I went to IABC's seminar today on the topic of Web, Wikis and Workplace Technology. One of the most interesting topics to me was around the discussion of the online life and offline life. The 15-year-old World Wide Web is rapidly changing and has profoundly influenced how organisations manage information and link people together. Although social media is not the only way of communication, and I believe it will never be the only way for communication, it will be (or in fact has become?) a very significant and important way of facilitating communication that can effectively reach the target audience. It impacts on communication skills needed in organisations, the complexity of managing information and the speed of processing information. For many, web 2.0 does not merely link information, it links people. It allows people to communicate, share and collaborate on a many-to-many basis. Facebook, Wikipedia and Blogs, are so well developed and people are engaging in these online communities. "If you ask people under 20, they will probably tell you there is no difference between the online 'life' and the offline 'life'." said the guest speaker, Ross Monahan, a Lecturer from Deakin University.
Surprisingly, when audience heard the above comments , there were little mumbling among the audience. I say it is 'surprisingly' because I have made an assumption that most of them, if not all, are from the communication field and hence would be active contributors in the 'online world'. Well, this 'surprising' reaction from the audience makes me think about generational differences once again. It cannot be denied that there are a lot of Gen X and Boomers who are actively users of web 2.0 technology, perhaps the majority of them are still going through the learning curve. I am really interested in what they were mumbling about....
Another guest speaker, Nick Hodge from Microsoft, brought up another interesting topic - trust. He said that in the online world, people can smell the fake. It is important for organisations to tell the truth and be as honest as they can. It may be true that it is easy to lie online because no one gets to 'see' the fact. However, it is also easy to tell if this is not the truth. Everyone has access to the www and can freely say almost anything online. What they say can hardly be controlled by the organisation. It is a challenge for many organisations.
To me personally, I don't always expect organisations to tell the truth online, but what they say does shape my impression on the organisation and I guess it happens to many people too. However if I found out they lied, it would be VERY hard for me to trust them again.
Wednesday, 28 May 2008
Friday, 9 May 2008
Enterprise 2.0
Exploring the future of Enterprise 2.0
By Alex Manchester, Editor, The Internal Comms Hub (Australia), Melcrum
There is a general perception that Gen Y and the Millennials are more technology savvy and therefore logically link them with collaborating with Web 2.0 technology. However, as Alex Manchester comments, this is unwise to make such assumption and disregard Gen X and the Baby Boomers.
During my research, I have found that many of the Gen Xers make the arguement that they use and love Web 2.0 tools as much as (if not more than) the younger generations. And the fact that Gen Xers are still in the workplace for the next few decades, maximising their contributions through collaboration is essential.
Enterprise 2.0 Executive Forum
Conference Speakers:
By Alex Manchester, Editor, The Internal Comms Hub (Australia), Melcrum
There is a general perception that Gen Y and the Millennials are more technology savvy and therefore logically link them with collaborating with Web 2.0 technology. However, as Alex Manchester comments, this is unwise to make such assumption and disregard Gen X and the Baby Boomers.
During my research, I have found that many of the Gen Xers make the arguement that they use and love Web 2.0 tools as much as (if not more than) the younger generations. And the fact that Gen Xers are still in the workplace for the next few decades, maximising their contributions through collaboration is essential.
Enterprise 2.0 Executive Forum
Conference Speakers:
- Andrew McAfee, Associate Professor, Harvard Business School
- Andrew Mitchell, National Manager, Technology and Knowledge , Urbis
- Brian Haverty, Editorial Director, CNET Networks Australia
- David Backley, Chief Technology Officer, Westpac Banking Corporation
- Euan Semple, Former Head of Knowledge Management, BBC
- Jennifer Wilson, Head of Innovation, NineMSN
- Jonathan Stern, Business Unit Executive, Lotus Software, Australia and New Zealand
- Joshua Gliddon, IT Editor, Australian Financial Review
- Nathan Wallace, Associate Director - Technology, Janssen-Cilag
- Peter Evans-Greenwood, Chief Technology Officer, Capgemini Australia
- Ross Dawson, Chairman, Future Exploration Network
- Sheryle Moon, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Information Industry Association
- Tim Birdsall, Asia Pacific Executive for Portal and Workplace, IBM
- Victor Rodrigues, Software Development Manager, Cochlear
Thursday, 1 May 2008
Participate in Research
Do you find it difficult to communicate with different generations? Are you having problems ensuring your organisation to maximise the benefits of corporate wikis and blogs? If you answered yes to both questions, an inspiring research with your contributions may help.
