V E R O N I C A M . G O D S H A L K
F R A N K M . S O R O K A C H
L E S L I E I . W O L F E

Defining Social Media
Wikipedia Definition: “A group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0, and that allow the creation and exchange of usergenerated content .”
Based on this definition Google Docs would be considered social media.

Defining Social Media
Webopedia Definition: “… describe any Web site that enables users to create public profiles within that Web site and form relationships with other users of the same Web site who access their profile.”
Based on this definition, Google Docs would not
be considered social media.

Why Use Social Media?
Projects, by nature, are social efforts
(Ollus et al.)


Cross functional teams
Virtual teams
Social media has widespread use in higher education, especially for project applications.

Why Use Social Media?
Project Management is evolving
 Agile Management


Project Management 2.0
Social Project Management
Flexibility and collaboration are competitive advantages - teach these skills.

Why Use Social Media?
Empowers students and increases student autonomy
(Li 2012)
 Streamlines communication


“Crowdsource Information” (Klynstra 2012)
Search functionality

Why Use Social Media?
Traditional reasons:
 Build a community, manage relationships
 Communicate quickly, deliver real-time news



Deliver material in an engaging way to generate ideas
Create a flexible space
Enhance visibility and transparency

Social Media Rorschach Test
We will perform a test that will highlight the difficulty in determining what web resources are truly considered social media websites.

Three Verification Resources
We Will Use:
 Alexa Internet
 eBizMBA
 Social Media Today

Three Verification Resources
Alexa Internet - Ranking algorithm which is based on
Internet traffic.
eBizMBA - A guide that identifies Internet resources for eBusiness development.
Social Media Today - Independent online resource for professionals in marketing and other disciplines that involved social media.

Social Media Websites

Facebook:
Twitter:
LinkedIn:
Google Platform:
YouTube:
Alexa
✔
Alexa
✔
Alexa
✔
Alexa
✔
Alexa
X eBizMBA
✔ eBizMBA
✔ eBizMBA
✔ eBizMBA
✔ eBizMBA
X
SocialMediaToday
✔
SocialMediaToday
✔
SocialMediaToday
✔
SocialMediaToday
✔
SocialMediaToday
✔

Wikipedia:
Wordpress:
Trello:
Basecamp:
Alexa
X
Alexa
X
Alexa
X
Alexa
X eBizMBA
X eBizMBA
X eBizMBA
X eBizMBA
X
SocialMediaToday
✔
SocialMediaToday
X
SocialMediaToday
X
SocialMediaToday
X

Social Media Rorschach Test Results



Commonly accepted websites like Facebook and
LinkedIn are easily identified as social media.
Some sites have function like social media, but are not universally identified as such.
Therefore, today, Social Media is in the eye of the beholder.

What These Really Are…
Web 2.0 Technologies… which incorporate ways to work in a social manner… effectively Project Management 2.0!

Trello Platform
Trusted by millions of people from all over the world,
Trello is the easy, free, flexible, and visual way to manage your projects and organize anything.
Cost: Free or Pay Versions Available

Trello Platform

Trello Platform

Trello Platform
Benefits of using the Trello platform:
 Excellent for task-based activity and tracking
 Allows tracking of sequential activity




Emails participants about updated activity
Permits attachment of multimedia files
Tasks can be moved among participants
Everything is self-contained in the platform

Google Platform
Google Drive offers free Google online storage, so you can keep photos, stories, designs, drawings, recordings, videos – anything.
Google Docs brings your documents to life with smart editing and styling tools to help you easily format text and paragraphs. Choose from hundreds of fonts, add links, images, and drawings.
Google Hangouts for video/audio meetings, sharing screens and documents.
Cost: Free

Google Platform
 Superior tool for peer editing
 Allows for simultaneous document development by multiple parties
 Browser-based and file-based for your computer, phone, tablet

Google Platform

Google Platform
 Can be used to track changes
 Excellent for asynchronous project development
 Live chat capabilities
 Email notifications to alert you when an update has occurred

Google Platform
Highlighting the Benefits of Google Applications

Google Platform
Benefits of using the Google platform:
 Allows for varied file types (spreadsheets, documents, and presentations) amongst many users
 Realtime update of content
 Multiple communication channels
 Version control
 Revision history - previous revisions can be reinstated
 Time/date stamped

Yammer Platform
Yammer is a social network that’s entirely focused on business. Users must have an active Penn State email address. You can also create external networks to allow non-employees, such as suppliers and customers, to communicate with your company.
Cost: Free

Yammer Application

Sites At Penn State
Sites at Penn State gives students, faculty, and staff the ability to build websites, blogs, and portfolios, free and easily.
It is powered by WordPress, an open-source web publishing platform supported by thousands of contributors around the world.
Cost: Free

BSBIC Badge Sites at PSU Application

Adobe Connect/Meetings at PSU
Meetings at Penn State (meetings.psu.edu) gives students, faculty, and staff the ability to meet with audio, video and document sharing capabilities.
It is powered by Adobe Connect, an application that Penn
State has invested in and made available to employees.
Cost: Free to PSU employees

Adobe Connect Application

Basecamp
Basecamp keeps people on the same page. No matter what your role is, everyone works toward a common goal: finishing a project together.
Cost: $20 per Month for 10 Projects

Basecamp includes To Do lists

Basecamp as Communication network

Recommendations for Success using Social
Media in PM
1. Training
2. Personal or professional tone?
3. Content sensitivity
4. Control access to platforms
5. Technology & other Accessibility issues
6. Documents an archive of projects, procedures

References http://www.ebizmba.com/articles/social-networking-websites http://www.socialmediatoday.com/social-networks/2015-04-13/worlds-21-most-important-socialmedia-sites-and-apps-2015 http://www.alexa.com/topsites/category/Computers/Internet/On_the_Web/Online_Communities/
Social_Networking http://socialmediaforlearning.com/tag/google-drive/ http://1brainsandwich.blogspot.com.es/2013/06/peer-editing-using-google-drive.html?m=1 http://pegfitzpatrick.com/10-ways-trello-will-make-you-a-social-media-management-pro/

References
Klynstra, Michael. “Social Media Meets Project Management.”
Geneca . Aug 21, 2012.
Li, Xiaoli. "Weaving Social Media into a Business Proposal Project." Business
Communication Quarterly , 2012, 75.1, 68-75.
Ollus, M., Jansson, K., Karvonen, I., Uoti, M. & Riikonen, H. “Supporting Collaborative
Project Management.” Production Planning & Control, 2011, 22:5-6, 538-553.