What is Social Networking?

Simply put, social networking is the grouping of individuals into specific groups, like alumni communities, or neighborhood communities.

Although social networking is an unwitting habit with us every day, in schools or in the workplace, it is most popular online. Examples of online social networks are MySpace, Ryze, etc

What is Enterprise Social Networking?
Enterprise Social Networking is a concept that taps the true potential of an organization, by bringing its most relevant expertise and resources to where they can be of most value.

Enterprise Social networking applications are people-centric, mimicking real-world social interactions that span conversations and relationships. These applications are optimised to collect unstructured information and connect people to each other and to relevant information. Enterprises typically use these applications to create communities for employees, partners and customers.

Companies embracing social media have a chance to break down the walls of complex, ineffective hierarchies and to empower employees to get things done.

The tools are simple, fun, engaging, and inspirational. Bringing fresh winds of change to the stale corporate mentality is a good thing and should be welcomed.

According to the US industry analyst firm Forrester, social networking tools will become “so much a part of the fabric of an enterprise’s collaborative environment that it will be like air – enterprises won’t be able to manage life without it.”

Who uses it?
Large, geographically distributed organizations can use Social Networking effectively and productively.

• Over 400,000 IBM employees have easy access to a range of expertise across their organization through their ‘Blue Pages’ internal network. Read it here.
• Read Ed Cone’s article on How Companies Can Levarage Social Networking for Results

How can we help you with Social Networking Tools?
At Pigtail Pundits, we believe that communication and collaboration with people both inside and outside the company is a key business differentiator.

Social software solutions promise to change how companies innovate, managers make decisions, and businesses lower costs, tap talent, or realize new business opportunities.