Social networking towards better communication in the workplace.

27/04/2010 MichelleR 15 comments

Introduction

Social network gaming provides the opportunity to strengthen the bonds between employees a work place environment. In this paper we will examine how social network gaming enables employees to communicate and strengthen work place relations with their peers and those in supervisory positions. We also examine how Facebook users represent themselves online and how they use their online persona to establish real life relationships in the work place.

Why facebook? Facebook differs from many other social networking sites such as Myspace, bebo and twitter in the way that it helps to establish interaction and information sharing between users. Whilst MySpace, Bebo and Twitter users are able to maintain their identity autonomously Facebook encourages interaction and networking between users (McClard & Anderson 2008). This in turn is the perfect platform for inter employee communication to be established. Whilst in the smaller companies employees may get to know one another quite well due to proximity with other staff. However in the larger companies and those that operate on a twenty four hour roster getting to know fellow staff members may be near impossible. By using Facebook and the applications delivered by it users can if they choose gain a better understanding of their co workers in a safe space without the discomfort of rushed conversations or awkward interaction in the workplace. Facebook and the applications allow users to establish relationships.

By its very nature Facebook enables, promotes and facilitates communication.

Communication

Undoubtedly the popularity of gaming in social networking sites such as Face book has increased significantly over the past number of years. As of December 2009 there are an estimated 271 million Facebook gaming application users ( Whon, Lee and Sung 2010).With a myriad of applications available the user has to choose from we must address why Facebook users choose the games they do and how they use these Facebook applications to improve work based relationships.

Communication in the work place is vital for healthy relations, as with any grouping of people a hierarchical system soon emerges. In the work place an employees role is dictated by the capacity in which they are employed, thus many employees often find themselves unable to initiate communication with those outside of their departments or roles because of work related issues or by time and scheduling restraints.

Facebook users are able to connect with colleagues in a variety of different, perhaps more playful ways which allow users to set the tone of any interactions that occur. The lighter delivery platform of Facebook belies the strength of relationships that can be built, nurtured and reconstructed within the website. By using the applications a stepping stone to better communication, employees are taking the control of how they get to know one another regardless of which department of shift they work. By empowering employees the work place benefits by been able to utilize staff that is able to communicate with one another.

Facebook differs from other social networking sites in the way that it encourages interactions between users. Facebook enables users to project aspects of their persona to different groups of friends and networks that they have built. This networking feature plays a pivotal role in work place relationships on Facebook, by allowing others to seen who has been added by colleagues the user can choose to add and recommend similar connections to other co workers. The advantage that Facebook has over many other social networking sites is that it allows users to decide how much or little interaction they have with others.

“Several people commented on the advantage of a pull technology over email.

People choose when to look, so those who post information do not burden receivers

the way a call or even email would. As one interview participant pointed out, if status messages are not interesting, no one needs to look. Responses to updates are not

expected; there is plausible deniability as to whether an update was viewed.”

(Skeels, Meredith M, and J Grudin, 2009)

The live feed section of Facebook updates users on what applications and activities their friends, family and co workers are participating in. Many of these applications send invitations with a short note from the invitee asking them to participate with the sender. In most cases the invited party is able to see high scores, rank and level, this indicates to the player what level of interest the other player has in the game. By sharing links, games and inviting colleagues to participate in activities off inline the employee is initiating the building a relationship with the invitee. In the work place it would be unacceptable to invite a co worker to play a game and almost impossible to play with the multitude of players that many games require. Facebook enables both players to interact asynchronously via the platform without fear of repercussions in the workplace.

“The face that one presents to the world on Facebook is highly dimensioned. One’s

identity is not characterized by demographic data or other information that one has

supplied upon signing up, but by the interactions in which one engages.”

(McClard & Anderson 2008)

Facebook allows the employees to initiate interaction from the comfort of their homes. Whilst traditional multi user games such as World of Warcraft, Guildwars etc require hardware to support and run such graphics heavy games, social networking games provide access to a wide variety of games at little or no cost other than the connection to the internet. Therefore Facebook applications are an excellent low cost way of encouraging staff to communicate with one another.

