By The Numbers: It's Time for Social Action

Added 25th Nov 2011
Varsha Chidambaram

 

NumbersLarge numbers of young staffers clamoring for the Internet and social media will force CIOs to re-look their social policies.
Now it’s official: According to a Cisco survey, your younger employees can’t live without the Internet. 
According to the study, 61 percent of young Indian employees (under 30), say that they “could not live without the Internet, it is an integral part of my daily life.” Young staffers from other parts of the world say the same: US (73 percent), Brazil (75 percent), and China (78 percent). 
This is a stark reminder that Indian CIOs—who for the most part block the Internet and social media sites—need to change their mindsets—and their systems—faster to keep pace with a young workforce.
Even more telling: 37 percent say that the Internet is as important to them as water, food, air, and shelter; and 56 percent say it’s close. Another 54 percent say the Internet is more important to them than “going out with friends/partying, or dating or music.”
CIOs also need to adjust to the importance of social media to this set of staffers. Just over 35 percent of young Indian employees access their Facebook page a few times a day; 18 percent at least once a day. Roughly seven in 10 young professionals indicate that they have ‘friended’ or ‘follow’ their managers and/or co-workers on Facebook and Twitter, respectively. Interestingly, only 15 percent believe in keeping their professional and personal lives separate. 
Best Practices

1. Access to social media is a given. CIOs need to understand the value of social media sites and enable them. Part of the shift means moving from an hour-based work model to an output-based one. 
2. Blanket bans hamper productivity. For many young professionals social sites are a way to communicate with colleagues. Many don't understand the need for a face-to-face meeting because they are used to Skype.
3. Make information workflow more ‘social’. There is a new way of thinking and gathering information out there. It’s less linear and a lot more intuitive. 

 

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