The Conclusion

To be honest, I was not sure what this class was going to offer, or what we would be learning. I chose it because I had Professor Melander for ITECH 200, and learned a great deal that I will take with me for the rest of my life. As it turns out, this class has done the same. Before coming into class, I barely knew what a blog was, and thought social networking only consisted of Facebook and MySpace. Many of the tools that i have learned in this class, i will use and remember for the rest of my life and am extremely thankful for that.

I believe that the skills i have learned in ITECH 200 and 333, will definately prove to be useful as I move into the real world and search for a job/career/life.:)
Thanks for reading!

Social Networking Evolution

In the past, AOL was the only social networking site, charging a monthly access fee for their email, IM, and internet services. Competition was virtually non-existant which made AOL a little too comfortable in the industry. As competition became more threatning, not charging for their email and internet services and computers having internet explorer or safari already installed, AOL could not keep up and had to make their services free.

Google and Yahoo became the leaders in this new era and have been trying to compete with one another for a number of years. The introduction of My Yahoo and iGoogle along with IM features on these sites allows users to maintain social networking without having to go on different pages or sign onto different accounts - which is a huge advantage and extremely convenient for users. The only problem with this is for Google and Yahoo. They do not charge for their features which makes it hard for them to turn a profit. Advertising is the only way for these sites to make money- but with 4 out of 10,000 users only clicking on the ads, it is not the best way for companies to advertise their products, so i wouldnt be suprised if they choose to put their funds towards other means. It will be interesting to see where the next generation of social networking will pop up.

Multi-tasking in the workplace

Cell phones, blackberrys, laptops, IPODS, have all become such a huge part of our generations everyday lives. The only problem is, that older generations who are not as techonolgically savvy do not understand it.

Last week i went to a pannel of marketing professionals who spoke about thier careers, how they got started- what they are looking for when hiring potential employees, etc. At the end of the pannel, the floor was open for questions and someone asked what is a huge turnoff of colleagues who are just entering the workforce. All three of them agreed on two responses; One being the unwillingness for employees to "pay their dues" in other words do whatever needs to be done- taking a low paying job to learn about the industry...They said that too many college students think they are going to get out of college and become CEO's - its just not going to happen. Secondly they explained how our generation are always on our phones, checking email or surfing the web - In meetings, at their desk when work should be getting done, this subject got them pretty heated.

This is something that comes second nature for us, we are used to doing 100 different tasks at once and getting it all done on time. For other generations who did not grow up with these technologies, so it is not as embedded in their lifestyles, it may be a little unhabitual. I thought it was really interesting to hear this from potential employeers, and although we are not trying to be rude or disrespectful at times, it may come off that way to others.

Facebook and Politics...A good mix?

Facebook has transformed how young people interact with politics tremendously. A person may post their political views on their personal page, stating whether they are liberal or conservative, who they are voting for, the reasons as to why and even has become a medium for many debate groups. The site also allows videos to be posted of the different candidates from recent debates or addresses to the public. I believe that this will get more the younger generations to be more aware as to what is going on in the political world, and what each candidate stands for. Although the whole population is not on facebook, i think that candidates will definately look to facebook to see how their fans/foes are feeling about their position and will be able to see how they fair in comparison to competition.

Just last year before facebook became a political powerhouse, one of my friends who was doing and internship down here at the white house posted his views, which to me at the time seemed a little odd, not knowing that it would become so popular. This afternoon i signed onto facebook, where they asked me to add the US Politics application to my profile. Personally, i do not have and will not post my political views on my personal page because it is a sensitive subject for many people and I was always told not to talk about politics with friends; After all, facebook is a site to remain connected with friends, isn't it?

