IBM Enters the Bandwagon of Social Computing
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Sitting at Food Court across IBM Daksh Office in CBD, Makati, I saw a huge 
poster of a product IBM Atlas for Lotus Connections. Now that sounded interesting. Lotus is a CRM Suite that is used in most of the corporations. I use specially for mailing, engaging Clients, messaging, paging, calling etc, all from my lappy. Lotus Connections was something new to me. Immediately I got hold of one of my good old friends in IBM to know more about it.
I was informed that, Lotus Connections is a social networking suite for corporates, workers and customers included. Developed by IBM Research Group, this is a Social Networking Suite and Visualization/Analysis tool for corporate networking is something to watchout for. Social Computing in Corporations have always existed but in different modes. But IBM Lotus connections brings it together.
Released wayback in January this year, the suite has found a foot hold in Market. But I was confused on the niche to plug in the product (if used) in my organization. Making into use for common employees, it is gonna be utilised for something else. At the same time where exactly can this be plugged into the famous Lotus CRM Suite. Or can it be used in Knowledge Management frame work of corporations (Believe me Organizations are spending crores on this.) Slowly I opened up for the idea. Checked out various articles on the same and some white papers provided by my friend. Below is a brief based on whatever I read.
Lotus Connections wraps five social networking technologies up into one integrated package—similar to what Microsoft’s Office does for traditional desktop productivity software such as Word and Excel. And, if IBM handles this right, its package could rapidly spread the use of so-called Web 2.0 applications in the business world.
“While social computing software is perceived as being at the fringe of most large businesses, it’s actually moving to the center fast—because it’s about how the next generation of employees communicate, and create and share ideas,” says Franks Gens, senior vice-president for research at tech market research IDC.
The package includes everything that comes up with a social networking site but in business terms. Like Profiles, Communities, Bookmarks, activities & ofcourse blogs. Lotus Atlas is anaalytical tool which shows a visual analysis based on the profile in the database. For example a rating system for functional documents shared. Or something like, a visual indication of the important hubs among topic experts and informal groups that have developed while working on similar projects. Users can then identify communication gaps or bottle-necks between groups and manage skills across the organization. My Net offers similar capabilities for a user’s personal network. For example, a salesperson can better manage and understand their social networks making sure they have connections across the right topic areas.
Though it sounded interesting as a social network, but i am really waiting to know more how this can be integrated into CRM suite where I can get more visual presentation of customers through Social Computing. (In Progress with my Research).
Last heard, MySpace is coming up with one such application for corporate computing Sorry Social Computing.
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true there are benefits with ideation – i however am skeptical about the productivity gains that can be achieved if social networking moves to the core of business activities.
True social network can be more than “timepass” and both linkedin and instructables have shown that. I think however, that you may be overestimating the value of social networking and discounting the fact that they may actually lead to productivity losses.
The ideas of ideation, marking important material and key opinion makers is great! it will definitely make business more flexible – they challenge is how to use these benefits without presenting in the format of Social 2.0 as we currently know it.
Second Life is another form of social media that is being used by businesses – there are limits there as well.