In an online article from Media Post,  Robert Half Technology conducted a recent study and found that in regard to social networks,  businesses complained that “time-sucking social networks hurt their productivity”.

“It takes away from primary responsibility,” Dave Knapp, regional vice president for Robert Half told the San Francisco Examiner. “When socializing on sites such as Facebook, we lose track of time.”

[Is he even SERIOUS? Makes you wonder what kind of people he thinks he employs!]

According to the study, other concerns of these companies included being worried about employees leaking sensitive information.  The survey indicates an amazing 54 percent of these businesses block social networking sites.

So, in 2010 will these Corporate Giants realize the VALUE social media offers to their bottom line and be more creative in using it – or will they continue with the same old rhetoric of productivity losses?

The key issue here is simple:  these companies lack the creativity to do what is best for their bottom line.  In corporate environments C-level executives have an “all-or-nothing” mentality.  Either ALL employees get access, or NONE get it.  Why?  They certainly have IT professionals on staff who can manage their server traffic.  Why not give it to their recruiters and marketing department?

Leaking sensitive information?  I don’t know about you, but that sounds like an excuse to me to continue the “norm”.  After all, how many employees that are not a C-level do you know that have access to sensitive corporate data?  My experience shows that answer to be “NONE”.  If it is the C-level Executives you are worried about leaking it, then WHY are they in those positions?  RHETORIC.

My Solution:  Attend our Feb 18th, 2010 Seminar given by David Meerman Scott, a true Thought Leader!

Don’t use ‘attendance’ as your excuse, either!

We will be providing a LIVE STREAM of the event – and you can experience the power of social networking while you attend because we will have a live chat, Facebook and Twitter feeds!  Our roving cameras will provide you with a front seat so it’s just like being there – and on breaks they will be talking to VIPs, Attendees and even our Presenter, David Meerman Scott!

C-level Executives!  I challenge you to come get creative and increase your bottom line for the New Year!

Source:  Media Post;   SanFrancisco Examiner

Month 8 Courses included:

Fundamentals of Website Design & Principles of Flash

My FSO Website Portfolio using an iMac Template and modifying CSS/HTML using Dreamweaver:  www.sharonodell.me

My Flash Website created in week 2 of Flash Course is located at:  Sharon O’Dell’s Portfolio, the above is my final project Flash Movie.

I got some link love today from the College I attend – Full Sail University!  What a great feeling of support and recognition!

A story was posted about bloggers, and my blog was linked for all to see!  I am so proud.  Since it’s in a secure portal, I can’t link it, but I CAN insert the pic and the paragraph below:

“IMBS student Sharon O’Dell uses her blog to engage her colleagues in conversation and encourages others to post professionally as well. She uses the space at Sharon O’Dell v5.1to share her thoughts on everything from the online economy to information she learns in class, keeping every post on topic but allowing her own viewpoint to expand on each subject.”

Leave it to Michael Wesch, a Cultural Anthropolist from Kansas State University to provide a video titled “The Machine is Us/ing Us” to form a clearer picture of the shift that the Internet and Web 2.0 is creating.

CLICK THE VIDEO TO WATCH:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLlGopyXT_g[/youtube]

Watch this video CLOSELY as Professor Wesch explains how the internet evovled…because of US.

This was THE “aha” moment for me – a simple, visual explanation that, I think, offers amazing insight into the the Internet explosion from the beginning of the first pioneer browsers and websites up to today, and Web 2.0.

So many people I talk with are still trying to define the Internet, and Web 2.0 for themselves so they understand it better.

If, like me, you are a student by nature, then you will also be interested in how this video came to be – why did a Cultural Anthropologist create a video about “Digital Anthropolgy”?  A video made by one of his students during a class lecture shows Professor Wesch explaining how the video came to be.

As most of my readers know, I am a full-time student, pursuing a Masters Degree in Internet Marketing. I want to thank my Instructor, Carol Cox, for sharing this video in our Internet Business Model class. The information is amazing!