Social networking. Is it a distraction from work or can it be professional?
Social networking. Is it a distraction from work or can it be professional? Technology is advancing rapidly in today’s society and the amount of users increase consistently. A survey conducted about seven years ago returned the results that on 5% Americans were frequent social network users. The survey was released again about a year ago with the findings that half of all U.S. adults are utilizing social networking sites, note that this is not including the 80% of users who range from ages 18-29.
Due to social networks’ popularity, networking sites are not only utilized for entertainments and social life but are now introducing more professional sites such as Yammer- a social networking service for businesses- where employers can discuss, share files and collaborate on projects, as Nick Windfield, reporter for the New York Times mentions in his article.
Many businesses are contributing to the networking sites trend. This demonstrates that “social networking will become a deep form of communication habits of big companies” (Microsoft) that older businesses such as Microsoft have realized they need to act on as well. Microsoft, in need of more advanced social networking features, is paying $1.2 billion for Yammer in order to get more work done in this new societal custom. Specifically, Microsoft plans on utilizing Yammer to be in charge of the selling of Office, which is currently dealing with challenges.
Microsoft hopes that Yammer intrigue more customers to the Microsoft brand in order to bring in a large client base for more paying customers.
What is interesting is how social networking sites evolved. They began as their own Start up company like San Francisco Yammer who “reel in” consumers with free versions of the site. They eventually become evangelists at companies and encourage employers to adopt the application and pay the long premium subscription.
This article is an example of how social networking benefits company’s movements. New habits are what companies need to constantly checking up on in order to remain “in touch” with society needs and, desires, and customs. Though Microsoft may be dealing with some challenges, their profit, from this article, seems to be at risk and they have to think of their payoffs when deciding if thy should make such a big deal to adopt a social network site in order to advance the company, allowing it to “move faster” and make more profits. In the end, it looks like Microsoft took the risk to pay for Yammer, which was most likely the better choice since Yammer will assist with intriguing more customers to Microsoft products and hopefully buy and pay more for the Microsoft brand. Which this, Microsoft will continue to a big, long lasting, more advanced, and successful company. If Microsoft continues to stay on top with social networking innovations, they should never have the issue of ever disappearing or lowering in rank in the market.
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/06/25/microsoft-buys-business-only-social-network-for-1-2-billion/
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/26/half-of-america-is-using-social-networks/