(LSJ) How can Semantic Web and Web 2.0 drive company to grow?

The following text is the first blog entry for Lifetime Scope Journal (LSJ) by Mr. Oskari Uotinen.

Semantic Web Connections

If you want to share our readers a story, product review, opinion, or any other digital asset, please  contact us. 

Br. Risto Päärni,

Editor in Chief,

Lifetime Scope Journal (LSJ)

Thank you of being a lifetime friend! Lifetime Scope Journal @LSJ2030 at your service!

  

The Learning Organization

Learning organizations have continued to remain in the centre of management studies since 90’s. The dynamics of operational environment require organizations to pay all the time growing attention to maintaining their competitive advantage. Global competition, differing customer needs and technical development all make it harder for the companies to keep going in the phase.

The Semantic Web Promise

How can Semantic Web and Web 2.0 then assist companies in maintaining their status – and even to grow? There are numerous examples of companies succeeded in for example engaging customers with the help of Web 2.0 services. This is not, however, even near the whole spectrum of possibilities that Web 2.0 offers for companies in data management, training, product development and so on.

It is not enough for the companies to establish a fan page in Facebook. It is of course a good start Pictures Copyright Kalle Päärni Productions 2010.but, according to Sirkka Järvenpää from Texas University (link to: http://www.gemilo.com/yritysblogi/sosiaalisen-median-trendeja-tyomaailmasta/), the whole process behind Web 2.0 should be planned and implemented well. Usage of Web 2.0 tools and services should, of course, be aligned with corporate strategy and not to be built as a separate part, neither.

Why I mentioned learning organizations in the first chapter?

This is because learning and adoption of new ways to work are needed in order to grasp the idea and possibilities that Web 2.0 offers for companies. On the other hand Web 2.0 can serve as a great catalyst for learning.

To take an example, Wikis can ease flow of information, function as a place where employees can share their ideas and thoughts that company can then take advantage of. And this all can lead to increased employee engagement and thus greater productivity. 

About the Author

Mr. Uotinen is a consultant and a trainer in the field of educational administration. He is acquainted with thematic of learning organizations and Web 2.0, especially how Web 2.0 can be used with a view to knowledge management and education.

You can reach Mr. Uotinen at twitter @OskariUotinen

Update on Sat, January 30, 2010 at 4:50 AM by Editor in Chief, (LSJ)(BDA)(PF) Lifetime Oy Ltd.

Editor’s Note: We publish this draft to help and to courage new writer talents to explore the possibilities of blog writing. Thank you of being a lifetime friend !

<H3>How to implement Web 2.0?</H3>

In the previous entry I made a notion that adoption of new ways to work is needed in order to exploit Web 2.0 services. Implementing Web 2.0 in any company means shifting from traditional top-down design to more collaborative ways of working and thinking, a shift that many companies have already seen to be fundamental for their success. By this I mean that in order for companies to survive in the postmodern business world they need to take a step forward to more open communication towards their customers and employees. Web 2.0 cannot be, however, considered to be an easy step to take.

Web 2.0 brings both, customers and employees, closer to the point where decisions are made and goods are produced. It makes the company more transparent. 

Global competition has made it extremely difficult to gain competitive advantage. Nowadays most of the customers find information about products and services in the Internet. Your company may have Internet site and may be found in Google, but so do millions of companies worldwide. Every company has to think how they can be differentiated from all the others.

As you represent your company in the social networks of the Internet your professional identity cannot be separated from your private and personal ones. This can be, however, considered to be an advantage. It brings humanity to the organization as an entity. 

By participating in the everyday practices of the organization and in the creation of perceived social reality, managers could bring themselves closer to the everyday level of the company, and thus encourage employees to share new ideas. No-one else could be able to enhance the everyday processes better than the ones who are involved in them.

Don’t you have time? Don’t you see the advantages? Social media expert, communications consultant Christina Forsgård has summed up that all the same arguments were heard already as e-mail was a novel phenomena: I don’t have time for this, this all is a complete waste of time… After all, the advantages of e-mail cannot be denied.

ONE-LINER(Comment from Someone): Can Web 2.0 be a source of competitive advantage?