Social Networking Case
The nearly universal use of the World Wide Web has opened up all sorts of possibilities, especially in a business context - to market, sell, manage, support, and network in new and fun ways. The following vignettes demonstrate how the Web has transformed the way people come together to create both formal and informal working relationships.
A Corporation of One:
The Web has enabled the establishment of virtual corporations where an individual may draw upon the skills of many informally associated colleagues as need be. For example, Bill Germino serves as the President of Openview Solutions a Web site development and collaborative Web services company. Bill is a sole proprietor of Openview but he can tap into a network of some twenty-five-hundred technical professionals depending upon the specific requirements of a particular client assignment. None of Bill’s colleagues are his employees; he does not pay them a salary and benefits. Instead, he pays them an hourly rate for services rendered. Even when bidding for work, Bill may establish an impressive and highly tailored staffing resume that aligns perfectly with the needs of a prospective client. Once a project begins, Bill and his team will use a collaborative portal, employing Microsoft’s SharePoint or EMC’s eRoom (both Web-based portal software) to share documents and execute project work.
How do Bill’s partners use the system? Consider the case of Richard Kesner, a MIS professional with expertise in strategy formulation, decision support systems, and knowledge management, has affiliated himself with any number of organizations like Bill’s where he appears on the roster of project personnel. He is on call to Bill and others as needed. When offered an opportunity, he considers the fit of the assignment, whether it causes any conflicts of interest with other ongoing work in his portfolio, and if he has the time to actually execute the work under discussion. Assuming there are no issues, Richard
A Corporation of One:
The Web has enabled the establishment of virtual corporations where an individual may draw upon the skills of many informally associated colleagues as need be. For example, Bill Germino serves as the President of Openview Solutions a Web site development and collaborative Web services company. Bill is a sole proprietor of Openview but he can tap into a network of some twenty-five-hundred technical professionals depending upon the specific requirements of a particular client assignment. None of Bill’s colleagues are his employees; he does not pay them a salary and benefits. Instead, he pays them an hourly rate for services rendered. Even when bidding for work, Bill may establish an impressive and highly tailored staffing resume that aligns perfectly with the needs of a prospective client. Once a project begins, Bill and his team will use a collaborative portal, employing Microsoft’s SharePoint or EMC’s eRoom (both Web-based portal software) to share documents and execute project work.
How do Bill’s partners use the system? Consider the case of Richard Kesner, a MIS professional with expertise in strategy formulation, decision support systems, and knowledge management, has affiliated himself with any number of organizations like Bill’s where he appears on the roster of project personnel. He is on call to Bill and others as needed. When offered an opportunity, he considers the fit of the assignment, whether it causes any conflicts of interest with other ongoing work in his portfolio, and if he has the time to actually execute the work under discussion. Assuming there are no issues, Richard