An Honours student from the University of Melbourne is currently conducting a research on the use of collaborative technology in the workplace, such as wiki, blogs, and discussion forums. The research seeks to find out how different generations utilise corporate wikis to share knowledge and create innovative ideas.
The researcher invites 5 individuals from each generation, Baby Bommer, X’er and Y’er, to participate in an interview about their experience in using collaborative technology in the workplace. The interview will take approximately 45 minutes to complete.
After the research, you will be able to acquire information about: 1. the differences between generations in experiencing collaborative technology; 2. who are the group of people who have greater capability in maximising the benefits of mass collaboration; and, 3. to what effect within the workplace. It will lead to better use of resources in training and development and a more effective workplace.
If you would like to help the researcher or to learn more about maximising the benefits of collaborative technology, please email Sharon Ho on s.ho3@ugrad.unimelb.edu.au
An Honours student from the University of Melbourne is currently conducting a research on the use of collaborative technology in the workplace, such as wiki, blogs, and discussion forums. The research seeks to find out how different generations utilise corporate wikis to share knowledge and create innovative ideas.
The researcher invites 5 individuals from each generation, Baby Bommer, X’er and Y’er, to participate in an interview about their experience in using collaborative technology in the workplace. The interview will take approximately 45 minutes to complete.
After the research, you will be able to acquire information about: 1. the differences between generations in experiencing collaborative technology; 2. who are the group of people who have greater capability in maximising the benefits of mass collaboration; and, 3. to what effect within the workplace. It will lead to better use of resources in training and development and a more effective workplace.
If you would like to help the researcher or to learn more about maximising the benefits of collaborative technology, please email Sharon Ho on s.ho3@ugrad.unimelb.edu.au
Thursday, 24 April 2008
Journal article on Mass Collaboration
During my research process, I've found it pretty hard to get an article about MC in some of the Premium Journal. Yes, it takes years to publish an article in those Premium Journal, but I cannot believe none of them have examined MC, which is such a hot topic in these few years.
Well perhaps once again, it proves the fact that being a Gen Yer, I expect knowledge to be available publicly immediately.
Well perhaps once again, it proves the fact that being a Gen Yer, I expect knowledge to be available publicly immediately.
What is Mass Collaboration?
O’Reilly, T. (2005). What Is Web 2.0: Design Patterns and Business Models for the Next Generation of Software. O’Reilly Media, (online resource), retrieved 4 April 2007.
Tapscott and Williams, 2007, Wikinomics, Penguin Group, New York
Elliott, M. A., 2007, Stigmergic Collaboration: A Theoretical Framework for Mass Collaboration, PhD Thesis, The University of Melbourne, Retrieved April 3, 2008, from http://mark-elliott.net/view/Dissertation
Martin, N., 2007, Keep Your Eyes on the Enterprise: Emails, Wikis, Blogs, and Corporate Risk, EContent, 30(6), 54-59
McAfee, A. P., 2006, Enterprise 2.0: The Dawn of Emergent Collaboration, MIT Sloan Management Review, 47(3), 20-28
Tapscott and Williams, 2007, Wikinomics, Penguin Group, New York
Elliott, M. A., 2007, Stigmergic Collaboration: A Theoretical Framework for Mass Collaboration, PhD Thesis, The University of Melbourne, Retrieved April 3, 2008, from http://mark-elliott.net/view/Dissertation
Martin, N., 2007, Keep Your Eyes on the Enterprise: Emails, Wikis, Blogs, and Corporate Risk, EContent, 30(6), 54-59
McAfee, A. P., 2006, Enterprise 2.0: The Dawn of Emergent Collaboration, MIT Sloan Management Review, 47(3), 20-28
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
Theoretical Essay
The next assignment coming up which is related to the thesis is the theoretic piece. It is essentially an explanatory or introductory essay on the main theories in our field of interest. I found it quite frustrating to do this particular assignment as there is no general theory of collaboration which has been widely accepted and adapted.
The article What Constitutes a Theoretical Contribution, written by David A Whetten (1989), seems to be useful in providing a framework for me to structure the theoretical essay.