Below is an example of the questions you may answer and post on your personal page on facebook...
Take a Stand against Political Issues
2008 Presidential Candidates:
Abortion:
Capital Punishment:
Censorship:
Cuba:
Curent Administration (Bush/Cheney):
Current Congress:
Electoral College:
Flag Burning:
Gay Rights:
Global Warming:
Gun Control:
Healthcare:
Illegal Immigration:
Marijuana Legalization:
Minimum Wage:
Outsourcing:
Right to Die:
School Prayer:
Separation of Church and State:
Social Security:
Stem Cell Research:
Taxes:
United Nations:
War in Iraq:
Welfare:
Wiretapping:

Network Job Hunting

First of all, i would just like to explain that i am at my workstudy job and am watching the job fair in action - feeling guilty already that i am not attending (and might i add i do not have a job for next year) only to feel worse when i read the articles for this week, all about Job Searching and Recruiting....I think it may be a sign

I do believe that Social Networking sites will become a new means for potential employeers to search more "resumes" on hiree's even more than they have already become. I have discussed in earlier posts about how its not about what you know, it is who you know, which i believe is more prominant than ever. The idea of six degrees of separation is expanding our networking circles, especially with blogs, sites such as linkedin, facebook and myspace to name a few.

I read an article which named 10 simples rules for hiring employees and found them really interesting and optimistic for myself in my future job search(hopefully):

Here they are:
Hire Great People: 10 Simple Rules
by Barbara ReinholdMonster Contributing Writer

Rule number one is clear, but very counterintuitive: Don't ever, ever hire somebody just like yourself. Why not? Because from the beginning of time, executives have been unconsciously cloning themselves, stocking the shelves with vanilla young men from impressive schools. And what has happened to executives and companies that did that? As management guru Rosabeth Kanter observed, they often sink into the soft sand of irrelevance as the rough waters of current reality wash over them.

Here are the other nine:
2. Hire for Attitude Rather than Skill

Teaching skills is a snap compared with doing attitude transplants. Among the qualities you'll want most is a fierce sense of optimism.

3. Look for Renegades

In interviews, ask when the person has been in trouble. The obedient employee will be of limited use to you in this change-up environment.

4. Hold out for Results
Never hire someone with good potential but questionable habits, thinking you can change him or her. As in choosing mates, what you see now is what you get forever.

5. Go for a Sense of Humor
The potential hire who can't laugh easily, particularly at herself, is going to be a very dull and probably rigid employee.

6. Fill in the Blanks
Look carefully at the aggregate strengths and skill gaps of your teams in various work units, and go for the qualities and styles that are missing.

7. Test Drive
Don't be satisfied with references. Remember that many of the most glowing references are given for people others are eager to dump. Include day-long simulations as part of your interview process, or invite applicants to provide you with a portfolio of their best work.

8. Stock the Bullpen

Keep an eye out for prospects before the need arises. Don't wait until a vacancy occurs. Keep a pool of potential employees under the watchful eye of somebody who's responsible for hiring. Evaluate your recruiting team in terms of how well they keep the bullpen ready. And tell them never to turn away an interesting candidate with the line, "We don't have any positions open right now."

9. Push Harder for Diversity
Make certain you're spreading your net wide enough to find those high-potential, but different, fish who generally don't swim in the streams near you. Ask your HR group what contacts and periodicals they're using to interest potential hires. "We don't know where to find people different from us" is a costly excuse.

10. Listen
Most interviewers talk way too much. When a candidate finally gets to you, listen for the "story line" of his or her life, at home and at work. It's been said that being a leader is like practicing psychiatry without a license. That may be more true in hiring than in any other part of the job.
The job of recruiting is too serious to be handed off in its entirety to HR. Your legacy will be set, after all, by the teams you choose to accomplish your objectives.

Disservice to Americans

Citizen Journalism has become the new way for people to access Media, which can be both positive and negative depending on where you access your information from. We talked about this concept in one of my other classes, Contemporary Media, and one point that kept being brought up was whether or not the information we access is truthful or magnified to make a persons point more visible.


We watched this video clip which is part of the show Crossfire on CNN, in which two men debate different media from their different views, Liberal and Conservative. In this clip, John Stewart is the guest, and he is criticizing the two broadcasters for giving the people bad information, citing that their show is where people gain their information. As as a result they are doing a disservice to Americans who watch their show regularly and of this interview as well as other issues, the two broadcasters were fired.

