Switchfast Blog: The Future of IT
The Upcoming Generation of IT – Social Networking and Generation Y
Thursday, June 03, 2010 by Bryan Anderson
The small business industry will be the first to admit that the
field of technology is changing in front its eyes. Those that
execute with internal support sometimes scramble to keep up with
the vast amount of mobile devices, software updates, or diverse
communication methods. When outsourcing IT becomes an option,
looking for a company that understands your business goals and
grows your enterprise are important come selection time.
One thing that is greatly affecting small business growth is the
arrival of a new generation of employees, one that grew up craving
attention, changing the landscape of social engineering, and
forging their social life into the enterprise environment -
Generation Y.
An article at BNET.com points out some common
complaints from small businesses regarding young employees, mainly
being "spoiled, no respect for authority, and demanding." While
they are a product of their culture, members of Generation Y have
established themselves as a driving force behind small startup
enterprise success, both in management and in employment.
In regards to adopting Generation Y culture, BNET.com has a few
suggestions:
- Celebrate success
- Emphasize teamwork
- Provide volunteer opportunities
- Give frequent feedback
It's no surprise to see the effects of Generation Y finally
settling in to a small business atmosphere. Some of the biggest
companies now (Google and Facebook) grew out of the desire and
drive from Generation Y demands. But how is this radically distinct
generation affecting small business?
The ideas of Gen Y have arguably rooted from the emerging
concept of social engineering and social networking. Having grown
up alongside the internet, communication and content consumption
were prevalent in a Gen Y's life - they are, indeed, a product of
their technological culture.
One company that has recognized, and now implemented, a shift in
"workforce generation" is HP. According to a news release, the company announced "new
communication, collaboration and networking solutions to drive
growth for small and midsize businesses (SMBs)." What is seemingly
a run-of-the-mill announcement actually dives deeper into a
cultural and entrepreneurial shift.
Blogger David Chernicoff at ZDNet.com summarizes the potential 'shift':
"But the far more interesting part of the announcement, and the
one with the greatest potential for long term impact on the
business of IT, is the inclusion of social networking specifically
for IT professionals as a major part of the initiative. With
the generally negative attitude that IT takes towards social
networking, the question is, will HP be able to change that
impression."
Can a large company like HP make an impact on how IT
professionals view the inclusion of social networking almost as a
necessity for effective workforce employees?
They may be taking baby steps by launching their social
collaborative IT management site, 48 Upper. As Mr.
Chernicoff notes, and as Generation Y has proven, "HP appears to
believe that it is critical to incorporate social networking as a
component of the IT process because current and future generations
of IT professionals will have grow up using social networking as a
component of their lives."
The world is experiencing a cultural shift and small companies
will look at the benefits of adopting an IT structure that
identifies and respects social networking as an influential
addition in workforce efficiency. The future of IT will look
different -- small businesses have already recognized the
adjustment to Generation Y involvement and are benefiting both
personally and professionally. Get ready for the larger companies
to catch on.
Until Next Time -
Matthew Hymel
Switchfast Technologies
Chicago IT Support &
Consulting
Rochester
IT Support & Consulting
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