Comments on: Is Bureaucracy the Enemy of Social Media? http://www.communityorganizer20.com/2010/01/21/is-bureaucracy-the-enemy-of-social-media/ Thoughts on Social Media Engagement for Non-Profit Organizations Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:01:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Heidi http://www.communityorganizer20.com/2010/01/21/is-bureaucracy-the-enemy-of-social-media/#comment-2073 Heidi Tue, 23 Feb 2010 07:45:50 +0000 http://www.communityorganizer20.com/?p=2158#comment-2073 Oh man does this hit the nail on the head--bureaucrats vs. change-embracers!<br><br>Your suggestions are right, and I think education and starting small are key. Even if the education takes the form of examples, mini-teaches at staff meetings, and pointing to other org's successes, it's definitely okay if they're from the ground up--leading by example! Oh man does this hit the nail on the head–bureaucrats vs. change-embracers!

Your suggestions are right, and I think education and starting small are key. Even if the education takes the form of examples, mini-teaches at staff meetings, and pointing to other org's successes, it's definitely okay if they're from the ground up–leading by example!

]]> By: e.politics: online advocacy tools & tactics » Quick Hits — January 27, 2010 http://www.communityorganizer20.com/2010/01/21/is-bureaucracy-the-enemy-of-social-media/#comment-1910 e.politics: online advocacy tools & tactics » Quick Hits — January 27, 2010 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:13:25 +0000 http://www.communityorganizer20.com/?p=2158#comment-1910 [...] Is Bureaucracy the Enemy of Social Media? Yes. [...] [...] Is Bureaucracy the Enemy of Social Media? Yes. [...]

]]> By: Robyn Silverstone http://www.communityorganizer20.com/2010/01/21/is-bureaucracy-the-enemy-of-social-media/#comment-1901 Robyn Silverstone Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:00:22 +0000 http://www.communityorganizer20.com/?p=2158#comment-1901 Great post Debra. Fully agree with everything you have said and noted your suggestions. If anything, it has to definitely start with education around social media - especially from personal experience (though not NGO focused) - and start implementing your suggestions from there. Definitely moving the social media/communication forward with my Marketing Director at the NGO, I've been actively involved with, even if it's taken 2 years of slow change from their side. Great post Debra. Fully agree with everything you have said and noted your suggestions. If anything, it has to definitely start with education around social media – especially from personal experience (though not NGO focused) – and start implementing your suggestions from there.

Definitely moving the social media/communication forward with my Marketing Director at the NGO, I’ve been actively involved with, even if it’s taken 2 years of slow change from their side.

]]> By: Michael J Lis http://www.communityorganizer20.com/2010/01/21/is-bureaucracy-the-enemy-of-social-media/#comment-1900 Michael J Lis Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:06:32 +0000 http://www.communityorganizer20.com/?p=2158#comment-1900 Hi Debra - Great blog post. I agree bureaucracy is a major hurdle when it comes to organizations designing and implementing a social media strategy. In my opinion, I don't really fault these organizations for this bureaucracy. Sometimes social media fails because of one or two individuals that serve as detracts or gatekeeper rather than the whole bureaucracy of an organization. I believe that someday in the future social media will not just become a budget line item (like paid search advertising) but it will be part of a larger corporate culture within organizations. Once again - great post Keep up the conversation. Hi Debra –

Great blog post.

I agree bureaucracy is a major hurdle when it comes to organizations designing and implementing a social media strategy. In my opinion, I don’t really fault these organizations for this bureaucracy.

Sometimes social media fails because of one or two individuals that serve as detracts or gatekeeper rather than the whole bureaucracy of an organization.

I believe that someday in the future social media will not just become a budget line item (like paid search advertising) but it will be part of a larger corporate culture within organizations.

Once again – great post
Keep up the conversation.

]]> By: Debra Askanase http://www.communityorganizer20.com/2010/01/21/is-bureaucracy-the-enemy-of-social-media/#comment-1897 Debra Askanase Sat, 23 Jan 2010 22:16:24 +0000 http://www.communityorganizer20.com/?p=2158#comment-1897 Charlie- Awesome example with Sony vs. iPod! Good way of selling social media is the listening - it does usually convince a company to get into the game once they hear that others are already talking about the company/brand online...without them. That's a great educational tool to add. Thanks for the comment! Charlie- Awesome example with Sony vs. iPod! Good way of selling social media is the listening – it does usually convince a company to get into the game once they hear that others are already talking about the company/brand online…without them. That’s a great educational tool to add. Thanks for the comment!

]]> By: Debra Askanase http://www.communityorganizer20.com/2010/01/21/is-bureaucracy-the-enemy-of-social-media/#comment-1896 Debra Askanase Sat, 23 Jan 2010 22:14:15 +0000 http://www.communityorganizer20.com/?p=2158#comment-1896 Heidi- thanks for the support! I like calling the education "mini-teaches" - because the intention IS to start small. Also great to point to others' success. In fact, doing that did convince one nonprofit that I know of to start using social media. Heidi- thanks for the support! I like calling the education “mini-teaches” – because the intention IS to start small. Also great to point to others’ success. In fact, doing that did convince one nonprofit that I know of to start using social media.

