Org-Fitness Today!

Wait a Minute, What is Web2.0 ?

I recently mentioned Web 2.0 and it's potential impact on the workplace inside the corporate world and even for small business. Then I started to think, Web 2.0 could be one of those terms that some people clearly know what it means and other people might be in the dark about. Often times those of us who use technology as early adapters make the assumption that everyone else should know about this technology. Another example might be RSS technology. Sure RSS it bantered about all the time (it is is a Web 2.0 technology), however ask the average sales manager or HR director and they'll probably give you a funny look.

So, I did a bit of looking around and found the following links that define Web 2.0. Click here for a Wikipedia posting. The graphic at the start of this post is also from Wikipedia. If you click the graphic, it will get larger. This graphic shows many of the terms and technology that make up Web 2.0.

Click here for another take on Web 2.0.

Here's a link to an article by Pete Blacksaw where he argues the roots of Web 2.0 were really developed in Web 1.0.

So as in most things, a standard response might be; WIIFM?? Most business manager's might wonder What's In It For Me?? Connection, Communication, Sharing of Information, Customer Feedback: both positive and negative, Team Collaboration, Opportunities for Marketing and Sales, etc.

What are other reasons for corporations and small businesses to embrace this change and how can we as organizational development practitioner's (OD) help with this? Click Comments below to share your thoughts.

Web 2.0, OD, and the Shrinking World We Live In

Earlier today I came across one blog post that lead to another blog post. The subject: Organizational Development 2.0 Style on the blog, Successful Blogs by ME “Liz” Strauss. Liz is commenting on an analysis that Gautam Ghosh makes on his blog, Gautam Ghosh on Management in a post entitled, The promise of web 2.0 - True Organizational Development?

Essentially what they are talking about is how the use of Web 2.0 technology can perhaps lead to or help in the implementation of organizational development (OD) practices into the workplace. Or in other words, technology such as blogs, wiki's, and other 2.0 tools can help to connect people, improve communication, create more open and innovative work cultures, etc. We'll see...

I'm not sure a lot of U.S. companies are all that up on Web 2.0 technologies and their potential use. However one thing is for sure, the use of these tools sure make the world a smaller place. I probably would have never heard of Gautam Ghosh (though he does state he is an aspiring guru on his blog) were it not for Web 2.0 technology since he is from India. Cool tools and great to connect in today's world with similar thinkers!

New Service Added: Small Biz Marketing Tips

At the suggestion of a few others and with my own personal interests, I am starting to offer a new service, Small Biz Marketing Tips.

Please visit and subscribe at www.SmallBizMarketingTips.com

This new service will offer consulting, coaching, and implementing of marketing processes for business results. Utilizing both traditional and new media approaches for the small business and independent or solo professional.

Please contact me directly if I can be of service to you along these areas.

Think Blogs are Big? See BusinessWeek for the latest!

My techno-friend, Pete, called me today from his car at the Post Office parking lot to let me know that I needed to check out the May 2 issue of BusinessWeek magazine. The reason: the cover story was all about blogs.

Here's the headline from the cover:

Blogs Will Change Your Business: Look past the yakkers, hobbyists, and political mobs. Your customers and rivals are figuring blogs out. Our advice: Catch up...or catch you later.

Pretty strong statement for a business magazine to put on their cover stating how they see the world of blogs.

The story mentions there are 9 million blogs today and 40,000 new blogs are created each day. Another wow!

There are some other interesting facts and tidbits. I encourage you to check it out. Click here for the story.

Just to stay up on the blogging world, check out BW's new blog at www.blogspotting.net

Click here for a table showing how blog readership has increased for the U.S.

This other table (click here), shows how blog growth rivals e-mail growth from the 90's.

BW also included a list of terms related to blogging too. Click here.

Look around the BW site, there are some other stores related to blogging including a story about a New Yorker who blogs about real estate in the city and a list of do's and don'ts for corporate bloggers.

Looks like this blogging thing is here to stay awhile.

Tom Peters on "Blogging as if Your Life Depended On It"

Tom Peters writes in his Tom Peters' 100 Ways To Succeed/Make Money item # 39, to blog as if your life depends on it. Click here for the article.

I'll have an important announcement regarding blogging in the next day or two.

Tom Peters and Blogging

I subscribe to updates from Tom Peters (http://www.tompeters.com/your_world/join_the_fray/), yes the Tom Peters, co-author of In Search of Excellence and other business books. I know some people don't care for Tom and his style, however I like his ranting and somewhat bombastic style. I don't take everything he says as the Truth, however I like that he passionately states his opinion and has an eye on things globally.

In Tom's February update he talks about the Blog Business Summit (http://blogbusinesssummit.com/) recently held in Seattle. There were discussions and presentations about making money on blogs (http://www.tompeters.com/entries.php?note=007354.php) and also writing on blogs.

Blogs are unique in that the technology to set them up is fairly easy, however apparently not all blog owners are created equal when it comes to the quality of their writing. (http://www.tompeters.com/entries.php?note=007355.php)

Personally, I don't see a blog as a way to make money so much as it is a way to support the other aspects of a business and offer a more personal method of communication. That is how I see my blog anyway.