Social networking and the workplace : Making the most of web 2.0 technologies

Purpose – Reviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach – This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings – It's an undeniable fact of life that people make mistakes. Some make more than others. Some mistakes are costlier than others. Just ask those companies that chose to dismiss the significance of the Internet when that phenomenon first emerged. Lessons are not always learned, unfortunately, and history may be in danger of repeating itself in the shape of web 2.0. With its focus on social networking capabilities, web 2.0 has transformed the online landscape to the extent that information sharing is now the norm for multitudes of people. Many companies, however, remain pretty skeptical about the implications of welcoming social networking tools into the workplace. The openness that characterizes this development goes against established principles, especially those founded on command and control. Originality/value – Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.