It's Not About the Tools!

Strategy and planning become the most important parts of using Web 2.0 tools.

If you have ever been involved in building something you know that it can be a pretty amazing experience. In my case, I've watched some pretty extensive renovations on several homes I've lived in and even have been allowed to participate in the construction part. (If you know me, you know that I was only allowed to participate in the rough construction part, nothing that could have truly affect the final product.). And I was mesmorized by latest and greatest tools that were in use. Every time I saw a new gadget or tool, I thougth to myself, "I gots to get one of those. I'll never have a construction effort go bad again. Yet after watching several of these projects it occurred to me that tools had little effect on the outcome of the project. In every single project, big or small, the single most important part of the project was the plan. More than any other tool, the plan became the bell weather of the success or failure of the project. (But some of those tools were pretty cool.)....

The principles are exactly the same as we look at the Web 2.0 tools available to companies today. There is no question that companies need to adopt Web 2.0 tools. The benefits derived by the implementation of these tools are well documented. These tools facilitate knowledge transfer, document sharing, information sharing, communication across business department or silos, innovation, project management and help to build culture among other things. They can help to communicate with your external customers, stakeholders or others outside your organization in ways traditional tools lack. Any forward looking company has these tools on their radar screens.

And as with any building process developing a plan for these tools is the most important part of process. With the strategy developed, and expectations identified, choosing and implementing the right tools for your company becomes much easier. A plan that includes metrics just makes it that much easier to justify the initial capital invested.

Remember it's the strategy, not the tool that is the most important part of using Web 2.0 tools....