the employees, leaders should make the right impression using new impression management tactics. Norris and Porter also predict that with time, social media may revolutionize organizational settings; from traditional to a virtual setting. Such transformational and teleworking arrangements will no doubt lead to a reduction in operational cost.
References
Hartley, Deanna. Learning goes social. McKingsley Quarterly 1 (2011): 88- 99
Pentland, Alex. The new science of building great teams. Harvard Business Review 61(2012): 61- 76
Olguin, Daniel., Waber, Benjamin., Kim, Taemie., Mohan, Akshay., Ara, Koji., and Pentland, Alex. Sensible organizations: technology and methodology for automatically measuring organizational behavior. Cybernetics 39, 1(2009): 43-55
Carter, Steve. Social media software provides real benefit to the corporate culture. Engineering and Technology (2012): 31
