Section V
Become more agile
Chapter 12 – Making more knowledgeable decisions
Chapter 13 – Using social media for knowledge sharing
Chapter 14 – Transforming relationships and structures in organizations
New technologies fuel the pace of change in a globalizing world and have driven business uncertainty and unpredictability to ever higher levels. Lack of interaction across time zones and spatial separation once acted as a buffer, insulating us from cascades of opinion and restricting access and awareness of knowledge opportunities. Web 2.0, the interactive world of social networks and collaborative technologies increases the connections and contradictions we have to manage in making decisions and undertaking organizational activities. It is a force for democratization that allows more people to have their say about what matters to them, to access knowledge and information at any time and in any place, to create their own influential material, and to stay connected and maintain relationships on the move. Potentially, it offers organizations access to varied sources of expertise faster and from farther afield. More participation amplifies opinion and insight and increases informal conversation both internally and externally. This can be a route to the sort of collective intelligence that improves business relevance through sensitization to customers’ interests, increases informed planning and decision-making, reduces costly mistakes, and positively influences organizational reputation. ...
