Tom Meloche: Credibility, Network Effects, and Privacy

By Bud on November 17, 2007 TrackBacks (0) Comments (2)

Tom Meloche discusses the dynamic of starting a new training venture in the age of Facebook.

Filed under: Ann Arbor, MI | Defining New Markets | Education | Procuit | Tom Meloche

In this 9 minute segment (download iPod compatible, 48MB), Tom Meloche lays out three components of the training equation: credibility, network effects, and privacy. Tom has positioned his training ventures at the cutting edge of application. In that situation, customers look for you to establish credibility through articles and books and less through formal certification.

Further, referrals play an important role. Tom uses mastery frameworks to establish the knowledge that needs to be acquired through training and then to ensure that the knowledge is actually acquired.

Tom views Facebook as an amplified referral network. Much as Lou Rosenfeld uses blogs to establish focal points for his publications, Tom wants the visibility of people using his training application on Facebook to draw in additional customers. Of course, this approach raises the question of privacy. By default on Facebook, your activities, like installing one of Tom's training applications, are visible in a "newsfeed". However users can set privacy levels to control the visibility. It is unclear how changing privacy patterns will affect Facebook's networking potential.

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2 Comments

Nick Orr on November 18, 2007 9:52 AM
The idea of using Facebook as a corporate training tool is a very interesting one. It has more of an appeal than traditional “onboarding” techniques, and can help refresh the skills of existing workers. With the age gap of Facebook users growing larger and larger, it could be a very credible way to help train and recruit employees. Another benefit Meloche sees to using the social networking site for training is that prospective clients will see the number of employees using the training application and it will influence their decision to do business with the company. The idea of using a wiki type program to build and maintain job related knowledge for the application is also an innovative and practical idea. My Writing for the World Wide Web course used a similar application of wiki technology. In relation to our discussion of how wiki’s could realistically replace textbooks in the future, we maintained a class wiki. In it, our class created articles on just about anything related to writing and general, as well as many things relating to computer and internet technology. One thing we learned about wiki technology though, is that it requires vigilant moderation to be sure that potential vandalism or just simple erroneous publication does not damage the credibility of the whole wiki’s content. However, a corporation running the wiki would be able to use resources to monitor such an application effectively. I believe that such an application of Facebook as a corporate tool has a sense of irony to it. Many employers see participation on social networking sites as damaging to corporate credibility. Many stories have surfaced of how many Human Resources professionals have found questionable behavior by potential job applicants, and denied them employment. However, this use of Facebook could help enhance social networking website’s image within the corporate world. Nick Orr
Nicolet Horrington on November 18, 2007 12:05 PM
Facebook links people form across the world. Tom Meloche’s outlook on the quality of creditability is an amazing view that helps organizations tick. I am amazed how Tom brings knowledge to life and recognizes it as a form of management. This form of management has a unique synergy that has come to life on Facebook. Facebook which is a large networking tool that has become a public transaction to people everywhere. Facebook does allow members to socialize with a wide range of people from all areas of the world. . Facebook can become invasive. But due to new privacy procedures that allow users to set up privacy walls allows users to choose who can view their page and who can talk to them. Facebook which has 47 million users and is growing on a daily basis is teaching companies how a network can keep everyone connected. One of the unique characteristics of Facebook is that is in line with many companies who are moving towards e-commerce. With this new ability for companies to remain open 24 hours a day resources like Facebook are giving companies a new way to network. As well as expand their reach into global markets. This referral system is a ground breaking strategy that does offer a heightened privacy because of the creditability that the name “Facebook” has acquired. The network allows users to share a wide range of materials from video to lectures. With the new measures that this technology is taking on it will definitely dominant the use of applications that are similar. Nicolet Horrington

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