Comments on: The real threat isn’t social media… http://www.principledinnovation.com/blog/2007/05/24/the-real-threat-isnt-social-media/ Moving from imagination to impact... Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:20:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.1 by: Jeff De Cagna http://www.principledinnovation.com/blog/2007/05/24/the-real-threat-isnt-social-media/#comment-6668 Sun, 03 Jun 2007 04:21:45 +0000 http://www.principledinnovation.com/blog/2007/05/24/the-real-threat-isnt-social-media/#comment-6668 Dennis, with all due respect, there is nothing "apocalyptic" about my post. Andy Grove argues that "only the paranoid survive" and, after 15 years working in and around associations, I believe there is good reason for association CEOs and boards to be paranoid today. The dangers facing our organizations in the years ahead are real, and it is incumbent upon leaders in our community to take these challenges seriously. I track the use of social media in associations at www.associationsocialmedia.com, and I see the same growth in SM projects that you do. That's good, but it isn't enough. We need to adjust our thinking to recognize that what makes SM important and meaningful isn't the technologies per se, but the strategic, cultural and leadership imperatives they initiate. My hope is that we will expand our experimentation with SM to include the ideas that can fundamentally change the way our organizations do business. Dennis, with all due respect, there is nothing “apocalyptic” about my post. Andy Grove argues that “only the paranoid survive” and, after 15 years working in and around associations, I believe there is good reason for association CEOs and boards to be paranoid today. The dangers facing our organizations in the years ahead are real, and it is incumbent upon leaders in our community to take these challenges seriously.

I track the use of social media in associations at www.associationsocialmedia.com, and I see the same growth in SM projects that you do. That’s good, but it isn’t enough. We need to adjust our thinking to recognize that what makes SM important and meaningful isn’t the technologies per se, but the strategic, cultural and leadership imperatives they initiate. My hope is that we will expand our experimentation with SM to include the ideas that can fundamentally change the way our organizations do business.

]]> by: Dennis McDonald http://www.principledinnovation.com/blog/2007/05/24/the-real-threat-isnt-social-media/#comment-6667 Fri, 01 Jun 2007 22:33:43 +0000 http://www.principledinnovation.com/blog/2007/05/24/the-real-threat-isnt-social-media/#comment-6667 I'm not so sure I would be as apocalyptic in my comments about social media and associations as you are, even though I wrote "Are Social Networking and Social Media Threats or Opportunities for Professional Associations" (http://www.ddmcd.com/professional.html). I'm seeing a lot of adoption of social media tools by middle managers (blogs, wikis, social bookmarking, social networking) which is inevitably going to impact upper management's thinking. I am concerned that many associations don't have a coherent strategy that would ensure availability of technically and semantically compatible social networking platforms. That's one of the problems with "bottom up" innovation -- you can't be sure that different platforms will allow people to network with each other. I’m not so sure I would be as apocalyptic in my comments about social media and associations as you are, even though I wrote “Are Social Networking and Social Media Threats or Opportunities for Professional Associations” (http://www.ddmcd.com/professional.html).

I’m seeing a lot of adoption of social media tools by middle managers (blogs, wikis, social bookmarking, social networking) which is inevitably going to impact upper management’s thinking.

I am concerned that many associations don’t have a coherent strategy that would ensure availability of technically and semantically compatible social networking platforms. That’s one of the problems with “bottom up” innovation — you can’t be sure that different platforms will allow people to network with each other.

]]> by: Nick http://www.principledinnovation.com/blog/2007/05/24/the-real-threat-isnt-social-media/#comment-6664 Fri, 25 May 2007 16:34:58 +0000 http://www.principledinnovation.com/blog/2007/05/24/the-real-threat-isnt-social-media/#comment-6664 I agree with you 100% but you have to admit that social media is a much more naked threat to exactly the type of structural problems you mention than other trends have been. If association execs can use the threat as a reason to wake up out of their status quo stupor, so much the better! I agree with you 100% but you have to admit that social media is a much more naked threat to exactly the type of structural problems you mention than other trends have been. If association execs can use the threat as a reason to wake up out of their status quo stupor, so much the better!

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