I’ve been digging around the blogosphere to learn what’s already been published about the use of socially-oriented technology in the work place. One name that was repeatedly mentioned is Andrew McAfee (a Harvard professor of business). I have yet to extensively peruse his blog, but I was really impressed with his most recent entry on widening the flow. In this posting, he builds upon the work of his friend Michael Idinopulos, who argues that “in-the-flow” wikis enjoy heavier usage than “above-the-flow” wikis. By “in-the-flow”, Micheal means work that is part of one’s daily routine. Email would be “in-the-flow” for most people, for example. Hand-writing a letter would be an example of an “above-the-flow” activity.
CIOs beware! If you’re considering purchasing an enterprise wiki (or similar technology), you should consider the expectations for how the wiki will be used. Thinking in terms of flow is, in my opinion, a great way to judge the pros and cons of spending money on a new app. If I were a CIO, I’d sit down with other management types and discuss how best to make the wiki be an “in-the-flow” tool. It would be in my best interest to encourage heavy usage if I wanted to avoid be blamed for purchasing a useless novelty. Thankfully, I’m a lowly worker who needs not worry about such C-level concerns.
