It is not uncommon that companies, schools and universities block social networking services, video and photo sites. Blocking is usually a respons to mis-usage of those tools: tools are used in a wrong way or at inappropriate times. However you couldn't be more wrong than by blocking them. By blocking those tools you do not help the people that using them in the right way at the right moment and you do not help the people mis-using these tools since they will probably will have a work around (or an alternative) in a few hours.
If you look in the past you can see that the blocking is a common reaction: first there was a block to call outside the company, then to call international, a block on email, a block on visiting websites, a block on instant messaging etcetera etcetera. A lot of things were blocked and most of them were unblocked after a while. Why? Because all these tools are useful in a way. The only thing you should do is to create a clear understanding with each other how to use these tools properly to prevent any mis-usage of these tools.
Same goes for all the tools that are being blocked nowadays: social networking services contain a wealth of information and provide not only a big fun factor, but also tons of free marketing and consulting possibilities and an awful lot of new possible employees and customers. Do not block these kind of tools, just use them for your advantage. You cannot expect from employees that they will spent 100% of their working hours on their work. That is not necessary, let them spent some time during working hours on social networking services and other tools, there will be a return on investment if employees use it properly.
Do not block please
Rick Mans
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excellent
Hear hear! We are already seeing that companies are taking a more relaxed attitude towards social software. Blocking is a very pre-web 2.0 way of dealing with uncertainties. I say: open the gates, and let the fresh air in.
I would also like to add that employees are not only taking their private life with them to work, but also the other way around. Private and professional lives have twined, and that will only increase with later generations. Blocking is not the way organizations should deal with it. In stead, it should be encouraged and codes of conduct on how to use social tools should be made.
I would also like to add that employees are not only taking their private life with them to work, but also the other way around. Private and professional lives have twined, and that will only increase with later generations. Blocking is not the way organizations should deal with it. In stead, it should be encouraged and codes of conduct on how to use social tools should be made.
Another thought struck me:
If I wouldn't be allowed to use the social tools I am using at work, it would negatively affect my ability to do my work.
You and I, and other colleagues from Capgemini, are quite actively using Twitter. It is the perfect tool for communication of short messages and openly sharing of ideas between colleagues. It makes us more effective and, I dare say, efficient.
If I wouldn't be allowed to use the social tools I am using at work, it would negatively affect my ability to do my work.
You and I, and other colleagues from Capgemini, are quite actively using Twitter. It is the perfect tool for communication of short messages and openly sharing of ideas between colleagues. It makes us more effective and, I dare say, efficient.
@Rick: While in a ideal world I agree to your view, this is not possible in large offshore(employee size) organisations like ones in India say Capgemini India. While we have strict ISMS security policies which are enforced to ensure unethical misuse, availability of bandwidth is the real problem faced by local support organisation. In past we had problems where projects, which depend on work using remote software over vpn, faced performance problems because of heavy usage of online stock trading, social sites, upload of photos/files etc. In future availability of cheaper bandwidth will remove this cause.
@Nitin. I agree: bandwith is a requirement to be able to do this. From my point of view bandwith should never limit the use of the connection by its users. As soon as it does, it should be upgraded.
I know that is a very easy statement to make, however not upgrading your bandwidth will limit employees in accessing their connections and they will probably use more expensive channels to access them (e.g the phone). So you might think that you'll save some money by not upgrading, however you will be spending way lot more money (phone calls, lunches, faxes, email, early leaves, less leads via social networks, increase of marketing budget due the fact there is less talk about you on social networks etc etc).
I know that is a very easy statement to make, however not upgrading your bandwidth will limit employees in accessing their connections and they will probably use more expensive channels to access them (e.g the phone). So you might think that you'll save some money by not upgrading, however you will be spending way lot more money (phone calls, lunches, faxes, email, early leaves, less leads via social networks, increase of marketing budget due the fact there is less talk about you on social networks etc etc).
I agree with Rick. It's more about using the information and tools available in a responsible way.
Just think about how LinkedIn changed the way we get leads. It's a large repository of information. We are into a generation where we talk about Web 2.0, WOA and it may not be good idea to stay behind the lot.
Like Mark mentioned, people take private lives to work (which is the cause of concern for the management), but people take work home too and in a very interesting way.
Moreover, social media gives opportunity to participate and collaborate with external communities which indeed will bring value to the enterprise.
Just think about how LinkedIn changed the way we get leads. It's a large repository of information. We are into a generation where we talk about Web 2.0, WOA and it may not be good idea to stay behind the lot.
Like Mark mentioned, people take private lives to work (which is the cause of concern for the management), but people take work home too and in a very interesting way.
Moreover, social media gives opportunity to participate and collaborate with external communities which indeed will bring value to the enterprise.
Hi Kannan,
Thanks for your response. It is indeed about using the information in a responsible way. Staying behind by blocking those tools is not the best option, like as you said, LinkedIn changed the way we get leads. If LinkedIn is blocked, the result might be less leads and that could be rather killing.
Thanks for your response. It is indeed about using the information in a responsible way. Staying behind by blocking those tools is not the best option, like as you said, LinkedIn changed the way we get leads. If LinkedIn is blocked, the result might be less leads and that could be rather killing.
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