Gartner Analysts Want Web 2.0 at Work

In a recent article on eWeek.com , a journalist delved into the argument of two Gartner analysts who say that Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and other social applications that allow for messaging and collaboration in the workplace should not be banned.

It’s a fine line for employers to walk – to allow social networking sites or not in the workplace. They can be time sinks, of course. And I agree with the reporter who writes: “Some people spend so much time on these networks that their use of social apps could impede productivity.”

But still, it is important to note that employees like the give and take of creative and collaborative online environments. It’s the way the world is moving. So why can’t employers embrace it and put Web 2.0 technologies to work for them?

That’s part of what makes enterprise wikis so exciting. Employees can have the instant gratification of sharing information online with their friends/co-workers. Yes, it’s work focused, but employers can define areas that allow employees to have a little more fun with the wiki and to enjoy using the technology. For example, employers can create a community area for staff to create their own pages in. Community policing and the wisdom of crowds inevitably ensure that only appropriate content is created and disseminated through Web 2.0 technologies.

Kudos to Web 2.0 innovators that create Wikis and blog for ensuring harmonious social networking tools within the Enterprise.