Enterprise social networks : engaging employees and sustaining participation

Abstract

Social relationships pervade every aspect of human life and development of social networks at work is inevitable. Enterprise social networking solutions provide a platform for employees to formally foster these professional relationships and put them to constructive use. Enterprise social network can be defined as a private social network of an organization that helps employees communicate, engage, and innovate across departments, locations and business processes. It serves as a problem solving space, conversation space, work tool, project management tool and awareness space across large organizations to break down silos. Enterprise social networks are very different from consumer social networks and their effectiveness needs to be measured with different metrics. This dissertation evaluates the current positioning of social enterprise networking solutions, consolidates the issues in adopting this technology, and outlines guidelines for choosing and implementing enterprise social networks in organizations. Meta-analysis of global enterprise social networking market is performed using secondary research and successful case studies of major players in the space are discussed to provide context. This study uses data from primary research through interviews, focus groups, surveys, and cross tabulation analyses to explore employee expectations and engagement with enterprise social networks. The research concludes by providing a ten step framework for the effective adoption of enterprise social network.