I'm running Sainsburys (badly)

I'm not sure what Justin King is hoping to achieve by this latest Apprentice style TV programme; maybe at the end he will tell all TV stars they are actually fired.  He states that colleagues will have the best ideas for how to improve their business which I would agree with but, based on what they have shown maybe this is not the case.  Or was it deliberate? Hide the best ideas, show the sad ideas, let your competitors think you are weak?  Bit of Sun Tzu; appear weak when strong?!

Even the Google ad goes to an error page - how ironic is that. (click the image to experience it)

So, would the TV programme make you want to work there or would it now put you off?  Last night was however very funny as Joseph was thrown in at the deep end as was pretty much ripped apart by some very competent and committed staff.  In the end he survived and is probably back in Derby reliving the adventure.

Global Healthcare Provider Bupa Unleashes Employee Knowledge with Jive Social Software

PRESS RELEASE FROM JIVE SOFTWARE

PORTLAND, OR, May 28, 2009 – Jive, the Social Business Software leader, announced that Bupa is connecting its worldwide network of employees to promote new initiatives and company values with Jive’s Social Business Software platform.

Will communities take over from unions but with greater power?

As communities get bigger what collective power will they have?  Unions have traditionally been a way for the people to have a collective voice but do they always get the deal they feel is right?  Or do their leaders sell them down the river?  Big debate I know but what if communities get so big they become the voice of the people?

Corporate social media assessment

We recently launched a corporate social media assessment to look at how HR feel about the use of social media as part of their people strategy but also how comfortable they feel as individuals in using the same tools.  We had a fantastic response (much greater than expected) but you can still complete the assessment and qualify for a free copy of the report (due April 09). In the meantime here are some of the highlights:

• 94% of respondents want to stay abreast of how social media can be used as part of their people strategy.
• 12% are comfortable with social media and see how it can be used to achieve their strategic HR goals i.e. not that many!

Looks like the report will make interesting reading.

Why British business will exploit web 2.0 in 2009.

There is one compelling event already of this year that will result in British businesses utilising web 2.0 and social media technologies.

Social HR

So we are off to a flying start to 2009 with the press hovering like vultures around the retail sector.  Half the time it is the media that cause all the problems which ends up with employees then spending more time worrying than working.  So what should or could HR be doing to calm their people?

 

Employer Internal Social Networks

We launched our first Employer Internal Social Network this week; soft launch only to a limited number of people but so far so good!  I can't share yet who the employer is, but they are a retailer and the network aims to engage people across the business to improve business performance as a result of better employee engagement and ideas.