Predicting the future is very hard, especially when evolution pace highly depends on human factors. Moreover, we often mistake predictions and wishes…as we all want our dreams to come true !
So I decided to share my #1 wish, the thing that would be key in enterprise transformation if it happens :
I’d like enterprise 2.0 to be “unbubbleized”.
Enterprise 2.0 is too often presented as an alternative to enterprise 1.0. Can we really imagine an informal-driven organization ? It’s not because informal networks and tacit knowlegde are essential for the future that all the formal things E1.0 relies on have to be thrown away. Not only because business is structured and business drives everything, but also because it will be easier to connect the informal sphere to business process than to redesign the whole business scope. And enterprises don’t have so much time to face their new challenges. Another reason is that the only thought of replacing what they’ve always known by something that works with less control simply scares people, scares those who can decide to “do it”. It’s not the “pure and ideal” way but it’s the way that works.
So E2.0 is not an alternative, it’s an evolution, an add-on.
Another argument precisely have to do with “connections”. It seems that a lot of enterprises who understood that and tried to implement enterprise 2.0 created two bubbles : the 1.0 formal bubble and the 2.0 informal bubble…without any connections. But tacit knowledge and social networks are useless if they don’t serve business purposes, so bridges must be built between both. And to build brides you have to include the 2.0 side in 1.0 formal process, tell that information has to be picked up and used in the formal process because if you don’t very few people will do it by themselves.
I really believe things will go faster and easier if companies see enteprise 2.0 not as a standalone concept but as a part of the enterprise…without version.
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You can find the "original" french version of this blog here
