I ran across the following interview of Seth Godin by Loic Lemeur (on
- More people who wake up and are energized about the work they do
- Happier people
- A huge productivity boost in areas that we collectively care about (they likely will not be what I think they should be so if you disagree with what matters to me, that's OK!)
- Companies that start to care more about the social externalities of their business
- Companies that solve both practical needs but also do something that matters to their consumers
- Solutions to the world's unequal distribution of food and information
Is that too grand? I don't know but I see a world of opportunity out there sitting in cubes, watching TV, and doing repetitive tasks. It is alike a pool of inert molicules waiting for a catalyst. I think the catalyst is social software.
With exactly this in mind, Penn State Outreach just created our new Intranet, which incorporates a very open, very social structure, because we are positing that those powers of community engagement which are so powerful outside of the workplace, can be equally powerful internal to the workplace.
You can read about our launch here:
http://www.socialcomputingmagazine.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=674
We don't have absolute results yet, but we do have information so far about the things that are happening already as a result of bringing some of that social concept inside.
Posted by: Bevin Hernandez | February 11, 2009 at 11:19 AM
What a lovely post. I think the part about a search for meaning is also connected to a desire to actually end up with something that lasts for the long term. We've turned into a disposable society that salivates over the idea of "new" even it isn't markedly better than the old.
I suspect it's why I still hold on to my physical books despite the sexiness of Amazon's Kindle. Yes, the sheer convenience of traveling with multiple books and having almost immediate access to new material is tempting, but it also feels a little temporary, too. So much of our world is dependent on bytes that I think we're hungry for the tangible experiences that can result from our online interactions, whether it's meeting someone in person or exchanging small gifts. The tools (e.g., software, organizations, etc.) that you mention become truly valuable when they encourage and support interaction outside of their designed boundaries.
Posted by: Britt Raybould | February 11, 2009 at 04:16 PM
I think your motives are admirable. And the increase in interest in, or at least awareness of, social software and how it might apply in the enterprise, over the past couple of years, is encouraging. But I do also think the power structures and politics of large organizations are very deeply rooted. I'm not convinced they can be swept away quickly, if ever. I get the impression that most of the people evangelising about Enterprise 2.0 are, like myself, either self-employed or working for small, niche organizations.
I do want to believe your vision is possible, though!
Posted by: Simon Carswell | February 13, 2009 at 09:12 AM
Hi Simon -
Thanks for stopping by and adding to the conversation.
I agree - some human nature will never change. Some people like power and will do a lot to get it or keep it.
However, as you have expressed yourself - there are more and more people opting out of working for big organizations because the power balance is so off. Think of all that wasted potential.
I think we can do better. Will it ever be utopia? No - not even with the best people in the world. We all have egos and pride that can make it hard to work together.
Without a vision, we will make less progress toward better organizational environment. I have no better idea than the next person how it will all play out but by putting a hypothesis or a goal out there - we can start down the path and see what challenges come up as we push the boundaries.
I like big hairy audacious goals - its what gets me excited - and what sustains me through the challenges that arise while working toward them.
Posted by: Rachel Happe | February 13, 2009 at 09:27 AM