Social media – a matter for internal communication?

SVIK Internal Communication Conference, in conjunction with FEIEA 5 May 2011, Zurich, Switzerland
 

SVIK Internal Communication Conference - Impressions 2011. Please click here for more pictures.

Clearly, social media are indeed a matter for internal communication! The experts at the SVIK-FEIEA social media conference held on 5 May 2011 were united in their view that, firstly, employee communication and information-sharing behaviour always adapt to new opportunities and channels, especially if lured by suppliers offering more direct and faster access and easy availability. However, what may on the face of it be a free service is often paid for dearly through the disclosure of personal or even company data.

Secondly, the experts also agreed that these channels convey an authenticity and a presence which are essential qualities for a younger generation of users. However, the information content and the stated purpose of the communication are often not the same as users intended them to be.
 
The inherent indiscretion of social media are plain for all to read and hear; this, plus an accompanying tendency towards self-promotion, present a direct problem for internal communication. Company confidentiality and personal and data protection are quickly forgotten and laws are broken, when employees are not adequately informed and instructed on the use of these channels.

However, there is no question that social media are of growing importance in the context of internal communication. Further experiences must be gathered and SVIK is sticking with it: the 2012 SVIK Conference will take place in Zurich on 8 May 2012. What the key speakers said and what emerged during the case study presentations during the 2011 conference can be found, with much else besides, in the SVIK Conference documentation or by visiting www.svik.ch