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Yammer: A Social Networking Site Exclusively for the Workplace

Effective internal communications among employees are related to some desirable organizational outcomes, such as robust morale, a clear vision, low turnover, and high employee engagement. The question is what platform can serve the purpose.

This ABC News video introduces “Yammer,” an exclusive internal communication tool for companies. A user must use a valid company e-mail address to sign up for an account. Once an account is validated, the user will be led to the company page that is pretty much like a Facebook page. The difference is that only the users whose e-mail addresses share the same domain can see the wall and communicate with each other.

I have no question about whether Yammer could be a useful internal communication tool for companies, but I just wonder: how many social networking sites do people need for communication? Why people have to “create” so many platforms or channels for “effective communications”?

To many people, Facebook is only for “friends,” where they talk about their “private lives.” LinkedIn is for their professional network. And so on, and so forth. I am, however, a very simple person and do not have a “second,” “third,” “forth,” “fifth,” … lives. As a result, I communicate with others with somehow “consistent” messages --- I believe I am still who I am, no matter if I am on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, etc. Is it possible that we can have one or two social media tools that serve all of our “specific” needs of communication?

Comments

  1. In my opinion, Yammer is unnecessary and is simply just another social media website to add to the list. While it may seem like a good or intelligent idea, it really is taking away whatever personal communication is left within a job place or office. I believe that Facebook is okay for private and personal social media and communication, perhaps to stay in touch with old friends, etc. Also, I find that Twitter and Linked In are okay because one serves sort of a "online" journal and the other can help people connect and find a job. But, Yammer does not fit in my book as an okay social media site. There are already so many websites that are taking away
    "true communication" such as actually calling or walking over to another person and have a conversation.

    When asked why Yammer was created, the designer responded that is necessary because people in the workplace no longer know what is going on with each other’s projects. Since, companies are getting larger and larger, fellow coworkers do not know what projects or tasks they are doing. I find this to be untrue and completely ridiculous. If you want, or need, to know what your coworker is doing, if it is your business, then walk over and ask them, or hold a company meeting where you can all talk about the projects. I find this social media site to be unnecessary and it helping people be less personal and less able to communicate with one another.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I agree with you, Nicole, as to the point of the company who needs to use "Yammer" may not have a sufficient channel for internal communication. I know McDonald has an internal blogging site for internal communication. Maybe that could be a better solution.

    I signed up at Yammer the other day. There are 50ish SU employees in the group. Not very impressive to me. Maybe there are other companies having more members in Yammer. That's just my take.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I could be wrong, but unless a company mandates employees to join "Yammer", I don't think it will be a successful site. Personally, I would not want to sign up for Yammer. I am a hard worker, but I don't want my coworkers and employers knowing what I am working on and doing all of the time. I would think it would encourage more competition among employees and could possibly cause more harm than good in the work place. However, I wonder if the competition would motivate employees and benefit the company (I doubt these companies would make top ten companies to work for though!) I also wonder how this site would affect employees if they applied to other jobs in the future. I know the site is supposedly private among the company, but how much is truly private on the internet? Overall, I completely agree with Nicole, this site is unnecessary.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you for the suggestion, sbo. A video allows readers to watch the video if they choose not to read my discussion.

    I am very pleased that you like my discussion and encourage me to just post my "thoughts" instead of sharing news and updates. Slowly, I am heading to that directions by posting more of my thoughts and discussions lately. Certainly, I can do that more often.

    Thank you very much for your input. Have a lovely holiday!

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