Social Media and Personal Net Work

Social media is all about the new ways that we have of creating and sustaining our personal networks - in a way that contributes to both our personal and professional lives.  But how many companies and organizations are taking the time to begin to acquaint their employees with the full range of benefits that come with social media. Corporate-wide (or organization-wide), both tangible and intangible benefits are currently being examined. 

But what about the benefits to the individual?  How do people within the organization think about how they use social media to expand and sustain their networks? How many people are actually intentional about cultivating and expanding their personal networks in ways that will create the most value for them personally?

This talk will offer a way of thinking about personal networks, the value of intentional networking to the individual in an organization, and the ways that social media has expanded the possibilities for reaching and maintaining larger networks.

Patti Anklam, an independent consultant currently doing business as Net Work, provides expertise in knowledge management with a specialty in collaboration, social networks, and social software.  Patti has over 40 years’ experience in collaboration software and knowledge management, and has been specializing in social networks since 2001.

 Her book, Net Work, published in 2007, provides a framework for organizations (corporate and nonprofit) to understand the dynamics of networks and ways to create and sustain networks.

Prior to becoming an independent consultant, Patti worked in high technology firms IBM, Digital Equipment/Compaq (now HP), and Nortel Networks. At Nortel Networks, she was the Director of Knowledge Management for Nortel’s Global Professional Services organization from 2000 to 2001, when Nortel exited the professional services business.

Net Work is a sole proprietorship consulting practice that specializes in networks, collaboration, and knowledge management. All Net Work consulting engagements are customized to the context of the client. Services are constructed around a core set of methods, including:

•  Development of communities of practice
• Knowledge management assessment and strategy
• Organizational/social network analysis
• Value network analysis
• Technology introduction “pilots"
  
• Complex sensemaking for network effectiveness

Clients include a range of profit and nonprofit organizations.