Evaluative report
The table below lists the three learning objectives for
INF506 which I have selected to focus on and their supporting blogs.
Objective
|
Blog post
|
Understanding of social networking technologies
|
|
Demonstrate an understanding of the social management issues
and how information policy is developed and implemented to manage them
|
|
Evaluate social networking technologies and software to
support informational and collaborative needs of communities
|
Understanding social networking
technologies
Throughout
the course of this subject we have been asked to immerse ourselves into the vast
array of social media technologies which are available today. Some were much
easier to engage with than others. I found using Second Life to be very
frustrating, while Delicious was fairly straightforward and a useful tool. Despite the
differences in these technologies they were all trying to achieve the same
thing – providing a platform that supports the four c’s of social media –
collaboration, community, content creation and conversation. I chose to link my
blog on examining the 4C’s of the ASU library channel site, rather than looking
at an individual technology such as Delicious, as this activity made me look at
the underlying goals of social media and the different technologies which could
be used to fulfil them. When you implement any social media technology you need
to keep in mind the 4 C’s and whether you are implementing all of them.
Demonstrate an understanding of the social
management issues and how information policy is developed and implemented to
manage them
The
broader objective also covers the ethical, educational aspect of social
networking, but as different posts cover all of these, I have chosen to focus
on the development of a social media strategy and policy. I found this topic to
be one of the most interesting, as it is probably the one that is given the
least amount of thought by organisations when they first dip their toe into
social media. Before they have thought about it, an organisation is likely to
have a Facebook page and a Twitter account without any planning of what their
objectives are, how they are going to manage their social media profile and
more importantly, how they will manage issues as they arise. The common theme in
all the articles that I read for this post is to stop and take the time to
examine the social media landscape (Kagan 2010, Solis 2010). Take the time to
study how the different platforms operate, who is there and which one is the right environment
for your organisation. The other overriding theme was to be honest and don’t
misrepresent your organisation. This means having a policy that clearly states
what you are trying to achieve, and how you want staff to represent your
organisation (Lauby 2009). Steinberg (2013) discusses incorporating guidelines
on responding to negative comments. The importance of this can not be stressed enough. There are media reports
almost every month where large organisations have not responded in a timely
manner to complaints eg, Target http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/ultimatum-to-stores-sign-pledge-not-to-sell-trampy-kids-clothes-or-be-boycotted-20120814-245t3.html
The
negative impact on an organisation on not having a strategy and policy in place
can have far reaching consequences. The organisation can come across as not being 'real' and not following
the 2 of the 4 c’s – being part of a conversation and being part of a
community.
Evaluate social networking technologies and
software to support informational and collaborative needs of communities
This
post shows you how an information organisation can use social media
technologies to meet the information and collaborative needs of its community. This
post looks at the 10 criteria that ERL actively implements on their website
using social media technology to connect with its community, bringing its
members into its world, as well as reach out into theirs. They have used
blogging, tweeting, Flickr and Facebook to meet their market. They have looked
at segmentation and what works best for each sector – the seniors page has
minimal social networking while the teen page encourages members to tweet, like
and post reviews. This webpage, whilst it does have its down sides, clearly shows how a library organisation, or in deed any organisation, can use social media
to connect with its community. I love the way the posts bring people into the
organisation at a personal level – stories and images from staff, and allows
members to also post their stories and images as well. Unlike ASU, this library
is using social media technologies to follow all four of the c’s and build a community that you want to be part of.
Kagan, M. (2010) What is Social Media Now?
Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/mzkagan/what-is-social-media-now-4747765
Lauby, S.(2009a) Should Your Company Have a
Social Media Policy? In mashable.com. Retrieved from
http://mashable.com/2009/04/27/social-media-policy/
Solis, B. (2010) 21 Rules for Social Media
Engagement. In mashable.com . Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2010/05/18/rules-social-media-engagment/
Steinberg (2013) The 10 Commandments of Social
Media for Brands. In mashable.com. Retrieved from
http://mashable.com/2013/03/13/social-media-business-commandments/
PART B
To examine how I have developed as a social networker I have gone back to my original objectives in the first post at the beginning of the course and whether I think I have achieved them.
“I expect to understand how to better utilise the social network platform for the organisation I work at, as well as to get a better understanding of what the implications and uses are for individuals. I hope to become more comfortable in their appropriate use - use their power for good!”
From the outset I was very conscious of how social networking can go badly, largely from media reports where organisations have not responded appropriately when issues have arisen. I was also very aware of some of the privacy issues that we face when we broadcast information to a broader community. What I wasn’t really aware of was how do you manage this. As I indicated in my first post I was a haphazard social networker. I was surprised to realise how many networks I was actually a part of. I had signed up to different accounts with very little thought. I had developed a social media profile without thinking about it. This drove home to me the importance of understanding the tools that you are using, the privacy rules that govern then and your responsibilities to yourself and others as an active member of a social network. A photo from a night out with friends can be linked into yours or others professional profile with potentially negative consequences.
