Stewardship of the Enterprise

The Benefits of Enterprise Community Management in Developing a Company Social Network

At a session today with a company, we discussed the tasks around Enterprise Community Management (ECM) – the initial stewardship required to develop a social network within the organization. The tasks can vary depending on your social network strategy. Every company should ideally have a strategy closely linked to the overall business strategy (and related KM, New Business, People, L&D, Engagement strategies, etc.), which will help define the priorities around the ECM tasks.

Other companies’ social network strategies have included:

– **Help change a ‘command/control’ company culture**

– **Remove middle management roadblocks**

– **Develop untapped future talent**

– **Remove remote teams’ reliance on reporting into the center**

– **Support development of a social learning program**

The ECM tasks can vary greatly to help meet the strategic requirements. Here is an outline of some of the tasks we will run through:

– **Help sections**: Maintain and update ‘Getting Started’ and Help areas on the network.

– **Use Cases**: Assist in developing use cases to showcase the possibilities of Yammer.

– **Stewardship**: Ensure everybody plays nice and all voices are heard.

– **Formal Governance?**: Some companies need this, so generally, you’ll be involved in coordinating.

– **Promotions**: Actively promote the network through numerous channels.

– **New Joiners**: Get the network on various New Joiners’ radar.

– **Coaching**: Determine how this is dealt with. Some formal ‘how to’ or focus on behavioral change and community management (my preferences are the last two).

– **Events**: Run events around the network (like old “Yamjams” sessions in the days of Yammer).

– **Advocates**: Nurture advocates of the network.

– **Strategic Initiatives**: Be involved in any planning around big initiatives.

– **VIPs**: Not everyone gets the same treatment, so if someone ‘special’ joins the network, give them the ‘silver service’ treatment.

– **Community Management**: Develop good community management practices. Linked to coaching.

– **Case Studies**: Pull together case studies to show the value it delivers. Good storytelling works wonders.

– **ROI/Metrics**: Pull these together. Linkage to overall governance.

Benefits of Enterprise Community Management

1. **Enhanced Communication and Collaboration**: ECM fosters a culture of open communication and collaboration. By breaking down silos and encouraging cross-departmental interactions, employees can share knowledge, ideas, and best practices more freely. This leads to increased innovation and problem-solving capabilities.

2. **Employee Engagement and Satisfaction**: A well-managed social network can significantly boost employee engagement and satisfaction. It provides a platform for employees to connect, share their achievements, and receive recognition. This sense of community and belonging can lead to higher morale and job satisfaction.

3. **Talent Development and Retention**: ECM helps identify and nurture untapped talent within the organization. By providing opportunities for employees to showcase their skills and expertise, companies can develop future leaders and retain top talent. Additionally, a strong social network can support continuous learning and professional development.

4. **Improved Efficiency and Productivity**: By streamlining communication and reducing reliance on traditional reporting structures, ECM can improve overall efficiency and productivity. Employees can quickly access the information and resources they need, leading to faster decision-making and execution.

5. **Support for Remote and Hybrid Work**: In today’s increasingly remote and hybrid work environments, ECM plays a crucial role in keeping teams connected and engaged. It helps bridge the gap between remote and in-office employees, ensuring that everyone feels included and valued.

6. **Cultural Transformation**: ECM can drive cultural change within an organization. By promoting transparency, inclusivity, and collaboration, it helps shift the company culture from a command-and-control model to a more agile and responsive one.

7. **Measurable Impact**: With the right metrics and ROI analysis, companies can measure the impact of their ECM initiatives. This data-driven approach allows organizations to continuously improve their social network strategies and demonstrate the value of ECM to stakeholders.

In conclusion, Enterprise Community Management is a powerful tool for developing a company social network. By aligning ECM tasks with the overall business strategy and focusing on key benefits, organizations can create a vibrant and productive social network that drives engagement, innovation, and growth.