Among the most popular posts on Globally Local in 2008 were those about wikis.
You can see from the titles that they all deal with the positioning of wikis and the intranet:
How have you positioned wikis in your enterprise? Do they make people nervous?
Do wikis make people nervous?
With any technology there are "laggards". Folks that are to busy, narrow-minded, or stubborn to try a new thing, despite what their peers say.
We all have friends that delayed the inevitability of getting a cell phone or an email account, or using their credit card to make an online purchase. And those that are still reluctant to participate in mainstream sites like eBay, Facebook, YouTube, or use online tools like discussion boards, wikis, instant messaging, and blogs.
As usual, the younger generations embrace new technology and the older folks (who have the decision making powers) are more reluctant to dip their feet in the waters of change. The decision makers of today's corporate environment are accustomed to controlled communication, and the notion of ANYBODY being able to contribute must be painfully hard to swallow because it requires a large degree of trust and a loosening of control. While wikis can be moderated, or have restricted contributions, there is still a fear that chaos could ensue.
Posted by: anonymous | January 28, 2009 at 05:52 PM
I disagree. WIIFM (what's in it for me?) is everything. Why should I try a new thing if I'm already working full-time? I don't have time to play with every stupid toy in the web cupboard. 'New' is not a reason to use anything; 'better' is worthy of investigation; 'actually works' is a winner.
Senior mgrs are used to controlled comm's and are wary of social media, but they'll go there if there's a reason. Kids like toys but they have no money, low literacy and no decision-making power. But most people are happy to try a new thing if it is actually better, not just new. Anyone else out there with a grandma on e-mail?
Posted by: Brian | February 13, 2009 at 06:47 AM
I bet many grandmas are on email these days. It's the best way (sometimes the only way!) to stay in regular touch with the kids!
I agree that anything new must justify itself by one or more of the 4 following things:
- let you do something (important) you could not previously do at all
- make something you already do easier, faster, simpler
- bring more value to something you already do
- reduce costs or increase revenue
Posted by: Jane McConnell | February 17, 2009 at 11:12 AM