While many other social networking sites focus on the individual, Facebook encourages and thrives on social interaction. A crucial element of Facebooks` makeup is the feature that allows users to see who contacts have added and what networks they have joined or are an active part of. Skeels and Green (2009) found that social networking sites such as face book allow users to better understand those that they have little contact with or understanding of in the workplace without expectation placed on them.

Status in the work place

In the work environment the social networking structure is directly influenced by the roles of the employees and the positions they hold. An example of this is a place of employment that operates 24hours a day. Many of the staff members will be on fixed shifts and will never meet those who are on opposite shifts; in this case the work environment restricts the social interaction between day and night time employees. Employees working in different departments often have little social interaction or acquire the opportunity to communicate outside of the work environment.

Traditionally workers employed to perform similar roles with in the work place are more likely to associate with one another in a social capacity when compared to their interaction with employees of different status in the same workplace.

Whether it be due to the nature or their jobs or that scheduling dictates that they work at different times of the day, it would be difficult for these individual employees to be a part of the same social network.

Asynchronicity

The asynchronous nature of social network gaming is perfect for promoting social interaction and communication in the workplace. Social gaming on Facebook caters for all levels of gaming experience, computer literacy and skills.

A significant amount of Facebook applications are focused on team building. Indeed in many of the games, players are unable to progress without help from others. In the workplace this dependence on others to send resources, help friends and invite others to be neighbors reconfirms to the employee the social bonds of which he or she is apart of.

In the virtual world of social networking sites such as facebook, the rules of engagement can and often do differ from those inside the work place. Facebook provides a relaxed safe atmosphere in which colleges can communicate without the workplace hierarchy influencing interaction. Within the workplace the rules of social interaction are defined by such factors as position within the company, years of experience, sex, physical features and age. Social networking and gaming removes many of the usual social indicators and participants are required to build their online identity. The virtual world of social networking and social network gaming provides employees to redefine their status.

How the work place benefits

The use of social networking and Facebook gaming in particular, benefits the workplace by encouraging communication between staff members. It presents a platform which employees can get to know one another in their own time and on their own terms. Social network gaming enables employees to establish emotional bonds with their fellow employees, which in turn promote a sense of unity and connection with colleagues.

Gamming on Facebook is multifaceted and allows players of all skill levels to participate on a relatively even playing field. The dynamic and fun environment in which users interact with one another reaffirms the connection between them as they can associate spending time with the other user as being fun or being helped by that individual.

To promote constant contact with workers companies often employ methods such as fan pages, work related groups and weekly news letters to promote interest and dialog between themselves and between employees. A recent study by Dimicco and Millen entitled “Identity Management: Multiple Presentations of Self in Facebook” found that people using the applications did so to help make sense of those they worked with (Dimicco and Millen, 2007). In this respect the interconnection between staff was strengthened and encouraged by use of applications available on Facebook. The presentation of a “third place” (Oldenburg & Brissett 1999) where staff members can gather and socialize without expectations placed on them is of benefit to the employer.

Conclusion

So in conclusion we find that social network gaming provides employees with the opportunity to get to know one another via playful interaction. Workers use these games to establish bonds and are able to break the ice with colleagues that previously they may have had little interaction with. These applications are another way for employees to touch base with those that they do not see on a regular basis or have contact with at work. Via Facebook users can re-establish former work related networks; keeping in contact with these reawakened ties can be achieved with social network applications.

It was also shown that employers can become an active participant in initiating employee to employee networking via work related groups being set up and by maintained by them. We established that social network gaming and the use of applications by employees creates a sense of familiarity amongst staff and in turn allows them to relate to one another with much ease. Again by establishing an identity on Facebook users are able to express themselves or aspects of themselves that they maybe unable to in the work environment.

Additionally facebook gaming applications provide an easy, low cost method of gaming. The applications presented by Facebook are easy enough to be played by all ages and all levels of skill. Facebook applications that are able to be played asynchronously enable all colleagues to participate in and equal manner. By participating dialogue is promoted which encourages communication in the workplace that in turn benefits the place of employment; employees that are able to communicate with one another are more productive.

