TakingAIIM

Using Enterprise 2.0 to Define Enterprise 2.0

As readers of this blog know, Dan Keldsen  and I are developing an AIIM training course and Market IQ on Enterprise 2.0, and in that pursuit have assembled a panel of advisers including Andrew McAfee, David Weinberger, Stowe Boyd, Patti Anklam and Eric Tsui.  Interaction with the panel has been invaluable.  The exercise is interesting on several fronts, including the factor that we are using some Enterprise 2.0 tools to collaborate. 

The survey we conducted is now closed and we are compiling results.  The report and training promise to be chocked-full of insights.  There is one development I would like to share now, pre-publication, as it provides insights on the topic of Enterprise 2.0 in many ways, and could benefit from your input.

Many of you know that Andrew McAfee is credited with coining the term Enterprise 2.0, and that he defines it as,  "The use of emergent social software platforms within companies, or between companies and their partners or customers."

In our survey we asked respondents (there were over 400) to choose "their" definition of Enterprise 2.0 from a diverse list that we had compiled, which included Andrew's definition.  No single definition emerged as a popular perspective.  Top candidates were

Technology that enables people to collaborate and/or form online communities

The application of Web 2.0 to the enterprise

The next generation of enterprise content management (ECM)

The use of emergent social software platforms within companies, or between companies and their partners or customers (Andrew's definition).

Again though, not one of these garnered enough selection to position it as a clear common understanding in the marketplace.  This, compounded with the fact that our survey is pointing to the fact that confusion and ignorance concerning Enterprise 2.0 are rampant, and primarily responsible for tentative embracing at best, made Dan and me feel we should take a stab at coming up with a  succinct and clear definition, around which we could frame the rest of our work, not in contradiction to Andrew’s definition, but one that perhaps sheds more light and is a bit more comprehensive.

After toiling for 2 days, we released a definition to our panel.  All intellectual he## broke lose.  Seriously, the collaboration that ensued was powerful, and would not have been possible, in the given time frame if not for the power of the Enterprise 2.0 tools that we are using.  That said, it is interesting to note that shortly into this exercise, we resorted to an older technology, e-mail.  I do not know if this is due to our ages (Sorry panel, but lets face it, we are not Millenials.), or if certain issues/tasks just lend themselves to particular tools. (Indeed, we are positioning Enterprise 2.0 as an evolution in business practice and IT, not a revolution, positioning earlier technologies such as e-mail as not only predecessors, but still relevant components to an Enterprise 2.0 strategy). In any regard any regard it happened. 

The volume of intellectual capital/knowledge that arose was impressive.  (We will be publishing the debate at a later time, forum still unclear.) In the end we did not all agree on a single definition.  So Dan and I imposed “leadership” (I use that term loosely) on the group –(an issue we discuss in the Enterprise IQ and training), and stopped the ongoing debate in an effort to move on.

What definition did we come up with?

"A system of web-based technologies that provide rapid and agile collaboration, information sharing, emergence and integration capabilities in the extended enterprise"

So tell us – what do you think?  Does this definition work at all for you?  Feel free to make comments here.

By the way, it is not too early to register for the webinar in which we will be presenting our survey findings, or register for the Enterprise 2.0 training we will be conducting at the AIIM show.

Stay tuned . . .

Enterprise 2.0 and Content Security, the Balancing Act Continues

As you know Dan Keldsen and I have wrapped up our Market IQ on Content Security and are in the throes of the Market IQ on Enterprise 2.0.  Last Friday, an item hit the news that once again shows the need to balance these to seemingly opposing technology genres.

As we introduced in the Content Security Market IQ, organizations today are faced with a balancing act between leveraging IT to promote collaboration (the focus of the upcoming Enterprise 2.0 Market IQ), and the need to leverage technology to leverage IT to ensure compliance and responsible security.  All too often however, organizations err on one side or another, not holistically, but typically on an application-by-application basis.

So, let’s once again turn to current events to illustrate this point.  The Mayor of Detroit is apparently going to lose his sexual harassment suit (against him), despite his sworn testimony that he is innocent.  The court recently decided that 14,000 instant messages that say differently are admissible, and are likely to be the fete accompli in ruling. 

Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was quoted as saying “It is extremely embarrassing to have these extremely private messages now displayed in such a public manner.”  Perhaps so, but such is litigation.  Electronic communication leaves a trail.  Use of such enabling technologies needs to be rationalized between the convenience/value it provides and the risk it represents.  Never should they be dismissed as inconsequential land above the law (or below its radar).

In March we will be publishing our findings on Enterprise 2.0.  But, early survey results seem to indicate that forums such as blogs and wikis are more often than not, not positioned within an organization’s content security and/or records management strategy.  So OK – one more time, hear our warning, all content needs to be rationalized within the collaboration security spectrum.

Tony Soprano Meets Web 2.0

The AIIM Market Intelligence office is abuzz with Enterprise 2.0.  Dan Keldsen and I are in the thick of our survey (you can still take it), and research on the topic.  Perhaps that is why an article in today’s paper particularly caught my attention.  I wanted to share it with you, because it pushes the envelope on the topic of social network computing and the power it potentially wields.

Social network computing spotlights and magnifies the power numbers, what can be accomplished when masses of individuals  collaborate in real time.  In our upcoming Market IQ on Enterprise 2.0, we will be sure to talk about the wisdom of crowds, the intelligence that can emanate through social tagging, filters and the like. But today’s article highlights another potential benefit (or risk depending on your perspective), of the ability to collaborate in masses, bridging time and space, in an ad hoc real-time manner.  A group of Sicilian business owners are using a web site to share their experiences with the local Mafia, finding safety in numbers and banning together to refuse to pay “pizzo” or protection money. 

What is most interesting about this movement, as reported in the article, is “…their movement has helped to chip away at the Mafia's psychological hold on Sicilians… “.  Early findings of our market research are, not surprisingly, showing that Enterprise 2.0 is as much about culture as it is technology.  At the front end, culture needs to support and reward openness, and collaboration.  But, as this group in Sicily are showing, access to such functionality can also have an impact on underlying culture.  While organizations (communities) that approach Enterprise 2.0 with a top-down strategy, and embrace, or at least support open collaboration may more readily reap benefits from Enterprise 2.0,  there is evidence to suggest that rogue-based ad hoc  usage of Enterprise 2.0 can  also succeed, initially perhaps changing counter-cultures if nothing else.

Stay tuned, more on this and other aspects of Enterprise 2.0 will be forthcoming in our Market IQ on Enterprise 2.0.  In the interim, if you would like to weigh in on the topic, there is still time to take our survey.

aiimALERT: Microsoft Takes FAST Track to Search Market

Microsoft Corp has offered to buy search software company Fast Search & Transfer for about $1.2 billion, the companies. Microsoft and FAST will hold a telephone conference to discuss the offer today at 1815 GMT. (See details )

This event is sure to shake up the enterprise search market.  But will it be the final earthquake?  The search market has always seen platform players such as Microsoft and Oracle make forays into search.  The appeal of these offerings has always been lower cost and integration into applications, leaving a market for higher end dedicated search functionality providers.  Dedicated search providers, such as FAST as well as Autonomy, Endeca and Vivisimo, to name a few, remained viable and healthy solution providers by offering state-of-the-industry search functionality.  Organizations that required substantial, independent search functionality continued to represent a fertile market for these high-end search tools. 

The likely acquisition of one of these leading search vendors (FAST), by a major platform player (Microsoft), changes the rules of that game.  The high-end functionality and expertise of FAST, coupled with the market reach of Microsoft is greatly complementary.  “This acquisition gives FAST an exciting way to spread our cutting-edge search technologies and innovations to more and more organizations across the world,” said John Lervik, CEO of FAST. “By joining Microsoft, we can benefit from the momentum behind the SharePoint business productivity platform to really empower a broader set of users through Microsoft’s strong sales and marketing network.”  Lervik certainly got that right.  (It is a shame he was not as insightful earlier this year, when he commented "We are diappointed with [our] numbers", earlier this year, in a move that certainly helped precipitate this bid.) On the other hand, Microsoft will also greatly benefit in making its SharePoint platform far more attractive, and can likely extend the search capability of “its FAST” across all Microsoft applications, rendering a virtual universal search platform.

