I had to check the date - was it April Fools Day? Nope, Melbourne Cup Day. So it must be true - a just-published study has recommended that bosses allow their employees to use their Facebook and MySpace accounts at work because it helps them build relationships with customers and colleagues.

According to Reuters, the study’s author said that, “while companies were using specific systems to share information, online social networking sites could also play a role, helping with productivity, innovation and democratic working.”

“In today’s difficult business environment, the instinctive reaction can be to batten down the hatches and return to the traditional ‘command and control’ techniques that enable managers to closely monitor and measure productivity,” he said.

 ”Allowing workers to have more freedom and flexibility might seem counterintuitive, but it appears to create business more capable of maintaining stability.”

 Robert Ainger, Corporate Director of Orange Business which co-produced the report, said it would be wrong of businesses to ignore the importance of networking in the current economic climate.

 ”The report points out that the value of networking within an economic downturn is perhaps more important than ever and I believe it could mean the difference between a business collapsing or capitalizing on the tricky conditions,” he said.

Tags: Facebook, MySpace, productivity, social media, social networking

Posted on Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 at 3:00 pm under Marketing, Technology.

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