Consequently I have found that social network gaming and application use via Facebook encourages communication between employees and in turn dialogue is established. By enabling staff members to interact with one another in an environment that is safe and available twenty four hours a day, the employer is rewarded by having staff that have able to form bonds with one another and communicate in the workplace.

References

DiMicco, Joan Morris, and David R Millen. “Identity Management: Multiple Presentations of Self in Facebook.” In Conference on Supporting Group Work. Sanibel Island Florida: ACM, 2007.

DiMicco, Joan Morris, David R. Millen, Werner Geyer, and Casey Dugan. “Research on the Use of Social Software in the Workplace.” (2007), http://www.headshift.com/blog/2009/01/14/IBM%20Social%20Networking%20Research.pdf.

Hyatt, Nabeel. “What Makes Gaming Social.” gigaom (2008), http://gigaom.com/2008/05/23/what-makes-gaming-social/.

McClard, Anne, and Ken Anderson. “Focus on Facebook: Who Are We Anyway?” Anthropology News (2008), http://www.aaanet.org/issues/anthronews/upload/49-3-McClard-and-Anderson-In-Focus.pdf.

Kirsten, Nicole. “Facebook, Virtual Proximity, and the Meaning of Relationships.” (2009), http://www.allfacebook.com/2009/11/facebook-virtual-proximity-and-the-meaning-of-relationships/

Rheingold, Howard. ““a Slice of Life in My Virtual Community” by Howard Rheingoldwhole Earth Review.” http://www.cs.indiana.edu/docproject/bdgtti/bdgtti_18.html.

Skeels, Meredith M, and Jonathan Grudin. “When Social Networks Cross Boundaries: A Case Study of Workplace Use of Facebook and Linkedin.” In Conference on Supporting Group Work. Florida, USA: ACM, 2009.

Wohn, Dr Yvette, Yu-hoa Lee, and Jieun Sung. “Building Common Ground and Reciprocity through Social Network Games.” Paper presented at the Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems:, 12-13 April 2010 2010.

Social Networks Facebook, gaming, workplace

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Comments

Written by toner about 8 months ago. Reply

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Written by AnamariaR about 2 years ago. Reply

Hi Michelle,

A very interesting topic, that really got me thinking.

I personally don’t use the applications due to privacy issues of my personal information. Also after seeing how much some of my friends spend using the games, I am avoiding them.

I’m not sure that I totally agree with you, that gaming on these Facebook applications can create better communication in the workplace. How do these people communicate with each other if they are playing the game? Yes it may create a talking point for conversation while seeing the other person but how far can the conversation go. What if some employees don’t want to use these games or if they don’t want to become “friends” with certain people that they work with. Won’t this cause issues?

I would be surprised to see a business use Facebook for their employees to communicate. I would think that they’d believe it was a time wasting site, creating unproductive staff. I know at my workplace they ban Facebook and YouTube so people were unable to use it at work.

Thanks for an interesting read.
Written by Nat about 2 years ago. Reply

MichelleR
A very controversial paper! Although I can not agree with SNS gaming as a form of networking, larger companies have social clubs where individuals can get together after work for a drink or a lunchtime meal. Personally these work quite well. On a side note, this week I attended a quick show’n’tell on sharepoint 2010, it has employee profile pages that I can see as a corporate SNS, so your idea although not practical for Facebook could be utilised in another tool.
- Written by MichelleR about 2 years ago. Reply
  
  Thanks for your comments Nat, while I do agree with larger companies that have social clubs and that actively promote interaction between departments and employees I have found in my own experience that not all large companies do so.
  
  For example I work in the hospitality industry, my workplace employs over a thousand staff and is the regions largest employer. We do not have a social club, initally one was started but members on the grave yard shift who could not make events complained and pulled out, this lead to the collapse of the social club and its activities.
  
