KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

Knowledge Management, Social Networks and Innovation

Knowledge Management, Social Networks and Innovation

Social Media and the Workplace

In developed nations technologically networked environments give an easy access to people and information in such ways that were previously not known to mankind. Today's era is known as the social era. The industrial revolution changed our perception and opened different ways to work more efficiently. It created new ways and machines to increase worker productivity. Similarly, this new revolution in social media allowed us to accomplish workplace goals in new ways. This revolution can help companies become more advance and productive. If companies are able to control this tool they can make progress in their collective knowledge base (Zammit et al, n.d, p.2)

Social media applications and in our particular case social networking sites have charged forward in fame and status over the past few years. First it is important to understand the difference between social media and social networking sites. By definition, social media is a form of electronic communication where users create online communities for sharing ideas, information and other content (www.merriam-webster.com) and social networking sites are websites where people share their daily activities, opinions on a topic or just to increase their social circle (www.pcmag.com). Social media is a format, like television or newspaper, to deliver a message whereas social networking sites allows for a two way communication (Hartshorn, 2010, n.d). Now employees, in almost every workspace, are accessing these social networking sites. There is a common concept that use of these networking sites poses problems for employers, but there are also some companies who adopt a forward looking view of giving their employees access to these social sites. The advantage of doing this can be seen in enhanced company branding, customer base expansion, recruiting, research and improving employee engagement.

There are also some risks associated with letting employees use these sites at workplace. Social media is an internet-based place where users can create and swap information and content (www.merriam-webster.com). This very aspect can cause problems for the employers. These can be sharing of confidential company information, giving insulting or belittling remarks about employers or other fellow employees or posting humiliating recorded videos of workplace on websites like YouTube (Anonymous, n.d, p. 2).

A Background Description of Social Networks

Introduction to Social Media

Ever since the introduction of social networking sites millions of users have incorporated their usage on a daily basis. Social media sites are internet websites where people can freely interact with each other discuss and share information relating to their lives through the use of audio, video, words and pictures. These websites allow their users to make and exchange content and connect in person to person dialogues and conversations.

The unique factor offered by these social networking sites is not that they allow people to connect with strangers, but they let their users to communicate and make their social networks visible to each other. This feature of the social networking sites, as a result, let individuals create such networks that would not have been possible ...