How SMBs Can Leverage Social Media Tools to Improve

Workplace LearningWednesday, April 1, 2009

By Janet Clarey, Analyst & Sr. ResearcherBrandon Hall Research

Ways to Participate

1. E-mail your questions and comments to janet@brandon-hall.com

2. TWEET! – send Twitter messages to your followers, and to me at @jclarey - use #BrandonHall in your tweets so I can find them

3. Text Chat during the webinar –use NOTES (upper left)

•About You•Definitions•Benefits & Challenges for SMBs•How SMBs are using social learning technologies•How your organization can get started with social learning technologies

Agenda

You?1. Learning &

Development

2.Human Resources

3. Information Technology (IT)

4.Learning Services Provider

5.Other

How Many Employees

in your Organization?

1.Under 100

2.100 – 500

3.500-1,000

4.1,000-2,000

5.More than 2,000

Primary learning delivery channels

1.Instructor-led classroom training

2.Instructor-led online training

3.On-the-job training

4.Self-paced E-Learning Courses

5.Other

Where are your learners physically

located?1.Employees at one location

2.Dispersed employees

3.Unknown (customers)

4.Combination of any of the above

1.Rapid E-Learning (consumption and development)

2.Reduce Costs

3.Support Informal Learning

4.Improve Productivity

5.Other (type in chat)

Your current goals

SMB

Social media

Acronyms and Buzzwords for $1000

© Photographer: Geotrac | Agency: Dreamstime.com

Participatory online media that utilizes the group to write and direct content, rather than a read-only media. Allows for direct contact between participants. (Early List Servs but faster) – Urban Dictionary, a participatory online slang dictionary

What are social media?

© Photographer: Geotrac | Agency: Dreamstime.com

Small-to-Medium Business (also known as Small-to-Medium Enterprise, SME) are defined based on size (and there is no universal size definition). – Wikipedia, a participatory online dictionary

What does SMB stand for?

“Because they can respond so quickly as business conditions change, small and midsize companies have an advantage in a volatile and uncertain economic climate. The right information technology tools and solutions lets them build on this advantage by helping them cut costs and improve productivity today, while enabling them to stay focused on innovation so they will be poised for growth when the economy begins to turn around.”

Steve Ballmer, CEO, Microsoft

Quote

Challenges to SMB1. Resources (Cost, People,

Training)

2. Culture (Blocking, Management Style)

3. Loss of control of information

4. Fear of loss of productivity / abuse

5. Security

Benefits to SMB1. Faster Response

2. Resilient

3. Lower costs without sacrificing learning

4. Increased productivity

5. Supplements other training

Where we are today

First Generation Learning Model (SMB)

Hosted Learning Platform

Content Developer(Location A)

Content Developer & Learner(Location C)

Learner(on-the-road)

Learners(Location B)

Learning Lab(Location X)

Source: Bryan Chapman

Next Generation Learning Model (Connections and Networks)

Hosted Learning Platform

Content Developer & Learner(Location C)

Learner(on-the-road)

Learners(Location B)

Learning Lab(Location X)

Content Developer(Location A)

Source: Joe Kristy, IBM Global Business Services

Supports

Why the change

New Tools to Foster Learning

Social Networking Services

16

• Find experts

• Get fast answers

• Build relationships

• Informal learning

Blogs

16

•Capture knowledge

• Reflection

• Feedback

• Professional Development

Wikis

16

•Manage information

• Provide documentation

• Share resources

• Knowledge repository

Virtual Worlds

16

•Greater social presence compared with other learning technologies

• Enhanced interaction

• Realistic 3D objects and environments

Microblogging

Tagging / Bookmarking

Presence

Does your organization have a strategy for social

media?

Strategies for Using Social Learning Technologies

• As part of a blended learning strategy

• To provide a community for learning professionals

• To provide a collaborative learning environment among cross-functional groups

• For knowledge management

Strategies for Using Social Learning Technologies

• As part of a blended learning strategy

• To provide a community for learning professionals

• To provide a collaborative learning environment among cross-functional groups

• For knowledge management

Strategies for Using Social Learning Technologies

• As part of a blended learning strategy

• To provide a community for learning professionals

• To provide a collaborative learning environment among cross-functional groups

• For knowledge management

Strategies for Using Social Learning Technologies

• As part of a blended learning strategy

• To provide a community for learning professionals

• To provide a collaborative learning environment among cross-functional groups

• For knowledge management

Strategies for Using Social Learning Technologies

• As part of a learning plan

• To create a place for informal learning

• For leadership development

• For professional development

• To develop and retain talent

Strategies for Using Social Learning Technologies

• As part of a learning plan

• To create a place for informal learning

• For leadership development

• For professional development

• To develop and retain talent

Strategies for Using Social Learning Technologies

• As part of a learning plan

• To create a place for informal learning

• For leadership development

• For professional development

• To develop and retain talent

Strategies for Using Social Learning Technologies

• As part of a learning plan

• To create a place for informal learning

• For leadership development

• For professional development

• To develop and retain talent

Strategies for Using Social Learning Technologies

• As part of a learning plan

• To create a place for informal learning

• For leadership development

• For professional development

• To develop and retain talent

Summary1. There are benefits and challenges for SMBs in

today’s environment.

2. Social media tools for learning are a cost-effective solution for maximizing effectiveness.

3. There are an abundance of social media tools available.

4. There are multiple strategies for using social media.

5. A supportive culture is the most significant factor for implementing social learning technologies.

1. Distributed Learners

2.Information / Knowledge Workers

3. Need for Peer-to-Peer Collaboration

4.Need Easy/Anywhere Access to Information

5.Need Access to Subject Matter Experts

6.Supportive Culture

Good Use Case

Action Plan

Action Plan

1. Start small. Find opportunities where social learning tools will foster learning. (blended with instructor-led, etc.)

2. Become an expert on the learners within your organizational communities.

3. Use the tools yourself. Join a social network. If you’re already a member of one, connect with someone in this presentation.

4. Develop a strategy.

5. Incorporate into people’s daily work. Make it “real work.”

Action Plan

Follow-up questions?

1. E-mail your questions and comments to janet@brandon-hall.com

2. TWEET! @jclarey