  Whilst initially there was some interest in MySpace many of my fellow employees found it to be too music orientated. Many joined facebook and networks were quickly formed. My workplace has not social networking rules and users are free to use the computers to “facebook” during their breaks. In this case it does help us to keep in touch with one another as there are people I personally work with, with whom I have not been present in the same room as for at least 18 months and yet via their updates I can see what they are up to and whats going on in their lives.
Written by KayeE about 2 years ago. Reply

Hi Michelle. Your paper was very interesting and posed a good argument that SNS can help foster better communication in the workplace. I am wondering though, are you advocating that this communication and game playing should take place during work time? I think that could have some interesting consequences. Although, I know in my own research for my paper I came across of number of employers who do encourage their staff to use SNS during work hours, and with positive results, e.g. -

Needle, D. (2007). ‘Facebook Fridays’ enrich enterprise software firm. Retrieved April 4, 2010 from http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3710336

It also poses interesting questions in relation to who you allow to become ‘friends’ in your Facebook page. I know that I would not want to become ‘friends’ with some of my managers or supervisors, simply because I don’t want them to be a part of what I consider to be my ‘private world’. So then do we make up two Facebook profiles – one for work and one for private. Because of this I think that Facebook isn’t the ideal platform in which to foster better communication in the workplace. I do think though that you are on the right track – employers would do well to investigate new media in the hope of achieving a higher level of communication in the workplace. I’m just not certain about what platform they should use!
- Written by MichelleR about 2 years ago. Reply
  
  Thank you for your feedback while I initially wondered how an employee would be able to separate work life from home life I found that with the use of filters such as limited profile and the ability to categorize friends that it would indeed be possible to have one id that would be able to fill both roles.
Written by JasonK about 2 years ago. Reply

The topic you have chosen for your paper is very interesting as I also think social networks can be used in the workplace to facilitate better communication. There are some online collaboration sites that allow simultaneous interaction as well as specialized software that can run on an internal work server. The potential for social networks to enhance communication is therefore achievable, just like SNS’s have the possibility to aid students learn, however for employees, caution needs to be taken which SNS’s is used.

On this point, I have to strongly disagree with your choice of selecting Facebook as the ideal SNS’s to conduct business through in order to enhance employee communication in the workplace.

You said, “Facebook differs from many other social networking sites such as Myspace, Bebo and Twitter in the way that it helps to establish interaction and information sharing between users.”, but you have provided no evidence to support this claim. How does MySpace and Bebo NOT facilitate interaction and sharing of information between users? Both are SNS’s so that is their primary function. It would be good if you could have provided evidence to support such a statement as I would be very interested to see how they are not SNS’s.

You also said, “By using Facebook and the applications delivered by it users can if they choose gain a better understanding of their coworkers in a safe space without the discomfort of rushed conversations or awkward interaction in the workplace.” My problem with this statement, firstly, it isn’t referenced and is just your opinion, and secondly, you have made an incorrect assumption about the safety of Facebook. Facebook, as my own conference paper and that of other students has found, is anything but a safe space. It is in fact, the opposite of a safe space where your profile by default is open and accessible to Everyone (Onwuasoanya, Skornyakov & Post, 2008) and applications have access to your profile data. Facebook state in another section on their website that whatever information and data a
user shares with the group “Everyone” is also made available to API’s (Facebook
Privacy Update to Settings, 2010). Facebook also mention that by allowing an
API to run on your account, it can access information related to you and your
“Friends” contacts and publish stories regarding the actions taken on that
application or website without the users consent (Facebook Platform, 2009).

It would be a good idea to read some of the other papers relating to privacy issues related to SNS’s such as Facebook before you advocate such a site for business/employee interaction, which could be a great security issue especially if confidential information is discussed.

Your idea that playing games online, during work hours is something that I think no employer (perhaps apart from Google or a game software company like EA) would permit. Pay employees to play online games just so that they can talk to each other better? Somehow I just don’t see how that would ever happen and because you have provided no references to support your statement, it doesn’t hold any weight.