From an organisational point this course really drove home the point that you need to take the time to take stock of what you want to achieve by using social media. This then leads on to the importance of developing a social media strategy, as well as a policy which implements them. To often organisations have a Facebook page and are posting material before they have thought about their objectives, potential consequences and how they will manage them. On an individual level you also need to put some thought into what you want to get out of using social media, ensuring you understand the privacy settings and making sure you can manage your social profile.
This course has introduced me to a range of different tools and how they can be linked together to enable an organisation, or an individual, to connect with its chosen community. I have discovered Delicious and Tweeting and even been won over to Facebook, although I don’t think I will be someone who updates their status daily and Second life is just not my thing. I have enjoyed being able to connect with different communities and find out who and what they are connecting with. I have to admit to being part of that 70% of spectators (Bernoff, 2010) but I am now more confidant about joining the Collectors, the Joiners, the Conversationalists and the even the Critics.
I have a greater understanding of social media and its underlying principles. Where previously I couldn’t understand why people liked the invasive nature of social media, I now see it as being about assisting people being part of a community and opening up connections and starting new conversations. There is a downside, such as connecting with people that you would rather avoid, but that reinforces the need to understand the tools you use, the privacy settings and what information you give people access to.
Where do I go next? I am going to continue on this journey and see where it takes me. I am going to develop a social media strategy for the organisation I work for and implement and actively maintain it. I am also very aware that the technologies that are around now may be replaced by different technologies in 12 months time. To guide me through these anticipated changes I have linked up to different social media RSS feeds to keep abreast of developments and issues.
I have enjoyed the social media journey and all that it has entailed. This course has shown me that social media can be used for good and that it is an important part of an organisations online presence (as well as an individuals) in enabling it to better connect with its community and serve its members. But above all it has shown me that, in the words of Kagan (2010) it can also be fun!
Kagan, M. (2010) What is
Social Media Now? Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/mzkagan/what-is
PART B
To examine how I have developed as a social networker I have gone back to my original objectives in the first post at the beginning of the course and whether I think I have achieved them.
“I expect to understand how to better utilise the social network platform for the organisation I work at, as well as to get a better understanding of what the implications and uses are for individuals. I hope to become more comfortable in their appropriate use - use their power for good!”
From the outset I was very conscious of how social networking can go badly, largely from media reports where organisations have not responded appropriately when issues have arisen. I was also very aware of some of the privacy issues that we face when we broadcast information to a broader community. What I wasn’t really aware of was how do you manage this. As I indicated in my first post I was a haphazard social networker. I was surprised to realise how many networks I was actually a part of. I had signed up to different accounts with very little thought. I had developed a social media profile without thinking about it. This drove home to me the importance of understanding the tools that you are using, the privacy rules that govern then and your responsibilities to yourself and others as an active member of a social network. A photo from a night out with friends can be linked into yours or others professional profile with potentially negative consequences.
From an organisational point this course really drove home the point that you need to take the time to take stock of what you want to achieve by using social media. This then leads on to the importance of developing a social media strategy, as well as a policy which implements them. To often organisations have a Facebook page and are posting material before they have thought about their objectives, potential consequences and how they will manage them. On an individual level you also need to put some thought into what you want to get out of using social media, ensuring you understand the privacy settings and making sure you can manage your social profile.
This course has introduced me to a range of different tools and how they can be linked together to enable an organisation, or an individual, to connect with its chosen community. I have discovered Delicious and Tweeting and even been won over to Facebook, although I don’t think I will be someone who updates their status daily and Second life is just not my thing. I have enjoyed being able to connect with different communities and find out who and what they are connecting with. I have to admit to being part of that 70% of spectators (Bernoff, 2010) but I am now more confidant about joining the Collectors, the Joiners, the Conversationalists and the even the Critics.
I have a greater understanding of social media and its underlying principles. Where previously I couldn’t understand why people liked the invasive nature of social media, I now see it as being about assisting people being part of a community and opening up connections and starting new conversations. There is a downside, such as connecting with people that you would rather avoid, but that reinforces the need to understand the tools you use, the privacy settings and what information you give people access to.
Where do I go next? I am going to continue on this journey and see where it takes me. I am going to develop a social media strategy for the organisation I work for and implement and actively maintain it. I am also very aware that the technologies that are around now may be replaced by different technologies in 12 months time. To guide me through these anticipated changes I have linked up to different social media RSS feeds to keep abreast of developments and issues.
I have enjoyed the social media journey and all that it has entailed. This course has shown me that social media can be used for good and that it is an important part of an organisations online presence (as well as an individuals) in enabling it to better connect with its community and serve its members. But above all it has shown me that, in the words of Kagan (2010) it can also be fun!
Bernoff, J. (2010). Social Technographics: Conversationalists get
onto the ladder. Retrieved from
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