Week 8 Eng Assignment
rsruzaepg
SocialMediaAspectsintheWorkplace.pptxSocial Media Aspects in the Workplace
Regina S. Rudolph
1
Introduction
Social networking is a new trend in the workplace that is considered one of the most valuable business tools.
Social sites influence many aspects of the American workforce by fostering connectivity and enhancing productivity. (Bolton et al., 2013)
However, the increasing usage of social media platforms can also adversely affect a business.
Social networking is a new trend in the workplace that is considered one of the most valuable business tools – some organizations, especially the ones that highly rely on internet, regard social networks as valuable resources for their marketing campaigns and connectivity.
Social sites influence many aspects of the American workforce by fostering connectivity and enhancing productivity – social media has had substantial amount of impact on workforces across the globe. The impact of social media on workers has been tremendously positive.
However, the increasing usage of social media platforms can also adversely affect a business – there are adverse effects of social networking on organizations, especially from workers who use these sites for personal reasons.
2
Social Media
Social Media (Cont’d)
Social media, also social networks, are computer-based technologies that aid in creating and sharing of ideas, information, interests, etc. through virtual communities and networks.
Common features of social networks include:
They are interactive applications
The contents are user-generated
Users create specific profiles
They connect user profiles
Social media, also social networks, are computer-based technologies that aid in creating and sharing of ideas, information, interests, etc. through virtual communities and networks.
Common features of social networks include:
They are interactive applications – social media platforms are internet or wed-based interactive applications.
The contents are user-generated – contents of social media sites are user-generated and vary according to the sites used, for example, texts, videos, photos, data, etc.
Users create specific profiles – for an individual or an entity to be able to use these sites, there is the need to create a user profile that is distinct to the user.
They connect user profiles – connectivity is the primary focus of social media sites.
4
Social Media in the Workplace
Social media is used by workers for a variety of reasons.
The leading reasons include:
- Taking mental breaks
- Connecting with friends/family
- Making/supporting professional connections
Social media usage at workplaces influenced by a number of reasons. According to a study conducted on the use of social media in workplaces, it was revealed that:
Taking mental breaks from work is the leading reasons why workers use social networks. This is however, the only reason that is not work-related with the other reasons (from the figure) being based on work-related issues in one way or another.
5
Social Media in the Workplace (Cont’d)
According to the chart, 37% frequently use social media for work-related activities.
However, 25% never use social media for work-related tasks and responsibilities. (Chauhan, 2017)
According to the same survey conducted, 37% of an organization’s workforce use social networks applications for work-related activities with only 21% of the workforce engaging in these sites partly for the same reasons, work-related activities.
However, what is worrying is the fact that 17% hardly ever with a whole 25% never engaging in social media for work-related issues. these are individuals that negatively affect the endeavors of an entity by stealing time meant for work to actively participate in social networking for personal reasons.
6
Workers who use social media for work-related activities
Never 25.0 Hardly ever 17.0 Sometimes 21.0 Frequently 37.0
Users of Social Media at Workstations
The use of social media is greatly influenced by workforce demography:
That is, there is high usage of social media platforms among young workers aged between 18 and 25 years than any other age group. (Treem & Leonardi, 2013)
The use of social media is greatly influenced by workforce demography:
That is, there is high usage of social media platforms among young workers aged between 18 and 25 years than any other age group.
7
Importance of Social Media to Companies
Engagement and brand recognition
Recruitment process
Enhancing communication
Facilitating sales and marketing
Social networking at workplaces is beneficial to companies in a variety of ways including:-
Engagement and brand recognition – social networking is an effective platform of getting to connect and engage current and prospect customers. Through the same, this leads to brand recognition across the globe.
Social networks are useful in placing job vacancy advertisements and job offers. From its unlimited reach, an organization is able to attract the best talents in the market.
Communication can be enhanced both within and beyond the organization through user connectivity. This helps in effective communication and immediate response to situations.
The largest impact of social media is on sales and marketing function of an organization. Through brand recognition and customer loyalty influenced by social networking, a company is able to make huge revenues.
8
Disadvantages of Social Media in Workplace
Influence employee performance and overall productivity
Confidentiality and a company’s image
Reduce employee relations
In as much as social media has tremendous positive impact on organizations, there are also negative effects it has in various workstations. Some of these negative impacts, which are also perceived as the disadvantages of social media include:
Adverse effect on employee performance – the use of social media, especially for activities that are not related to work can adversely affect employee performance which is then reflected on the overall productivity of a company.
Confidentiality of information regarding employees and an organization at large is usually at risk when it comes to social media content. A bad content or contents that are supposed to be private and confidential can negatively affect the image of an organization.
The main objective of social media is usually to improve employee relation through connectivity, however, this is usually not the case. The issue of cyberbullying is prevalent in the use of these sites of which, as a result, can reduce the relationships among employees.
9
Policies Involving Social Media
Due to the adverse effects social media has, there is the need to have workplace policies regulating the use of these sites.
The research indicates that there is decreased use of social media sites especially with policies in place. (Chauhan, 2017)
The use of social media at workplace needs to be regulated especially due to the fact that it is likely to affect an organization negatively. The role of social media policies is to control the usage of these sites so as to ensure company’s time is not wasted on social sites for activities that are not related to work.
A study reveals that having policies in places helps in regulating the use of this sites. For instance, from the chart, there is decreased use of these sites where work policies are in place, hence, there is also reduced amount of adversity associated to social media from this perspective.
10
Social Media usage at workstations with and without workplace policies
Availability of workplace policy Get information that helps solve problems at work connect with friends and family Take mental break from work 25.0 35.0 40.0 Lack of workplace policy Get information that helps solve problems at work connect with friends and family Take mental break from work 16.0 20.0 30.0
Conclusion
Social networking at workplace is beneficial to organizations and employees in a variety of ways, however, it also has its adverse effects on the productivity, image and profitability of an organization. To maintain the value of social sites at workstations, there is the need for some regulations from the management in regard to the usage of these sites. (Treem & Leonardi, 2013)
Social networking at workplace is beneficial to organizations and employees in a variety of ways, however, it also has its adverse effects on the productivity, image and profitability of an organization. To maintain the value of social sites at workstations, there is the need for some regulations from the management in regard to the usage of these sites.
11
References
Chauhan, K. (2017). Social Media Use at Work (Doctoral dissertation).
Bolton, R. N., Parasuraman, A., Hoefnagels, A., Migchels, N., Kabadayi, S., Gruber, T., ... & Solnet, D. (2013). Understanding Generation Y and their use of social media: a review and research agenda. Journal of Service Management, 24(3), 245-267.
Treem, J. W., & Leonardi, P. M. (2013). Social media use in organizations: Exploring the affordances of visibility, editability, persistence, and association. Annals of the International Communication Association, 36(1), 143-189.