One other big assumption you make is that if Facebook were permitted and accessible to employees, what would stop them from just goofing off and updating their status and doing other things? Facebook is banned in most companies simply because it provides too much distraction for employees.

I do think that there is a place for playing games in a corporate/work environment, however this would not be on a daily basis as you postulate. Using Facebook to play online games or using applications to poke your colleagues would be counterproductive and work would suffer in my opinion. I do however think that on special training days, or days setup by HR for team bonding, that this type of SNS game aspect could be beneficial.

I for one have always wanted to play deathmatch game of Doom with my boss and frag the hell out him and ultimately teabag the guy. But, even if this were to take place, don’t you think there would be negative ramifications to this once the games are over?

Interesting idea, but I think unrealistic in a normal working environment except perhaps for a handful of businesses like game software companies and Google etc. Thought provoking though.

Onwuasoanya, A, Skornyakov, M & Post, J. (2008). Enhancing Privacy on Social
Networks by Segregating Different Social Spheres. Rutgers Governor’s School of
Engineering and TechnologyResearch journal, 2008. Retrieved from
http://www.osd.rutgers.edu/gs/08papers/Paper08-Facebook.pdf
Written by jhiroberts about 2 years ago. Reply

HI Michelle,

Well I must say a very thought provoking paper.

When I first read your title, I did think to myself, I wonder how this paper is going to be back up. Especially with so many examples of companies blocking the use of Facebook.

However your paper was very well researched and backed up.

I am still not sure of employers will be sold on the idea. But i did enjoy reading your paper.

It did make me think.

Thanks

Jhi

http://networkconference.netstudies.org/2010/04/facebook-and-the-demise-of-individual-privacy-%E2%80%93-a-flawed-assumption-or-serial-disregard/
Written by waisitham about 2 years ago. Reply

Hi Michelle,

I do agree that facebook enables, promotes and facilitate communication within people and potentially in a workplace. Based on the article of ‘Online social networking in the workplace?’, the survey reveals social networking websites like Facebook and Myspace, are not necessarily bring disadvantages for business, because some researchers believe that this medium can help to boost employee and organisation productivity. (Joliet Junior College, n.d.)

However, I do not agree that Facebook applications somehow help improve work based relationships. This is mainly due to the concept of the game applications in Facebook. They require a lot of time to play in and this just means these employees are being unproductive during working hours or so. In other terms, some of the employees might not have time for these gaming applications in Facebook mainly due to their personality or being too work conscious, hence no interactions or communications will be done in the workplace.

But overall, this is an interesting argument, well done with the paper.
- Written by waisitham about 2 years ago. Reply
  
  Reference:
  
  Joliet Junior College (n.d.) Online social networking in the workplace?. Retrieved May 11, 2010, from http://www.trainingupdate.org/industry-news/Pages/online-social-networking-in-the-workplace.aspx
Written by reneeh about 2 years ago. Reply

Facebook is an interesting topic in regards to Social Networking site. To me facebook would not encourage the type of communication that would be condsidered fruitful or productive. A better alternate may be intranet where monitoring of said communication.
I have a facebook account and have about 2 work colleuges as friends, this is mainly due to the fact that I do not want the cross over effect of work and life merging.

Your paper did provide an interesting argument that you have supported well
and I thankyou for a thought provoking paper

All the best
Renee
Written by Michael N about 2 years ago. Reply

Upfront your paper has a very good arguement for using this tool; however, it is challenging what you have written for me. I would not like to be forced into Facebook with my employer and other workers unless it was part of the job specification and it was seperate from the other Facebook. I find the pitfalls too much when there exists lots of collobration software. I think intranets are a better way to go as they are closed and not on the internet, less chance perhaps of hacking and there are clear rules. Facebook to me would be a huge distraction. The workplace has many systems and much information flowing through it; Facebook might make people ’social’ but you have the problem of what to say to who.

For example, do you post on the CEO’s page? Who will vet them? What procedures will be in place for postings which are not suitable?

Granted, you have a good paper, but the practical side of things, I would not like to be forced into it when the intranet can fill those functions.

