Here is a really insightful post, Social Business: Where It's Been & Where It's Going, by David Armano is EVP, Global Innovation & Integration at Edelman Digital. Being a student of trends in communication channels for years I really like the historical nature of his thoughts and the parallels be sees in the evolution of digital and social trends.
First there was digital (capabilities), then digital media, then digital business, then social, and social media (where we are now) and social business where we are going. I would only add that social business is beginning to move more into the present. David gives a detailed summary each of these six stages that I will not repeat here. He subtitles the social business stage as: Connected, Adaptive & Intelligent.
While I do see signs of social business, at least at the conceptual and strategic level, I would agree with David’s statement, “the reality is that most organizations are currently dealing with the realities of social media and only a few truly recognize the potential of social business.” This will change. Part of the change will be the breakdown of the traditional walls between enterprises, partners, and customers.
David also states that we are just scratching the surface of the potential here. I think the rise of online communities will be one trend that makes social media into social business if the community is set up to achieve a specific business objective. A community is a concrete manifestation of the social concept and a way to get it generating benefit. I think this is why we are seeing more communities now.
'I think the rise of online communities will be one trend that makes social media into social business if the community is set up to achieve a specific business objective.'
Can you give some current examples of communities that are setup to achieve specific biz objectives?
Posted by: Matthew Weber | June 07, 2012 at 03:18 PM