Can Lightning Strike Twice? Choosing and Implementing a Social Network for Interdepartmental Collaboration at Two Universities

How do you choose a social network for the workplace, one that will meet the ever changing needs of your staff and organization? At Penn State, Yammer was successfully implemented after a thorough needs assessment and some experimentation with other tools. A tool was needed to help facilitate dynamic interdepartmental communication that breaks down barriers of organizations, hierarchy, and location at the University of Miami. When the presenters moved from Penn State to UM, they wanted to see if they could replicate their success.

OUTCOMES: Learn how features of social networks can change the ways that organizations communicate * Analyze specific individual and organizational characteristics that change the way social networks should be implemented * Learn how to replicate a social network at your institution