6 Use Cases for Enterprise Micro-Blogging

As I've said before, micro-blogging inside an organization could be coined the 'liquid knowledge network'. There is so much to like about it. The following 6 use cases are intended for nascent users who might not fully appreciate the myriad benefits to micro-blogging inside an organization.

1) I've got a question

When an employee is tapped into the micro-blogging platform, he or she now has access to the collective intelligence of the entire organization in ways email, phones and meetings will never reach. Ask a question on the micro-blogging platform and the spirit of human collaboration will surface with an answer more readily than if trying to find the 'right person' to answer the question in more traditional ways.

2) I've got something to share

Putting paper notices on the bulletin board is nice. Sending an email to a distribution list attaching a PDF article is thoughtful. Leaving a voicemail about a new book to read is cute. But, these are all walled garden approaches to sharing. By sharing a link, an article, a document, a video or a photo via a micro-blogging platform, you are a) sharing one-to-many, b) ensuring it can be searched (and found) by others and c) adding to the collective intelligence of the organization.

3) I've got an opinion

Whether constructive or positive, whether deep or shallow, whether it leads to a new idea that brings in a new revenue opportunity or not, micro-blogging can be a very effective and powerful opinion sharing mechanism. If your organization is close minded, doesn't believe in open feedback, and reeks of top-down, command and control ordering, maybe enterprise micro-blogging isn't for you.

4) I'll be in town

With travel dollars tight for many organizations, micro-blogging is a perfect way to proactively announce to employees that you will be 'in town'on a given date. Think of the Vice-President or other senior executive who might only travel to a particular location once in a while. Imagine if she sent out a few micro-blog posts announcing she's available for in-person fireside chats at the canteen or open gathering area. That would be open and collaborative.

5) Chats

Twitter has revolutionized the art of succinct, focused online chats ... in this case using Web 2.0 micro-blogging. There are all sorts of great examples such as #lrnchat, #leadchat, and #tchat where users congregate for 30-60 minutes discussing a topic (usually through a series of set questions) through micro-blogging. This concept could be extended to your internal micro-blogging platform with the exact same benefits, but focused on organizational issues instead.

6) Recognition

Although some introverts or readers might not be so enthused about public recognition particularly on a micro-blogging platform, there are those who would love it. When used correctly, recognition of effort could be conducted via the platform and the benefit is that the entire organization can be in on the action that caused the recognition in the first place. That itself may trigger others to carry out the act, not for recognition, but because it has been exposed and they now can emulate. Recognition via micro-blogging could also help overall employee engagement. In summary, micro-blogging inside the organization is a wonderful albeit under-utilized application. From the use cases above, I hope to hear of many more instances where organizations have made it available to its employees.