Click Here to Access the Clip.

Picture found on google images.

Virtual Teams: Hate it or Love it

Are Virtual Teams a good or bad idea?

I believe that the concept is great, but it is the execution that will make or break the"virtual team"

I have been on many different athletic teams in my life and some have been successful, while others failed horribly. The only way for a team to function is if everyone is on the same page and if there is massive communication. An article by the Milestone Group explains what determines whether a team flourishes or expires, and credits face-to-face communication through using technology, and conference calling at their office desk rather than in a big conference room. They also discouraged group emails citing that it takes away from personalization, which i completey agree with.

Virtual teams are the future of business and I believe will prove to be successful for many companies if they go about it the right way. With these virtual teams, it may bring people's ideas together that would normally not happen becasue of the distance. The long trips which are time and money are minimized also which is a positive outcome along with the transferring of employees to different cities decreased.

We will see the expanstion of businesses and Virtual Teams in the near future.

Link-In Yourslef

Social Networking has taken over the business world and I believe will eventually become something that determines wether or not you are hired for certain positions. Networking and this idea of Six Degrees of separation helps businesses get tasks done quicker through using their connections and networks in gathering relevant information, gaining references, making sales, etc. The problem is idea of what is privacy and where is the line crossed. When is it okay to share your contacts and when should you keep it confined.


One company offers a $25 dollar American Express gift certificate for revealing a contact. The problem with this that if the contact is not revelaed, that the business world may become more like cat and mouse, where management is chasing down employees to gain insights or potential sales. This puts a lot of power into employees hands and could turn out to be future problems.


Companies may start to ask for contacts when looking at potential hires, because it has become so important in the business world. It may be more beneficial for a company to hire someone with a great deal of contacts who is willing to share over someone who may be more qualified, but not willing to share/ doesnt have as many connections.


Websites have been a huge push in this craze, with Facebook, MySpace, Friendster- all of which allow you to keep in touch with people throughout the world. Linked, which is geared solely for businees claims to help users:

• Stay in touch


• Discover job & business opportunities


• Get expert business advice

We will see what the future brings for Social Networking in Business.

Here is an interesting video i found on YouTube explaining how barak Obama is getting involved with social networking and LinkedIn

Barak Obama and LinkedIn

Privacy in the Online world

Search engines such as google and yahoo have become the new means of gathering information- its quick and easy and you find the answer you needed. Personally, I use google search at least 5 times a day, which im not sure if it is a good or bad thing. When i go through my search, I usually always choose the first site that pops up to start and if i find what i am looking for, then i dont look more into the subject which i think many people do. Because of this, it is crucial for businesses to gain that #1 spot on the search query and make sure they have relevant labels.

The article, You are what your search engine results return brings up some interesting points. I agree that "we are what we search" because i do trust what i read in the articles i find. The article also talks about how everything we do is documented online, which is one of the reasons i believe that online can be a scary place. If i was to type my name into google, in one search you could find out so much about me, and it is only going to become more advanced with time. You can find my telephone number and address on yellow pages, and then type it into google earth where you can see a picture of my house, its worth and neighborhood. Yeah, it is really cool but im not sure if it is going too far, invading a persons privacy and with time what more advancements will develop.

Virtually Challenged

Before last weeks ITEC class, I had no idea that Second Life or the idea of a new virtual business even existed and to be honest I still feel a little out of the loop.

To my knowledge, Second Life is like a video game for adults, and i dont really see how if can be beneficial for a business world. By making an account and putting in all of your information seems like it can be dangerous- if companies are getting in trouble for blogging, I can only imagine what will happen with this. Although it seems to be a good idea for where our technology is heading for the future, and more and more businesses are logging into the virtual world, i am still hesitant that it will turn out positive.


