IdeaPlane

You are at the tipping point of supercharging the way your business works. Enterprise social networks (ESN) such as IdeaPlane can give you the edge to improve the way your company communicates and collaborates. But how do you successfully leverage an ESN? We are starting a series of blog posts to help you drive user adoption and get the most out of your ESN.

To achieve meaningful results, you should first identify the business objectives and problems you are trying to tackle by using ESN. Remember, ESN is a means to an end, not the end itself. Gain understanding and get consensus on what you want to accomplish with it. According to recent Altimeter Group research, vague objectives such as “better communication and collaboration” are the key culprits behind less successful ESN rollouts.

To understand your business goals better, check annual reports, discuss with senior executives, survey your employees and ask for feedback on areas of improvement.

It is important to choose the right problems and objectives to focus on during the ESN rollout. Remember, your focus is the greatest output for the least input. Prioritize objectives and problems based on:

• The highest potential to move the needle on business performance
• The highest enthusiasm and recognition among employees

 
The matrix below provides a framework for you to analyze and prioritize problems and objectives you have listed.

Here is the list of some of the most common problems and objectives that can be tackled by ESN:

• Facilitate collaboration across departments and drive cross-selling
• Find and share expertise across the company
• Support a strategic transformation of the organization or evolve the company culture
• Facilitate collaboration within a department or team
• Drive innovation within and beyond company’s boundaries
• Create a virtual “water cooler” to increase sharing
• Help employees deal with exceptional non-routine tasks
• Reduce information overload and reliance on internal email
• Reduce volume of meetings
• Increase employee retention
• Make knowledge management more efficient
• Create high touch relations with alumni, partners and clients

 
Clear objectives are vital, but flexibility is even more important. By its very nature, ESN evolves, adapts and finds its own reasons to be. Monitor user behavior and “calibrate” your approach.

This is the first blog post in this series. Check out the other posts:

• 4 examples of executive sponsors critical to ESN success
• How to make the adoption cycle virtuous?
• ESN success through early adopters
• Three fundamental drivers behind user engagement
• Measure the value of your enterprise social network

 
What next? If you would like a trial of IdeaPlane just drop us a line @ sales@ideaplane.com.

Tags: adoption altimeter group enterprise social network esn social business social software success