HR Survey Software

How do you feel about social media and business? What about your executives, marketing, human resources and customer service departments? A recent study published through eMarketer found more than eight in 10 management, marketing and HR executives said benefits of social media include relationship and brand building. According to eMarketer, execs also view social media as a good tool for recruitment and customer service. 46% of survey respondents believe social media enhances employee morale.

It's great to see opinion survey results showing the attitude towards social media is changing. If you follow this blog, you know I'm a believer in social media and it's ability to provide real value to organizations.

Not all is bright and shiny in eMarketer's survey report, however. Executives still have their fears about social media strategies. More than half of the survey respondents who did not use social media said they didn't know enough. In addition to a lack of understanding, execs worry about confidentiality and security problems, as well as decreased employee productivity. The good news is, I think these concerns will continue to shift in future attitude surveys. In fact, we've already seen a shift since Feburary 2009.

Survey reports from a global survey conducted by a security software company in February showed 50%-60% of companies surveyed blocked social networking sites, and 62.8% of managers polled thought employees shared too much on social networks. Between the February and July survey results, we've already seen a shift. Not a huge shift, but there is a shift happening. Instead of simply ruling out social media, execs are beginning to admit there may be value they just don't know enough about it.

If you're a social media expert, I'm thinking you have your work cut out for you. There is a continued need for information about social media and their potential value to be explained to executives.