Social Media & Big Consulting Firms

I recently wrote, blogs are becoming more international than could have been expected. In summary, blogging takes time, commitment, and honesty. In return connections are made that are personal and strong. Blogs are not a fad. They are no longer even an option. Those businesses that choose to remain outside this online conversation, will be sidelined. Eventually they will become extinct. The hype is real. Well here’s a ringing endorsement that I came across.Watson Wyatt is starting a social media practice ,points out Gautam Ghosh. Michael Rudnick, Watson Wyatt’s national intranet and portal leader, writes in Strategic HR Review, giving examples of some success factors for employers to succeed in social media. Calling it a new wave, he advocates that one needs to embrace social media quickly. The thrust here is on user generated content and suggest that easy collaboration and not control as the best enabler for success. Some interesting findings cited therein:
- Watson Wyatt’s research found that during the last three years there’s been a 400% increase in social media behavior.
- Watson Wyatt expects that nearly 50% of the employee population will soon prefer – and expect – collaborative and interactive methods of communication with their employers.
It recommends amongst other things to start introducing social-media tools using a small group of employees whose profile fits the Web 2.0 criteria.
This is a ringing endorsement and we may soon see other blue blooded consulting forms to follow suit with similar insights/recommendations.