Mr./Ms. CIO, Tear Down This Firewall
When I get started working with a client interested in dabbling in the social web one of the first questions I ask them is this: "what's your relationship like with your CIO?" All too often Facebook, Twitter and lots of other sites that require deep exploration are blocked by corporate firewalls. This means it's critical that companies get their tech leadership on board.
Over time, this may become a completely moot point. The reason? Smartphones, netbooks and 3G services like the Verizon Mifi (once it becomes more affordable) means more workers will start to connect to these sites anyway - and during work time. The best and the brightest, as this AP article illustrates, will do so to get actual work done.
As the boundaries between what's work and what's personal obliterate, more firms are going to have to recognize that social networking has the word "work" in it. And that means it's time for corporate IT to get on the train too and tear down the firewall. Some like Kraft (a client cited in the article) are, but not all.
Don't forget your CIO. Involve him/her early.
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