Good references too well done.
Written by janette about 2 years ago. Reply

Facebook, the modern day water cooler! It seems like a good idea to use Facebook to encourage the establishment of workplace relationships. Do you think that the site might be used inappropriately to gossip about employees, spread rumours/exaggerations/jokes etc., about less popular employees?

In my work place, we use IM to communicate across locations in order to get quick responses/solutions to queries and employees also use the channel to gossip and say ‘stuff’ about other employees. If management ever investigated those chat logs ……

I personally don’t believe I would want to indulge in gaming with work colleagues. Never say never, of course.

However, I think it is an excellent idea to have an online meeting place for those who work shift rotations and never see their colleagues – maybe a semi-professional space; communication work-related information; to keep up2date, have a chat, etc., and a Facebook space could be this space.

I wonder how many people would be gaming with work colleagues outside work? I wonder if management would be happy with colleagues gaming in work hour? Would this be a certain time each day/week allocated to Facebooking and written off as team building or professional development? As you mention, it would need to be beneficial to the employer and it would probably depend on the type of workplace, true?
Written by Zohara Ibrahim about 2 years ago. Reply

According to your topic, “Social networking towards better communication in the workplace”, In my opinion, I don’t think so, this kind of tools, such as Facebook better way to communicate in the workplace. Sometimes you are NOT concentrate what are you talking about with you client while you having so many topics and discuss from other colleague in one group. Usually in social networking it hard for us to believe while they talk through social networking, according to one article, If you try to communicate something that isn’t totally true and honest it will eventually be revealed especaillly if you never known them and meet them and also It’s difficult to maintain dishonest communication in social networking the workplace (or anywhere else) because it gets too complicated to hold all of the stories together. Instead of saying things that aren’t totally true, just say less. Speak the truth and leave the rest for later or don’t say it at all if it’s not true and honest. according to your point, Facebook users are able to connect with colleagues in a variety of different, perhaps more playful ways which allow users to set the tone of any interactions that occur, i don’t think so not all colleagues in a variety of different interested to talk through social networking are able to connect and happy to communicate because some of them prefer to communicate in real person like face to face, looking at your body languages.
Written by Ernesthojilla about 2 years ago. Reply

Facebook seems to be an interesting topic when it comes to Social Networking site plus the application and the benefits of an automatic communication between peers and colleagues.

Your paper examines how social networking is better towards communication in the workplace per say, though my concerns in this area is the communication of peers using facebook application games towards a way of interactions between employees.

You have a point in this discussion about facebooks, which enables, promotes and facilitate communication- although this made me think on how facebook application such as games can provide a better way of virtual communication. – I do have facebook account and playing an interactive games such as Farmville etc. the downside is, it doesn’t provide me a good communication with my colleagues unless an instant chat or an inbox message is performed between employees.

As well as you were saying “Facebook users choose the games they do and how they use these Facebook applications to improve work based relationships.” – if we are talking about employees or in any workplace using this kind of application I don’t think this is really not productive in any kind of communications at all.

If Facebook is about socializing and it is known that employees are spending much of their time on Facebook, then employees must be “unproductive”.(Lee,2007).

“The use of social networking and Facebook gaming in particular, benefits the workplace by encouraging communication between staff members”

Communication using facebook is always been a very good tool of conversation, but what are the developments of communication with any staff employee can benefits through this? – People work full time and I don’t think facebook applications e.g. “games” will have time to access and make way for a better communications et.al

I don’t think “Social network gaming enables employees to establish emotional bonds with their fellow employees, which in turn promote a sense of unity and connection with colleagues.” Virtual Social Networking Communications in facebook is fine I guess. but bonds, unity using this application – I don’t think it will work.

I admire you’re paper it made me think with an honest opinion. Cheers to you! All the best.xxx

Reference:

Lee, R (2007). Banning facebook in the workplace. REX’S THOUGHT SPOT, 17 May. Retrieved 28 April 2010, from http://rexsthoughtspot.blogspot.com/2007/05/banning-facebook-in-workplace.html

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