HRegatta Edition-5,issue-1, 2014 | Page 23

Some of the most innovative ways to foster collaboration across an enterprise includes blogging, Microblogging(Twitter), Expert Diaries, communities of practice, video instruction and training through vitual world. IBM is one such company which conducts employee orientation and mentoring in a simulated computer world by making use of virtual mentoring relationships as well as expedite orientation enabling new IBM employees to mingle, interact and share ideas in the virtual world before their first day on the job. importantly a happy workforce. Why Companies use Social Media Nestlé objective is to crowd-source innovation ideas from employees across the world so as to enable internal knowledge sharing. Another example is Marsh Inc., a global risk management firm which uses blogs internally for training. Access to huge talent pool irrespective of geographical location To look at the candidate’s personality and to know them better. Helps develop relationship with candidates over a time period Reduces recruiter’s personal bias Saves recruitment cost Give candidates a look into the company. CHALLENGES: The use of social media at workplace has its own set of challenges. The foremost challenge of using social media is the risk involved in dealing with data security and privacy issues. However, it can be controlled by implementing proper set of social guidelines in company policies. Another challenge is to bring congruency in multi generations existing in one workplace. So before implementing the use of social media the unique perspectives and needs of your entire workforce has to be considered. Apart from this organizations also need to focus on developing in-house talent to manage and cultivate its own participation on social networks. This can be done by imparting suitable training to employees. I believe with proper strategies organizations can greatly leverage social media to create an engaging and most 23 • Designfreebies Magazine • www.designfreebies.org - Richa Gupta FORE School of Management