Whetten suggests that there are four building blocks of theory development: What, How, Why and the fourth condition, which place limitations on the propositions, 'Who, Where and When'
The what refers to the factors (variables, concepts or constructs) that are logically considered as a part of the explanation of the phenomena. Two criteria should be used to judged on the basis of comprehensiveness and parsimony.
The how refers to the relationships between the between or the patterns of the constructs of the phenomenon.
The why refers to the underlying dynamics that explain the proposed casual relationships.
Although no general theory of collaboration is well developed and the introduction of mass collaboration has brought about radical change for organisations, various studies have been conducted in many literature to try to address each of the above building block of theory development.
The article What Constitutes a Theoretical Contribution, written by David A Whetten (1989), seems to be useful in providing a framework for me to structure the theoretical essay.
Whetten suggests that there are four building blocks of theory development: What, How, Why and the fourth condition, which place limitations on the propositions, 'Who, Where and When'
The what refers to the factors (variables, concepts or constructs) that are logically considered as a part of the explanation of the phenomena. Two criteria should be used to judged on the basis of comprehensiveness and parsimony.
The how refers to the relationships between the between or the patterns of the constructs of the phenomenon.
The why refers to the underlying dynamics that explain the proposed casual relationships.
Although no general theory of collaboration is well developed and the introduction of mass collaboration has brought about radical change for organisations, various studies have been conducted in many literature to try to address each of the above building block of theory development.
Tuesday, 22 April 2008
Collaborate.com
Today as I was googling the 'general theory of collaboration', I accidentally found this site collaborate.com
There is an interesting article about Generational Trust and Collaboration written by John Coleman, which is exactly what I am trying to investigate in my thesis.
Generational differences can be categorised in terms of four broad generations, the Seniors, the Baby Boomers, the Gen Xers and the Gen Yers. Although the article combines Gen Xers and Yers into the same group, majority of researches treat them differently. Distinctive characteristics of each generation have an influence on their perception of the use of mass collaborative technology and collaborative behaviour, yet the relationships between generational differences and collaborations have merely been discussed in the literature, especially in the context of an organisation.
Further more, the term 'Net Generation' is loosely defined. They are suggested to be the generation who were growing up digital. However, as John Coleman describes, many Boomers and Gen Xers, who only adopt digital technology in their early or late adulthood, share similar characteristics of the Net Geners. So who belongs the Net Gen?
While the observations presented in this article illustrate how different generations have a different levels of trust in the online world, and the younger generations are more likely to engage in collaborative behaviour, these observations are presumably based on socialising online community. As we think of collaboration in an organisation, are people (across generations) still likely to engage in collaborative behaviour? Is trust the antecedent of collaboration in an organisation? What is the implications of this?
They are the questions that need to be investigated.
There is an interesting article about Generational Trust and Collaboration written by John Coleman, which is exactly what I am trying to investigate in my thesis.
Generational differences can be categorised in terms of four broad generations, the Seniors, the Baby Boomers, the Gen Xers and the Gen Yers. Although the article combines Gen Xers and Yers into the same group, majority of researches treat them differently. Distinctive characteristics of each generation have an influence on their perception of the use of mass collaborative technology and collaborative behaviour, yet the relationships between generational differences and collaborations have merely been discussed in the literature, especially in the context of an organisation.
Further more, the term 'Net Generation' is loosely defined. They are suggested to be the generation who were growing up digital. However, as John Coleman describes, many Boomers and Gen Xers, who only adopt digital technology in their early or late adulthood, share similar characteristics of the Net Geners. So who belongs the Net Gen?
While the observations presented in this article illustrate how different generations have a different levels of trust in the online world, and the younger generations are more likely to engage in collaborative behaviour, these observations are presumably based on socialising online community. As we think of collaboration in an organisation, are people (across generations) still likely to engage in collaborative behaviour? Is trust the antecedent of collaboration in an organisation? What is the implications of this?
They are the questions that need to be investigated.
Collaboration and Organisations
Recently, I am investigating the use of mass collaborative technology in the workplace. And in particular, the role of generational differences in the use of the technology.
So I guess it makes sense to utilise Web 2.0 technology to help myself a little bit :)
So I guess it makes sense to utilise Web 2.0 technology to help myself a little bit :)
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