The times the are a changin'

There was quite a monumental change in policy at work this week worth noting. After years of being banned, the corporate powers that be, opened up the company Internet to sites like Myspace, Facebook, Youtube, Bebo, Google video and my favorite Twitter. This seachange in corporate policy is quite refreshing and an indication that upper management recognizes (or at least accepts) that social network sites are here to stay and have legitimate benefits in building community. Whether this is a short term experiment to see the effects on productivity or a longer term trend to create and foster transparency will remain to be seen. I seriously think it is the later based on conversations I've had. Social media both applications and content, are having a profound effect on the Enterprise and corporate IT shops are slowly evolving to adopt these new tools. In a recent article in the online version of CNN, they cite an Ohio State study that opening up the Internet to employees may have a positive effect on moral and thus productivity. It is reminiscent of the time when PCs entered into the enterprise when it was predominantly a mainframe shop. Corporate IT execs are grappling with continuing to provide value and to prevent becoming obsolete and viewed as an obstacle. More to come on this topic as this is happening real time.