Communication failure, unread or misread e-mails, and unaccountability are all problems within a company. To better develop internal communication, many companies have created company blogs. Blogs function as open platforms to share ideas, encourage discussion, and generate feedback.
An internal company blog allows direct employee participation among its departments, which creates a sense of community. It is useful for individual teams or the entire company.
According to C.G. Lynch, author of Seven Reasons for Your Company to Start an Internal Blog, information on the blog can replace a time-consuming meeting. Meeting agendas can be posted, so employees are up-to-date about the latest company news. It eliminates any conflicting meeting times or locations, and brings all employees to a central hub for collaboration.
Transparency is increased between all departments, not just the organization as a whole.
Participation from all employees is essential for successful internal collaboration. Some employees actively voice their opinions at meetings, while others sit and listen. The blog offers each employee a platform to express their ideas, as well as constructively criticize others.
Comments allow employees to express their opinion, but also holds them accountable for their criticisms.
According to SocialCorp, the U.S. government’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an excellent example of effective internal communication. In 2008, the CIA launched A-Space, which is a social network site that allows intelligence agencies to share information. Analysts provide information, detailing the projects they are working on.
The internal blog also updates the CEO and upper management about new developments in each department, therefore encouraging collaboration among everyone.
For more information about blogs, watch the video below.
[...] shared items Internal Company Collaboration http://seesekr1.wordpress.com/2009/03/02/internal-company-collaboration/ « előző | csaba81 — 2009. 03. 03. [...]
Great article. It seems that with the advances in technology like blogs, wikis, twitter, etc. that boardroom meetings/brainstorm sessions are slowly becoming a diminished necessity in terms of internal corporate communication. With these tech advances individuals are now able to share ideas on a real time schedule in which new ideas can be shared relatively instantaneously at any point in time. This has changed the work day from 9-5 to a more lenient 24/7 cycle in which it is not so much how long you’re at work but how efficient you are at doing your job and communicating ideas that will better suit your company.
Hey Kim. I like how you started off the post with the words “communication failure”. It set up the post very nicely and got me interested in what was to come next. An internal blog does sound like it would decrease the amount of “misreading” that may go on with traditional communication media. With regards to the video, I particularly like the idea that “everything is news to someone”. I think it’s a great overview of the blogging idea: that every one has something to say/read about. In response to David, I agree about the typical work day growing from 9-5 to a more 24/7 cycle. I think I see the 24/7 cycle in a different light though, in that it’s 24/7 because you are always reachable.