I searched Second Life on google and found this artice that i thought was interesting:
BusinessWeek Article

I also think its a little creepy to see yourself virtually, but this lady seems to be excited about it:

Fellow Classmate Brian

Lets race

Generation Trendss

As people get older, it gets harder to accept that times are changing. Older generations find it difficult to adapt to changing times, ie: cell phones and internet, so it easiest to bash it. Yes, there are some who are savy, but those who do know know about technology generally do not research it. My gradmother refuses to use a cell phone or buy/learn how to use a computer. Her exact words are:

"I have been living 80 years without it, why would i need it now."
If you really think about it, it is true. My parents just got a cell phone a year ago, when phones have been around for years. I believe that you will use what you grow up with, when you are in your mid-thirtys to fiftys/sixtys you can adapt to the times, and after you are set in your ways and are much harder to change.

Since our generation is easiest to adapt to technology, will we be able to break this trend?

The best of the best bloggggg

Come check out other blogs from American University students!

Andre's blog
Stephen's blog
Katie's blog
Adam's blog
Alyssa's blog

Customize this

Customization has became the new wave for retail businesses and the online world, which is a great idea and has been extremely successful, but does it take away from the brand image? Can customization actually hurt a company because it strays from what their brand stands for?

I have bought sneakers from NikeID after designing them online, and was disappointed with the actual product because they looked completely different on the website. I have heard of many people sending their shoes back to be remade because they are not what they wanted which turns me off from online buying and customization. Although it is convenient, you are not always sure what you may receive.

It is a great idea to put a customization expert in NikeTown, i think that it will generate a lot of exposure, especailly to the generations that are not that internet savvy and may help with making sure you are getting the product that you intended on.

Link to NikeID where you can customize your individual shoe and i designed this pair. Be aware that it is highly addicting with all of the different color options, so i suggest only visiting when you have time to spare.
http://nikeid.nike.com/nikeid/index.jhtml;nisessionid=Y0RTWPMRVDBXMCQFTAPCF3Y?_requestid=2591643#build,nikeairmax_womens.1100102.1,_6169724d61783930303730392e2e32,9010258,

Blogging as our future? I hope not...

What made blogging what it is today?

Blogging has become the new internet phenom that is almost an addiction to most people who use it daily. Companies now use blogs to see how their customers feel about their products, to find out suggested improvements and see what competition has to offer. I am afraid that blogging will turn into something negative as many things on the internet have; ie Facebook and MySpace. They both started out as great ideas but have gone too far in their innovations that it has become a turn off. Facebook used to be for college students who want to stay connected with their friends at different schools, but now it is has become a resume for employers, dating service for the young and old and a way for administration to check up on students and especially athletes.

Over the past 3 years, many college sports teams have had seasons postponed or even cancelled because of their facebook profiles and pictures showing alcohol or initiation rituals. Many athletes decided to get off of facebook completely beacuse of the risks. I certainally hope facebook did not intend to head in this direction, but it is bound to happen in all blogging. How is a company supposed to trust the feedback when they dont know who is writing and if it is sincere?

Who you know

After reading the article "The people who make organizations stop- or go" it made me think about the concept of its not what you know, its who you know which is a phrase i have been hearing more and more lately. Over winter break, I attended a NYC trip hosted by the AU Career Center where we went on site visits to six different companies to hear how they broke into their industries and what they do on a daily basis. The majority of employers had one common theme, they knew someone, or they got an interview through a recommendation of a friend.

The article talks about informal networks and identifies four common role players critical to an organization. Each player has their own informal network, in which they are connected. This also made me question, knowing someone may get your foot in the door, but will it secure a long lasting position? And if so, how do you make the connections to get your foot in the door? If the relationship/connection goes sour, will it affect you in the future?

About Me

My name is Jackie Lane, 21 years old from Long Island, NY. I am a senior in the Kogod School of Business at American University located in Washington DC. I began this blog as an assignment for my Information technology class titled, Social Networking and Business and will be posting blogs for the remainder of the semester. Please respond as you please.



“On my honor, all posts on this blog are my own”