]]> By: Charlie Kalech http://www.communityorganizer20.com/2010/01/21/is-bureaucracy-the-enemy-of-social-media/#comment-1884 Charlie Kalech Fri, 22 Jan 2010 07:02:54 +0000 http://www.communityorganizer20.com/?p=2158#comment-1884 Great Post Debra! I think this is part of a bigger picture. Social media is one obvious symptom. Companies that do not adapt as the pace of change in our society quickens, fail. Social media with all its aspects is a great tool to help companies deal with this especially when it comes to relatively inexpensive market research ("listening") and the ability to respond quickly - be that in a blog post, a shift in messaging or even improvements and innovations in their core products/services. Had Sony been "listening" we might all have an innovated walkman instead of an ipod. Great Post Debra!

I think this is part of a bigger picture. Social media is one obvious symptom. Companies that do not adapt as the pace of change in our society quickens, fail.

Social media with all its aspects is a great tool to help companies deal with this especially when it comes to relatively inexpensive market research (“listening”) and the ability to respond quickly – be that in a blog post, a shift in messaging or even improvements and innovations in their core products/services.

Had Sony been “listening” we might all have an innovated walkman instead of an ipod.

]]> By: Heidi http://www.communityorganizer20.com/2010/01/21/is-bureaucracy-the-enemy-of-social-media/#comment-1883 Heidi Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:04:44 +0000 http://www.communityorganizer20.com/?p=2158#comment-1883 Oh man does this hit the nail on the head--bureaucrats vs. change-embracers! Your suggestions are right, and I think education and starting small are key. Even if the education takes the form of examples, mini-teaches at staff meetings, and pointing to other org's successes, it's definitely okay if they're from the ground up--leading by example! Oh man does this hit the nail on the head–bureaucrats vs. change-embracers!

Your suggestions are right, and I think education and starting small are key. Even if the education takes the form of examples, mini-teaches at staff meetings, and pointing to other org’s successes, it’s definitely okay if they’re from the ground up–leading by example!

]]> By: Debra Askanase http://www.communityorganizer20.com/2010/01/21/is-bureaucracy-the-enemy-of-social-media/#comment-1882 Debra Askanase Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:59:19 +0000 http://www.communityorganizer20.com/?p=2158#comment-1882 Jeff - I actually have worked with two nonprofit associations that fit this bill. It took a champion within the organization to get them to begin considering it, and to decide to work with an outside professional on strategy. That said, having an insider champion just hasn't been enough. The organizations are just too wedded to "the old way" of approvals and closed doors and tightly-held PR. The insider team feels that they aren't getting the support or recognition that they need to continue championing, and I can say that personally, it even wears down the consultant. This blog post was written with my experience in mind. I feel like some of the beginner steps would begin to make inroads and help those champions to educate from within. However, I also know that the Titanic doesn't really change its course. What will? I think social media adoption is inevitable in the corporate sector, but some nonprofits feel immune to it. What will convince them? Jeff – I actually have worked with two nonprofit associations that fit this bill. It took a champion within the organization to get them to begin considering it, and to decide to work with an outside professional on strategy. That said, having an insider champion just hasn’t been enough. The organizations are just too wedded to “the old way” of approvals and closed doors and tightly-held PR. The insider team feels that they aren’t getting the support or recognition that they need to continue championing, and I can say that personally, it even wears down the consultant.
This blog post was written with my experience in mind. I feel like some of the beginner steps would begin to make inroads and help those champions to educate from within.

However, I also know that the Titanic doesn’t really change its course. What will? I think social media adoption is inevitable in the corporate sector, but some nonprofits feel immune to it. What will convince them?

]]> By: Jeff Hurt http://www.communityorganizer20.com/2010/01/21/is-bureaucracy-the-enemy-of-social-media/#comment-1879 Jeff Hurt Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:46:01 +0000 http://www.communityorganizer20.com/?p=2158#comment-1879 Great thoughts here Debra. I've found that if a company has a culture that embraces learning for all and embraces taking calculated risks, they will be able to adopt some social media strateiges easily. If however they are as you described, "scared of change, scared of transparency, scared of critique, and unwilling to change," that culture runs deep and employees are in a "survivor mentality" trying to keep their job. In those cases, unless there is a major change in leadership at the top, it's doubtful that the Titanic can make changes to its course. Great thoughts here Debra.

I’ve found that if a company has a culture that embraces learning for all and embraces taking calculated risks, they will be able to adopt some social media strateiges easily. If however they are as you described, “scared of change, scared of transparency, scared of critique, and unwilling to change,” that culture runs deep and employees are in a “survivor mentality” trying to keep their job. In those cases, unless there is a major change in leadership at the top, it’s doubtful that the Titanic can make changes to its course.

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