While all search technology providers are affected by this probable acquisition, Google is perhaps the most impacted. Google has been making strategic and powerful plays into the enterprise search space, leveraging their popularity on the Internet into an enterprise search tool.  Market popularity and familiarity have greatly helped in this cause.  If anyone can claim equal name recognition in the general market, it is Microsoft, albeit not with search – until today.

This of course changes the value proposition of ECM providers that have positioned themselves as Sharepoint enhancing - including OpenText and Documentum.  Their window of differentiation continues to close.  I cannot help but wonder at which point Microsoft will find themselves back in antitrust court?

Should AIIM Market Intelligence scrap its plans for a Market IQ report on Findability in Q2 2008?  Is the subject moot?  Perhaps in the long term, but short term, this should make for a most exciting competitive market space.

Enterprise 2.0 - Whaddya Think?

Much attention has been paid in this blog to Enterprise 2.0 (previous posts).   The topic seems to grow in interest level, and confusion.  As mentioned previously several times, that is why AIIM Market Intelligence is undertaking a Market IQ study focused on Enterprise 2.0.  Wanting to ensure we cover this topic from all perspectives and experiences we have assembled an advisory panel (press release) consisting of Andrew McAfee, David Weinberger, Patti Anklam, Stowe Boyd and Eric Tsui.

While the panel is a virtual brain trust in Enterprise 2.0, it does not provide the full 360 degree view we want to incorporate into our research.  That is where YOU come in.  We would like to hear about your opinions, experiences and perceptions concerning Enterprise 2.0. You can make them known to us by taking the AIIM Market IQ survey on Enterprise 2.0.  (http://aiimmarketintelligence.questionpro.com/)

You have the opportunity in the survey to forward the survey to friends, which would be much appreciated.  Speaking of appreciation, you may also select a charity (from list provided) to which we will make a $500 donation, on behalf of the survey participants, as well as request an early copy of the survey results.

So please, let us know - whaddya think about Enterprise 2.0.  Is it more marketing hype than reality?  A future or a current impact?  Strategic or peripheral to your organization's business goals?   Answers to questions such as these, and a host of others will be assembled into the AIIM Market IQ report on Enterprise 2.0, which will be available end of Q1, 2008.  Oh yeah, of course there will be much blogging, and hopefully commentary, on this site and Dan Keldsen's blog about the findings as well.  Stay tuned . . .

Searching Into 2008

At the close of 2007 I had the privilege to be a co-presenter on a Google webinar focused on Universal Search.   I have posted the slides used to slideshare  (Slideshare Link) and I have posted the slides below:

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In the presentation I reference a market report conducted by my former company, Delphi Group, in 2006.  We found that the majority, 63% of business users, utilize 2-3 search tools in a typical week.  Another 29% used more than 3.  The reality of Enterprise Search is that it does not exist as a single entity or functionality.  For most business users, search is a multi-tool experience, for a variety of reasons.

During the Google webinar, we polled the audience of approximately 150 people and asked how many search tools they currently used.  As the chart below indicates, the results showed that the situation is only getting worse.  That is to say, 40% of the audience that day indicated that they use more than 3 search tools daily. 

[A full 20% claim to use only one search tool (over zealous Google customers?).  Quite surprisingly, 7% claim they do not use any search tools.  Who are these people - gifted with divine wisdom?]

While search functionality may be improving, the positioning of search as a enterprise platform or competency is still not a reality. Indeed, we are moving further away from that goal. Users are expected to use any number of search tools to find relevant content in multiple repositories and applications.

While it can be argued that the criticality of search may warrant multiple search engines in-house, each tailored to a particular set of content and/or user need, one should hope that a common interface that could cut across all content and dynamically support all types of queries should be forthcoming.  Without such an approach, there is significant time and frustration spent thrashing back and forth between collections, search tools and interfaces.  (The Delphi study included in my slides has statistics on this phenomena as well.)

During the Google webinar, we also polled the audience regarding the percentage of enterprise content  that is searchable.   As the chart below indicates,  47% claim that 50% or more of the enterprise content is discoverable (only 12% indicated that >75% of content is discoverable.)

Clearly, we still have a ways to go before enterprise search can be considered truly enterprise-wide:  encompassing all enterprise content, utilizing a single interface with consistent functionality and results across all content.

These issues, and more are sure to emerge and be investigated more deeply in our upcoming Market IQ, slated for publication in Q2 2008.  Stay tuned.