When I first heard of the concept of enterprise social computing, it hearkened me back to the days when my biggest problem at work was the fact that I had to sit in a cubicle all day long.My world was made up of a maze of cubicles arranged in geometric patterns surrounding the water cooler and over sized (not to mention loud) copy machine.Anytime I needed something, all I had to do was peek over the grayish half wall and talk to a colleague.  The only outlet to the larger world seemed to be the black phone that sat at the corner of the desk.

Oh how the times have changed!  We live in a much more dynamic world than we did even fifteen years ago, and the business world has not been spared.We live in a world that moves lightening fast and expects our information to be that fast as well.  The business of today does not just manage roomfuls of cubed in employees, but rather hundreds and thousands of workers scattered across the globe, armed with many and varied forms of technology.However, the one thing that has not changed is the need for employees to be informed and connected.This is where you will start to hear about the enterprise social computing concept.  

Global businesses are constantly tasked with the challenge of maintaining a workforce that has answers, or at least access to answers, 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  Many forms of social software can provide this type of inter connectivity; a solution that allows employees to quickly find both the necessary information and the right people that are required to do their jobs. 

Again, this is not as easy as hollering over the cubicle at your buddy, hoping he can supply you with the right numbers.  You need to be able to efficiently barrel through the droves of other streams of information, which are always within a finger tap of an iPhone, and find exactly what you are looking for.  Enterprise social computing lets you target specific information or people, so that you get regular updates on information you actually need.  Not only that, it can also allow you to quickly and securely exchange information with anyone within your organization.So now when I yell across my little cubicle wall here in San Diego, if I had a colleague in China, they could not only hear me but respond quickly. 

Perhaps the biggest advantage though is the fact that this interconnectedness is completely secure.  Technology, along with the sheer expansiveness of global business, has brought with it some unique security challenges.Think of the consequences of having your most private information – trade secrets, financial information, etc.— was out there ready to be hijacked.  Enterprise social computing can let these guys rest easier, though I’m not sure that’s the only thing keeping them up.

The fact is, there is so much information available. Because of this, a system that puts the information I need in my hands sounds like a great idea.  Even so, sometimes you’ve got to leave the cubicle behind and get off the grid.

NewsGator is creating social media solutions and overcoming challenges faced by many businesses today. With an integrated and secure platform, workers can collaborate, communicate, and improve their knowledge.

Be Sociable, Share!

•