Social Computing Guidelines for Heavy Machine Enterprise Co - Essay Example

Social Computing Guidelines for Heavy Machine Enterprise Co. Social Computing Guidelines for Heavy Machine Enterprise Co. Introduction IBM is constantly updating the platforms and interfaces for more innovation and interaction with clients and partners, apart from efficient working among the IBM staff members. Hence, these guidelines comprise the framework under which Heavy Machine Enterprise Co. can formulate its online computing policy for the employees. The online discourses using social computing should be able to empower the responsible professionals of the company to create helpful innovations, globally. The company must have trust in the human resources assets and in the effort of each staff member to enhance knowledge, by sharing expertise with clients, partners and other stakeholders. Hence, Heavy Machine Enterprise Co. must make it mandatory that each staff member participates in such interaction and exchange of ideas, on global basis. Being an innovation based company, Heavy Machine Enterprise Co. must stress that each employee participates in the continuous learning process. Accoringly, the company should emphasize that social computing can contribute largely towards the growth of an individual and organization. Another important aspect of IBM computing guidelines deals with the tool of contribution, among the staff and all concerned, worldwide. IBM has the vision of contributing to the world as an innovator and corporate citizen, with a view to provide government and non-governmental organizations, health care industry and businesses, the necessary innovations by sharing the knowledge with all concerned. Acknowledging the importance of social computing, Heavy Machine Enterprise Co. must recommend to its employees using internet, which has been the policy of IBM since 1997. Therefore, Heavy Machine Enterprise Co. should encourage all staff members to participate actively in the blogosphere for learning and sharing their knowledge. Considering above, Heavy Machine Enterprise Co must provide the following guidelines for its staff members to engage in online social computing activities. Publish responsibly The staff member is responsible for any document published by him or her. The company should stress the importance of on-line content, which everyone must use in a responsible manner, while respecting rules of the particular website and protecting the privacy of publisher. In addition, any staff member of Heavy Machine Enterprise Co. can declare his or her role in the company while publishing any content or discussing company related products and services. However, any published material shall be the personal responsibility of the individual. While respecting copyright laws of the land, no staff member can disclose any propriety information. Similarly, discussing the business plans and other related matters of the company or its partners, clients and suppliers is not recommended. Stress is laid on not leaking any sensitive information to public, via online platforms. Nothing should be the part of any online content, which provides a link or citation reference to a partner’s website, without the permission of the concerned business stakeholder. In addition, the online content creator must respect the rule of the land, while refraining from making any racial, religious or ethnic comments in the form of slur. Similarly, the privacy of others must be respected. The staff member must realize that he/she is working with Heavy Machine Enterprise Co. and therefore, the personal profile or content created must be consistent with his or her image and position within the company and with its partners, clients and other stakeholders. Heavy Machine Enterprise Co. brand image is important and all staff members must work in the direction of enhancing the same, without creating content that can harm this image in any manner. While creating personal ID with any social media site, the staff member should not use company logo or trademark, without the relevant authority. This can result in misuse of the Heavy Machine Enterprise Co. brand.(IBM 2014, pp2-5) Business conduct guidelines for Heavy Machine Enterprise Co. The company must establish business conduct laws and guidelines for social computing and blog-writing. These include the above-mentioned and following points and must be followed for doing any online activity, which relates to file sharing, publishing of blogs, wikis, virtual content and social networks, along with any user-generated video or audio content. The company policy should be clear about transmitting the message that any activity, off work, by its staff members must not affect the interests of Heavy Machine Enterprise Co. and its partners and clients. However, the company must respect privacy of each employee, as Heavy Machine Enterprise Co. should acknowledge the fact that managing the off time by an employee is his or her own affair. Supporting open dialogue While recognizing that every individual must participate in an open dialogue and exchange of ideas, freely, online, Heavy Machine Enterprise Co. must prohibit use of any online platform to represent the company. Those staff members who have the authority, and are designated to do so, can speak on behalf of the company. However, exchange of perspectives and ideas among staff members of Heavy Machine Enterprise Co., its business partners, clients and public in general should be encouraged, as it falls in line with the company policy of achieving innovation through contribution and participation. Mutual trust Heavy Machine Enterprise Co. must realize that trust goes along with the personal responsibility. Hence, the company should expect all staff members to behave responsibly while respecting the trust of the people with whom they may interact. In addition, the company name should not be used for personal promotion or publicity of an online content. Only designated sales and marketing staff is authorized to do so for promoting the interests of the company. Employees must thoroughly follow IBM business conduct guidelines along with these directives to avoid any confusion or the dilemma about publishing any online content. However, the employee should consult the management in case of any doubts remaining even after going through these guidelines. Speaking in first person While the content creator can use online platforms to publish the content, he or she should always put in the forefront his or her individual personality. Issuing a disclaimer, which mentions that all content belongs to the individual and Heavy Machine Enterprise Co. has no role in the same, is necessary. Protecting propriety information As there is a thin line between internal and external communication channels, employees should refrain from giving any information about Heavy Machine Enterprise Co. on the external online platforms. This includes providing information on the development of processes or products, systems and technological expertise, among others. Similarly, information about other businesses should not be published on such platforms, without the permission of concerned stakeholders.(IBM 2014, pp5-7) Respecting general audience and coworkers While Heavy Machine Enterprise Co. may have an intranet environment, protected against any misuse, all employees should respect the interests of coworkers, when working outside this environment and remain cautious that any online activity by any staff member should not compromise the image of the company. In addition, any online content created by the staff member should add value to the blog site, as well as the image of the company. Employees can use Heavy Machine Enterprise Co. domains to publish content that adds value to the contribution of its process development, skill and knowledge along with promotion of the company policies and values in a manner that helps bringing a sense of community and harmony. However, employees can provide information about any personal details that they would like to publish on external online platforms. Similarly, staff members of Heavy Machine Enterprise Co. can put their own comments, whenever they see any published content that can damage the reputation of the company. Such reaction and comments shall add value to the company’s business ethics. However, they should avoid any unnecessary brawls or arguments with the company’s competitors. In addition, any content or comment published by the employee that relates to the competitor activities must be based on facts and without any bias or prejudice. .(IBM 2014, pp6) Acknowledging own mistakes Employees should not wait for others to pinpoint the mistakes that may have occurred on the content published by the concerned person. Instead, the employee should immediately admit the mistake and put a correction at the same time. The best way to avoid errors is using the self-judgment through knowledge gained by interacting with the seniors, which will help avoiding any dilemma that employees may face while creating and publishing any content on social media platforms.(IBM 2014, pp6) Conclusion Heavy Machine Enterprise Co. must encourage freedom to the employees for interacting among themselves and with public on social media websites. However, the staff must adhere to the rules and propriety rights of the company, while protecting and adding value to its image. Work cited IBM Social Computing Guidelines, 2014, pp 1 to 7, viewed 13 Nov 2014 Read More