This thread contains comments to "social media as facilitator – focus on the outcome not the usage" from embedding this forum at http://www.cipd.co.uk/comment-insight/comment/value-relationship-building.aspx.
So in other words, these things are just tools. Just because they're of the moment don't rush in head first, think about what you're trying to achieve and whether these can help you?
I agree.
Neil has hit one of the nails squarely on the head. In my present case we have been looking at how we can facilitate learning in the light of major budget losses. This might be the tool but what we really need is greater collaboration across our specialist functions. Social media, and therefore social learning might give us that but we can't force people down that route. However using it to harness collaboration is a step forward - to collaborative learning? Is that organisational learning by another name? Is nothing new?!
Hi Neil, yeah, sort of - but that wouldn't have made a very interesting article. And I was trying to make a bit of an additional point too which is that when you're thinking about what you are trying to achieve, remember the role and importance of relationships (social capital).
I hadn't read Gareth's previous article on this when I wrote mine, and I do agree with what he said. But I still think the possibilities provided by social capital outcomes (relationships) are potentially much bigger than the human capital ones (eg engagement).
By the way, I really and probably obviously didn't mean to infer that you're a nobody in my earlier comment on Angela's original article re this. That would have been daft. I just wanted to acknowledge your different perspective on the role of policies.
And Philip - I think that that is the nail! And it may not be new, but I also don't think it's a popular perspective / approach. We should simply see social learning (including learning supported through social media) as a social way to learn (activity) - we're better off seeing it as a way of achieving learning of the social unit (outcome).
It's why Senge's Learning Organisation never really took off - they didn't have social media 20 years ago. The book / idea was just too far ahead of its time.
I know Jon....I was only teasing!
Neil is absolutely right. HR has been talking about HCM for 25 years when the academically sound topic is social capital. Human capital is mainly having good individual people. Social capital is how they operate together and is at the heart of knowledge sharing and innovation. Enabling networks to form, inculcating a common narrative and developing trust at all levels are the foundations of a strong community.
Thanks Bill. Well I do think Strategic HCM is a pretty sound idea as well actually!, but I totally agree that social capital is an even more important concept. I think the ARM case study sums it up nicely: strategic-hcm.blogspot.co.uk/.../cipdsocial11-bill-parsons-arm-social.html