Posted on April 19, 2007
Executives Still Slow to Embrace Web 2.0
BY JENNIFER EUBANKS
According to an article recently published in BusinessWeek, a new survey indicates that top level executives are still reluctant to invest in Web 2.0 technologies. While software that allows communications were popular, other tools such as social media (Myspace, Facebook), RSS, Podcasting, Wikis, and Blogs garnered a noticeably smaller percentage of usage among interviewed execs.
Fear likely plays a large factor in why these technologies are not being adopted as quickly as one might think, given all the hype and buzz that revolves around the technologies. Despite the fact that blogs have garnered much positive attention and are being used by many Fortune 500 companies and high-level execs, a sense of fear still pervades--a fear that the company will reveal too much or somehow garner more negative press with the use of this technology.
However, as the article points out, the adoption of new technologies is likely to increase as the age gap between executives in power and employees decreases. Right now, companies are run by individuals used to using primary communication methods such as the telephone, while the newest generation of employees are used to communicating via instant message, blogging, text message, and other forms of social media. For a generation so immersed in technology and so willing and able to embrace it in its newest forms, Web 2.0 is nothing to be afraid of, and its increased usage will only help companies evolve and become more powerful in their communication. The companies that can see the benefit and are early adopters are likely to stay a step (or two) ahead of their competition.
So true. Fear is the hurdle. What the mind doesn't know it will create, and more often than not it creates worse case scenarios.
CEOs need to have the willingness to come to terms with the fact they need training on these issues.
It's always easier to just keep doing what your doing. But one day you may come to the realization that your competition embraced this new medium and is now kicking your butt.
Hey, CEOs are bright people, they just need good, competent, trust worthy individuals around them to educate and support these ideas.