Many organisations face the challenge of deploying an enterprise social network with limited funds. There just aren’t enough free resources — money, headcount and time — to devote to this important task. If you’re about to assume the role of project champion inside a small or mid-sized organisation, you need to be aware of the many different hats you’ll probably be wearing in the very near future.
1. Strategist
Developing a coherent and credible social strategy is the foundation of a successful network deployment. You need to be able to paint a clear vision of what you hope to achieve, develop a detailed roadmap that explains exactly how you intend to get there, and set out clear milestones that will gauge progress.2. Advocate
Someone needs to sell the business case to the business. There is a small chance a C-suite sponsor will assume this role, but even if they do you’ll probably find yourself filling in the gaps. Effective advocacy is an unending challenge, not a one-off task.3. Architect
While it is true that social networks can grow organically, the final result will almost certainly be a lot more effective if you map out a plan that details how you’d like the network to operate on a day-today basis. Consulting with people inside the business to establish their needs and wants will help you plan for success.4. Engineer
While a cloud deployment is simple, integrating enterprise systems into the network can be a far more complex task. You’d hope and expect IT to manage this part of the deployment. Nevertheless, you’ll want to understand the basics so you can keep across what’s happening.5. Change Agent
Using these platforms can require people to change the way they work. As any of us who have attempted to stop smoking, lose weight or start exercising will know, getting someone to break a hard-wired habit is a challenging assignment. A full understanding of change management theory and practice will prove invaluable.6. Educator
These tools are so simple that most people can use them right out of the box. However, to achieve your strategic goals you’ll need to educate people on best practice. A blended learning approach of face-to—face and online learning works well. You’ll find that you’ll almost certainly need to run the face-to-face sessions yourself.7. Communicator
An ongoing communication program is part and parcel of most deployments. There is of course the need for a strong launch campaign. In addition, there is a requirement for an ongoing campaign that shares success stories and encourages participation. Experience of running an internal communications program will pay dividends.
